(BLOOD LIBEL-BLONDES, VILNA) Official records and historical details concerning an infamous "cause celebres" in Vilna. An accusation against a Jewish barber, David Abramovich Blondes

(VILNA)

Vilna

1900-02

Manuscript on paper, in Russian

The manuscript recounts the alleged crime and a defense brief compiled by Blondes’ lawyers. Blondes was accused of assaulting his Polish housemaid. Vicious rumors circulated that he in fact sought her blood for ritual purposes at Passover and he was arrested. The Rabbi of Vilna, Chaim Ozer Grodzensky personally raised the sums necessary to employ the eminent (non- Jewish) attorneys P.G. Mironov and D.V. Spassovich as well as the Jewish lawyer Oscar Grusenberg (who later also defended S. Beilis in 1913). Grusenberg insisted on appealing the case to the Senate in order to clear absolutely the Jews from this despicable accusation. Upon his release from prison after two years, Blondes was a broken man. Rabbi Chaim Ozer issued a compassionate plea to assist and employ Blondes so he would not have to live off community charity. (See Igrot R. Chaim Ozer. Vol I, Bnei Brak, 2000. No. 515,pp. 422-423)