London Times. Issue of the newspaper containing English translation of entire text of the Passover Hagadah, offered as defense against the Blood Libel raised against the Jews in the notorious "Damascus Affair"

RARE AND MOST UNUSUAL "PASSOVER HAGADAH" "One of the most notorious outbreaks of the Blood Libel in modern times erupted in Damascus, Syria, in February 1840. With the connivance of the Pasha and the French Consul, a group of Jews were thrown into prison and accused of having murdered a Franciscan friar for ritual purposes. The news spread rapidly throughout the world, and while diplomatic and rescue efforts were being launched, the “Damascus Affair” was everywhere discussed and argued. The Times of London gave the developing story extensive coverage, printed letters upholding or condemning the charge, and devoted several editorials of its own to the topic. On August 17th, 1840, the Times went further. On page 3 it published an English translation of the entire Passover Haggadah. It was an obvious attempt to submit further evidence of the absurdity of the charge that Jews require Christian blood for the Passover ritual. Furthermore, the Times also editorialized favorably on prospects for the restoration of the Jews to Palestine. Of the Jews in Damascus who had been imprisoned and tortured, one died and another accepted conversion to Islam in order to avoid further suffering. The rest were freed at the end of August, largely as a result of Sir Moses Montefiore’s journey to the Near East in order to intercede personally in their behalf." (Yerushalmi). See S. and V.D. Lipman eds., The Century of Moses Montefiore (1985), pp. 131-48