Page 42 - Tales the Maggid Never Told Me

Blood Libel

might have suffocated or suffered grievous bodily harm. At issue is
not whether an act of self-defense has gone too far but why an
offense was committed in the first place. And don’t try to spin me
into any philosophical hall of mirrors about whether the ends justify
the means unless you are prepared to justify your own! The lights
were always dimmed on stage when the Spirit Lifters started playing.
Sometimes they had dry ice and cotton-wool clouds to enhance the
act. I didn’t notice. I just concentrated on moving through the gloom
to the place I knew a spot would snap on just as Peter Pauley burst
into song, the band pausing for a beat, then ripping full tilt into the
childish riff propping up “True Gospel.” And so I gave my last
performance, to thousands of dumbstruck fans in the audience and
millions watching on TV. I can see by your expression, Doctor, that
you are dying to ask me to sing it again for you. Gladly. I didn’t get to
finish then, and probably won’t now, but here goes.

S: I’m sure we can save this for another time.

M: (voice completely different from foregoing)

You say we kill your babies
To bake their blood in matzo!
There ain’t no ifs or maybes
I’m telling you it’s not so!

Blood libel!
Why don’t you spill your own?
Blood libel!
Instead you kill a Cohen!

Don’t blame me for your hang-up!
Who made you drink cheap booze
And get the guts to gang up
On defenseless little Jews?

Blood libel!
Does your church condone
Blood libel!
Casting the first stone?

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