Norwich follows apology for blood libel with plans for Jewish heritage centre
Plans are being drawn up for the establishment of a Jewish heritage centre in Norwich, a city that played an infamous role in the history of antisemitism.
Fundraising is underway for the new centre, with a view to locating it at the site of Jurnet’s House, described as the oldest known Jewish dwelling in England. The oldest dwelling in the city, it was home to the prominent Jewish Jurnet family in the early thirteenth century. All that remains of the original structure is the crypt on King Street; the entire building closed in 2020 due to damp.
The crypt is all that remains of the original Jurnet’s House on King Street and the entire building closed in 2020 because of damp and mould.
The announcement comes after the then-Lord Mayor of Norwich apologised earlier this year for the first known instance of the antisemitic blood libel, which took place in the city, as well as a subsequent massacre of Jews in 1190.
The original antisemitic blood libel dates to 1144 when Jews were falsely accused of the murder of a boy known as William of Norwich.
Following this, accusations of blood libel grew in the Middle Ages, eventually evolving to the point of claiming that Jews murdered Christian children in order to use their blood in Passover rituals. In 1290, it was the pretext for the confiscation of all Jewish property and the complete expulsion of Jews from England. They were not permitted to return until 1655. Blood libel has been responsible for the persecution and killing of Jews ever since.
In the modern era, blood libel continues to be a major aspect of antisemitism. It has extended its reach to accuse Jews of many different forms of harm that can be carried out against other people. Manifestations of blood libel include the accusations that Jews steal human organs, Jews harm the children of non-Jews, or Jews drink or utilise the blood of non-Jews.
According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is an example of antisemitism.
A painting on wood – known as a rood screen – in Holy Trinity Church in nearby Loddon in Norfolk depicts the crucifixion of the twelve-year-old boy William of Norwich.
In 1190, many of Norwich’s Jews were murdered, with survivors taking refuge at the city’s castle. The remains of seventeen victims were discovered down an old well during the construction of a shopping centre two decades ago, while DNA testing last year established a strong genetic link to Ashkenazi Jews and dated the deaths to around the time of the massacre.
A century after the original blood libel in Norwich, in the 1230s a local Jew was accused of abducting and circumcising a Christian boy, leading to violence and the torching of Jewish homes.
Image credit: Norwich City Council
