The Damascus Affair: Blood Libel, Empire, and the Birth of Jewish Internationalism

In 1840, a monk disappeared in Damascus, and the ancient, deadly accusation of “blood libel” was levelled against the city’s Jewish community. This event, known as the Damascus Affair, became a pivotal moment in 19th-century Jewish history, sending shockwaves from the Ottoman Empire to the capitals of Europe.

In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of Jonathan Frankel’s Crisis, Revolution, and Russian Jews. We examine how this crisis mobilized Western Jewish leaders like Moses Montefiore and Adolphe Crémieux, who launched an unprecedented international campaign for justice. But this wasn’t just a story of Jewish solidarity; it was deeply entangled with the imperial ambitions of Britain and France. Why did Lord Palmerston advocate for Jewish restoration to Palestine decades before Herzl? And how did the liberal ideals of the French Revolution clash with the realpolitik of the Ottoman East?

Key Topics:

• The Damascus Affair: The origins of the crisis and the torture of Jewish community leaders.
• The Liberal Response: How Western Jews used the press and public opinion to fight for their brethren.
• Imperial Meddling: Lord Palmerston, the Rothschilds, and the geopolitical chess game in the Middle East.
• Proto-Zionism: The early stirrings of the idea that Jew