“hibbert Journal” Publishes Withdrawal of Ritual Murder Charge Against the Jews

The “Hibbert Journal,” a quarterly review of religion, theology and philosophy, in its current issue, which has reached this country, publishes a withdrawal of a footnote to an article in its July issue which charged that ritual murder by the Jews is supported by modern scholarship.

The ritual murder charge was made by one Ray Knight of Assam, India, in a footnote to an article entitled “Biblical Mistranslation.”

The withdrawal, signed by the editor of the magazine, L. P. Jacks, reads as follows:

“In a footnote to an article on ‘Biblical Mistranslation’ by Mr. Ray Knight in the July number of the Hibbert Journal, certain statements appear which give the impression that the charge of ritual murder brought against the Jews at various periods is supported by modern scholarship. The Editor has since corresponded with Mr. Knight, who withdraws the footnote in the following terms:

” ‘In view of the Editor’s judgment that the statement regarding ritual murder among the Jews on p. 596 of the Hibbert Journal for July, 1932 is not justified by the evidence, I hereby withdraw the note.’

“Dr. F. J. Foakes-Jackson, an authority cited in the note, writes from New York as follows:

” ‘I deeply regret that the writer on ‘Biblical Mistranslation’ has seen fit to use my name in connection with the ‘blood charge’ which has done so much harm to the Jewish community in many ages. No one who knows me, or has even glanced at my book on Josephus, could believe that I have ever countenanced that charge,’ ” the withdrawal statement concludes.

The footnote in the Hibbert Journal aroused widespread comment on both sides of the Atlantic in view of the liberal tradition which the magazine and its editor had established.