10 Plagues, 20th Century

In 1997, Bernard Raskas argued for a metaphorical update of the ten plagues. While imagery of the plagues in the 20th century makes for an inexact parallel– for one thing, none target the ancient Egyptians — here are the ten plagues as referenced in the 20th century:
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1. Blood

• 1932 – Following the shooting of six young Jews in Soroca, witness testifies that he could see blood through the ice.

• 1949 – "The Gestapo shot into the struggling mass of people. The blood of those hit spurted in all directions and colored the river blood-red," said a British prosecutor in a war crimes tribunal.

2. Frogs

• 1971 – It’s a stretch, but a Soviet weapon gifted to Egypt was called the Frog missile. 

3. Lice

• 1939 – At Zbonszyn on the German-Polish border… "There are a very great number suffering from mental shock. Sanitary conditions are horrible, owing to the pest of lice." 

4. Wild Animals

• 1991 – Boar trips Israeli artillery hit on Lebanon.

5. Pestilence

• 1926 – Cattle plague in Palestine is under control

6. Boils

• 1941 – Young Jewish settlers on the shores of Jordan] are pestered by sand-flies, producing the uncomfortable "Jericho boils" on the flesh. 

7. Hail

• 1931 – Hail storm wrecks only Bulgarian chalutz colony. 

• 1992 – Worst storm to hit Israel yet causes death and destruction.

• 1997 – Hail, flooding kill five in Israel as storms rage during Sukkot. 

8. Locusts

• 1928 – Fear locust in Palestine prepare to fight plague.

• 1930 – War waged against Locust swarms in Palestine.

9. Darkness

• 1973 – "By nightfall Sunday, all Israel is under effective blackout. Tel Aviv and other cities are pitch black and car headlights are ordered painted blue."

10. Death of First Born 

• 1970 – Kiryat Shemona shelled for second time in three days; youth killed, two brothers injured.