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Megillat Eszlár

Natan Liebermann1883

Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives

Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives
Budapest, Hungary

On April 1, 1882 a fourteen year-old girl, Eszter Solymosi disappears in Tiszaeszlár. Local Jews are accused of ritually murdering her. A lengthy blood libel trial followed, eventually resulting in the acquittal of all the accused. At approximately the same time, Natan Liebermann who lived in Ricse wrote a Hebrew language account of the trial, entitled Megillat Eslar. His vocabulary and the title he chose are references to Megillat Esther, or the Book of Esther forming the core of the Jewish festival of Purim, during which it is read aloud in synagogues. The author creates a parallel between the wondrous salvation of the Jewish people and the acquittal of the Jews of Tiszaeszlár in the blood libel trial. Megillat Eslar is not a historiography; rather it fits into a tradition of holding local Purim festivals to commemorate the sparing of the community from persecution. Megillat Eslar, published by Blayer printers in Munkatsh, was read out in the neighboring communities on the anniversaries of the closing of the trial.

Details

  • Title: Megillat Eszlár
  • Creator: Natan Liebermann
  • Date Created: 1883
  • Location: Ricse, Hungary

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