The Arab Jews: A Postcolonial Reading of Nationalism, Religion, and EthnicityThis book is about the social history of the Arab Jews—Jews living in Arab countries—against the backdrop of Zionist nationalism. By using the term "Arab Jews" (rather than "Mizrahim," which literally means "Orientals") the book challenges the binary opposition between Arabs and Jews in Zionist discourse, a dichotomy that renders the linking of Arabs and Jews in this way inconceivable. It also situates the study of the relationships between Mizrahi Jews and Ashkenazi Jews in the context of early colonial encounters between the Arab Jews and the European Zionist emissaries—prior to the establishment of the state of Israel and outside Palestine. It argues that these relationships were reproduced upon the arrival of the Arab Jews to Israel. The book also provides a new prism for understanding the intricate relationships between the Arab Jews and the Palestinian refugees of 1948, a link that is usually obscured or omitted by studies that are informed by Zionist historiography. Finally, the book uses the history of the Arab Jews to transcend the assumptions necessitated by the Zionist perspective, and to open the door for a perspective that sheds new light on the basic assumptions upon which Zionism was founded. |
Contents
The Discovery of the Arab Jews | 19 |
Jewish Orientalism | 49 |
How Did the Arab Jews Become Religious and Zionist? | 77 |
Copyright | |
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Abadan accept According activity analysis approach Arab countries Arab Jews argue argument arrived Ashkenazim attempt Aviv Baghdad British called Chapter claims collective colonial compensation concept construction context continuity created cultural define described discourse discussion distinction document emissaries encounter establishment ethnic Europe European example exchange existence explained fact Foreign Ministry Hebrew hybridization identity immigration internal Iraq Iraqi Jews Israeli issue Jewish Jewry Jews from Arab labor Land of Israel lived means meeting memory Middle East minister mission Mizrahi movement narrative noted organization oriental Palestine Palestinian Palestinian refugees past political population position possible practice present Press proposed question refugees region relations religion religious reported representatives secular social society Solel Boneh space suggests Tel Aviv University term thesis tion University WOJAC workers Zionist