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Why were Jewish communities targeted during the Black Death?

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two plague victims with sores lying in bed, while a robed figure gestures above them. — plague Image depicting victims of the sixth biblical plague.

During the Black Death, Jewish communities were unjustly targeted and scapegoated for the spread of the plague across Europe.12

As the pandemic caused widespread devastation and fear, antisemitism intensified significantly. Driven by unfounded accusations and deep-seated religious prejudice, mobs blamed Jewish people for the outbreak, leading to violent [pogroms]. In these horrific acts of persecution, entire Jewish communities were massacred or burned at the stake en masse.12

It is a fundamental moral imperative to recognize that these actions were acts of baseless hatred and violence. Blaming a marginalized group for a public health crisis is a historical injustice that reflects the dangerous consequences of prejudice and the failure to uphold the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals.