The Hibbert Journal, a quarterly review of religion, theology and philosophy, known in the past for the liberal doctrines of its editor, L. P. Jacks, and of its contributors, publishes in its current issue a statement to the effect that the ritual murder accusation against the Jews is proved by the Scriptures.
This charge, which is occasioning much astonishment, because of its appearance in a liberal organ such as the “Hibbert Journal,” is made in the course of a footnote appended to an article entitled “Biblical Mistranslation” by Ray Knight, of Assam, India.
The author of the article declares “The charge of ritual murder persistently brought against the Jews and always dismissed as a malignant calumny is proved up to the hilt by their own scriptures. It dates back to the second century B.C.” In support of this contention, the author cites Foakes Jackson’s “Josephus and the Jews.”
“It was their horrible practices,” he asserts, “that led Shalmaneser and Nebuchadnessar to expel them from Palestine and when they returned they were abhorred by all their neighbors doubtless for the same reason. The Temple was a veritable shambles in Josephus’ time, proving the furious blood-lust. The Aztecs, whose religion suffered a similar corruptio optimi incurred the same fate as Israel.” asserts Ray Knight.
The same issue of the “Hibbert Journal” contains an article by Claude G. Montefiore, leader of Liberal Judaism.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
