The Enduring Impact of the Damascus Incident

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In the year 1840, one of the most infamous blood libels in history unfolded in Damascus. Known as the Damascus Affair, this event marked a significant turning point in modern Jewish history, particularly for French Jews who were shocked by France's support of the blood libel accusation.

The affair began when Father Thomas, an Italian Friar of the Capuchin Order, and his Muslim servant Ibrahim Amara disappeared in Damascus on February 5, 1840. Rumours quickly spread that the Jews had murdered the two men to use their blood for Passover. The Capuchin friars began spreading these rumours, leading to one of history's most famous blood libels.

Sir Moses Montefiore, along with French lawyer Adolphe Cremieux, Louis Loewe, and Solomon Munk, travelled to Egypt to appeal to Muhammad Ali regarding the Damascus Jews. However, the French consul, Ulysse de Ratti-Menton, presided over the investigation, despite his anti-Jewish views.

Among the Jews who were arrested was Rabbi Yaakov Antebi, accused of having received a bottle of the blood of Thomas. Despite being tortured, he held strong under the torture and would not confess to anything.

Muhammad Ali denied their request to transfer the investigation to Egyptian or European judges. Instead, he decided to release the imprisoned Jews without acquittal. However, this was not the end of the affair. More bones were found, and the investigators claimed they were the remains of Ibrahim Amara.

The physician in Damascus, Dr. Lograso, did not believe they were human bones and requested that the bones be sent to Europe for examination. This request was granted, and it was eventually determined that the bones were not those of Ibrahim Amara.

Western Jews in Europe and America were incensed at what was happening in Damascus and lobbied their governments to intercede on behalf of the Jews in Damascus. Among the government leaders who condemned the libel and attempted to intervene were Queen Victoria, Lord Henry Palmerston, U.S. Secretary of State John Forsyth, and Klemens von Metternich of Austria.

Montefiore and Cremieux turned to Sultan Abdul Mejid of the Ottoman Empire, who issued a decree on November 6, 1840, condemning the blood libel and prohibiting prosecuting Jews based on such accusations. This decree was a significant victory for the Jewish community and marked a turning point in Jewish-Ottoman relations.

The Damascus Blood Libel was not the last of its kind. In 1911, the subsequent blood libel that made international news was that of Menachem Mendel Beilis in Russia.

The Damascus Affair also led to important discussions within the Jewish community about Jewish identity and responsibility. Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who was renowned as a brilliant and eloquent leader of Polish Jewry, explained that the Talmudic quote "You (the Jewish people) are called 'Adam' (Man), and the other nations are not called 'Adam' (Man)" reflects an essential characteristic of the Jews and was not intended as an insult to the other nations.

Rabbi Shapiro also explained that the Talmud (Shavous 39) teaches that "Kol Yisrael areivim zeh lazeh," meaning all Jews are responsible for one another, and this message continues to serve as a beacon of light for the connection Jews share with one another.

The Damascus Blood Libel was a dark chapter in Jewish history, but it also served as a catalyst for change and a rallying cry for Jewish unity. The events of 1840 demonstrate the resilience of the Jewish community in the face of adversity and the power of community solidarity in the face of persecution.