The Accusation

On September 22, 1928, four-year-old Barbara Griffiths vanished in the woods near Massena, New York, prompting a massive search that spiraled into troubling rumors of ritual murder, or "blood libel," against the Jewish community. Historian Edward Berenson investigates this rare instance of anti-Semitism in America, examining the blend of old-world prejudices, recent immigrant experiences, and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan that fueled such accusations. "The Accusation" not only recounts this unsettling episode but also offers a deeper reflection on the enduring nature of anti-Jewish sentiments in both American and European contexts.