Dear Friend,

As we stand between Purim and Passover, I am reminded of their joint theme: Throughout the generations, people have sought to subjugate and destroy our people. Yet human action and divine destiny always ensure that we endure and flourish.

Just over a century ago, around this time of year, the body of a young boy was discovered on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, and the highest echelons of the czarist government conspired to falsely accuse a Jew, Mendel Beilis, of murdering the child to use his blood to bake matzah.

Chabad.org has just released a documentary film featuring new research into the case. Expert interviews, period press cuttings, and original photographs bring the story and its dramatic cast of characters to life. Click here to watch the film, and here to learn more about the trial.

Even today, the blood libel is used to fuel anti-Semitic agitation, and there are still those who threaten the world with evil. The Beilis case is more than an interesting historical episode; it’s a compelling lesson about the human capacity to stand up for truth and justice in the face of hate and power.

May we celebrate Passover, “the season of our freedom,” knowing that our positive actions bring redemption to the entire world.

Eli Rubin,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team

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