Damascus Affair, or The Damascus Blood Libel.- Collection of testimonies

Damascus Affair, or The Damascus Blood Libel.- Collection of testimonies, letters and documents from several members of the Jewish community in Damascus, originating first in the disappearance of a friar and his servant and the subsequent anti-Jewish persecution, manuscripts in English (3 manuscript statements in one hand), letters and documents in several hands in English, Hebrew and French, together c. 170pp., folds, browned, some edges chipped, unbound, sm. 4to & v.s., [c. 1840]. *** Collection comprises: (1). Statement of David Harari, a wealthy Jewish merchant in Damascus arrested with his three brothers, an account of being tortured until he confessed, manuscript, 59pp., n.d. Harari was taken in front of the local governor, accused of killing Friar Tomaso to which he replied, "My lord, I am a merchant, and not a murderer." His accusers refuse to believe him, "your law requires you to commit such murders in order to obtain blood to mix up with the bread eaten at your Passover feast." (2). The Statement of Moses Abulafia, having been accused by the barber Solomon Halek of the murder of Friar Tomaso, Abulafia was arrested and tortured and when his wife was assaulted he confessed and converted to Islam, manuscript, 37pp., n.d. "The Pacha's servants then began to press and squeeze my sexual parts, and my agony was inexpressible. I entreated them to kill me rather than torture me in this way." (3). The Statement of the Chief Rabbi Jacob Antebi, he withstood brutal torture, manuscript, 50pp., n.d. "I was now extremely lame in both my feet, I could neither walk nor stand... I remained in prison for three months... several of my toes actually fell off, and I believe death itself could not have caused me so much anguish." (4). Copy of the report of the Blood Libel addressed to Moses Montefiore and 5 pieces of copy correspondence relating to Montefiore's intervention in the Damascus persecution, manuscripts, documents and letters in English, Hebrerw and French, together 26pp. & envelopes, v.s., v.d., [? 1840]-46 (4 packets). "Copy of Sir Moses Montefiore's address to the Emperor Nicolas [Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia] May I be permitted to embrace this favorable moment to express my earnest prayer, that your Majest may deign to give your most humane consideration to the condition of my Coreligionists under your Majesty's sway... ." The Blood Libel of Damascus originated in the disappearance of a Christian Capuchin Friar Tomaso, and later his Muslim servant Ibrahim Amrah. The Jewish community of Damascus was blamed and a large number of the community were imprisoned and tortured for confessions. Supported by the French Consul, the Egyptian Governor of Damascus persecuted the Jewish community until the intervention of prominent western Jews such as Sir Moses Montefiore and the surviving victims were released from prison.

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