Jacob von Konigshofen

When the bubonic plague broke out in Europe, the causes of the disease and the reasons for the high mortality rate were beyond the scope of contemporary medical knowledge. Since the answer could not be found through reason, many turned to bigotry for a solution. Accordingly, rumors began spreading in many parts of Europe that Jews were poisoning the wells and water supplies being used by Christians.

In Christian Europe, Jews possessed many of the characteristics essential to scapegoats. They were a religious minority. They lived apart from the rest of the population in ghettos (although usually not by choice but by edict). They bore a historical responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ. They were believed to engage in secret religious rituals in which Christian babies were used as sacrificial offerings. Blinded by the collective...