Middle East Books

Anglican priest Canon Andrew White belongs at the top of any person's list of heroes, and this book on Iraq should be a primary source for anyone's perspective on Iraq. Canon White has been involved in reconciliation and peacemaking in Iraq since before the war when he pursued alleviation for Iraq's suffering multitudes and religious dialogue with its various religous leaders.

Since the war, he has been tirelessly active in the struggle to bring about peace in Iraq. His account illustrates the activity of peacemaking, one that experiences joy and suffering, glory and grief. He paints an extraordinary picture of Iraq that I don't think has been conveyed through any other means. He is unique in his relationships with all parties involved in Iraq, so his perspective is comprehensive. Also unlike any other account of Iraq I have seen or read, his account incorporates the spiritual insights regarding the region and its history.

Canon White tells the story of horrible suffering during Saddam's reign of terror and during the chaotic violence in recent years. He gives the big picture of horror and some individual stories. He also tells of the big hope he has for the country and how he has witnessed God's glorious miracles in the country and in individual stories amidst the suffering. His writing is clearly an attempt to be honest while conveying his hope and love for Iraq.

One thing is for sure from reading this book. You will see Iraq and its people differently, and it is likely you will develop an earnest prayer for their peace.

He is truely an amazing person and a wonderful human being. I wish that I could have half the dedication of Canon White.

Andrew White is a dedicated, passionate man, with a true heart of God for the people of Iraq, and this book is written only as an "insider" who has lived there can. I had the priveledge to cross paths with him, ever so briefly in Baghdad and I can tell you he has a burden and love for the good people of Iraq as no one else has or can.

Lewis, as always, impresses; breadth of knowledge and research is typically outstanding. Flashes of good judgement, but pretentious and assertive (though mine's apparently an earlier edition: "Ideas, Men and Events...East" and he may've softened tone a touch for 2nd ed.)- and, regardless, it'd certainly be difficult to blame him for this-- the man's a thoroughbred. His philology isn't always accurate, and the spirit is truly 'orientalist' in Said's sense; nonetheless, a terribly enjoyable read and a classic source for a foundation in the subject.
ps- His Babel to Dragomans is even more impressive and should be compulsory.

Bernard Lewis is considered the foremost authority on the Middle East and has written many highly acclaimed works.

This book has 32 essays that focus on very specific topics. Each essay is presented objectively and his technical expertise and depth of knowledge is masterly.

My personal favorites in this collection are the essays on Muslim History and Historians, History and Revolution, New Idea's and lastly, the section on New Events.

Essays are designed to stand alone, however, when read consecutively as part of a section, also add further clarity as part of the larger topic.

As Professor Lewis states in the Preface to the second edition of this work, "Islam in History" is a collection of thirty-two articles on Islam. Anybody wishing to gain some understanding of this very important, very misunderstood, and very troubled civilization, should read this book. Lewis, once again, provides the reader with a magnificent work that is not pedantic but instructive, that does not belittle its subject nor its audience, and that demonstrates how necessary true scholarship is, particularly in times such as these.

The book is divided into eight parts: Western Approaches, Muslim History and Historians, Muslims and Jews, Turks and Tatars, In Black and White, History and Revolution, New Ideas, and New Events. Since this new edition dates from 1993, the recent developments in the world should not be expected. However, I really meant it when I wrote that true scholarship is necessary in our world: in the last essay of this volume, Lewis writes that there have been basically two atitudes from Muslims to confront the problems of the Islamic/Arab world (he does not deal with the East-Asian Mulims, like Indonesians and Malaysians, because he admits that he does not know much about them), divided into two questions. The first one is "What did we do wrong?" The second is "Who did this to us?" The first question leads to the search for solutions. The second question, and this deserves to be quoted at length, "leads to delusions and fantasies and conspiracy theories--indeed, the most dangerous enemies of the Muslim peoples at this time are those who assure them that in all their troubles the fault is not in themselves but in open or occult hostile forces. Such beliefs can only lead to resentment and frustration, to an endless, useless succession of bigots and tyrants and to a role in world history aptly symbolized by the suicide bomber. In the first of these questions ["What did we do wrong?], for those who have the courage to ask it, and the vision to answer, lies hope for the future and for a new dawn of Muslim creativity."

Professor Lewis wrote those lines in 1993, but they are as relevant today as if he had written them on September 12, 2001. In fact, the last number of "The Atlantic Monthly" has an article by Professor Lewis where he presents this basic premise once more, since it was true a decade ago and it is true today.

I cannot recommend Bernard Lewis's books strongly enough. This one, as all his other books that I have read, is erudite, informative, interesting, serious, entertaining and, above all, important. If you have never read anything by him, but are interested in this book, read his recent article in "The New Yorker" ("The Revolt of Islam"), and the already mentioned article in "The Atlantic." Those articles will serve as an Introduction to "Islam in History." Bernard Lewis is an extraordinary scholar, and we are lucky to have him with us.

This book is perfectly calculated to be read in the street on a hot day, holding the place lightly with a finger as one walks from one superb building to the next. Effortless learning and prose shine on them like a torch. The book has the humility to accept historical Islam on its own terms, uniquely explaining the Arabic texts written on walls already saturated with religious and political meaning. Is there any other guide quite like it and quite as good?

Caroline Williams and her predecessors have put together a marvelous guide to most of the Islamic monuments, large and small, in Cairo. The book is divided by sections of the city and Williams suggests several "tours" visitors can give themeselves. I found it a valuable "tour guide" when I was exploring the city and an important reference when cataloging my slides after returning home. With detailed information about the history and finer architectural points of some two hundred monuments, as well as tips for getting around Cairo, this book (or its paperback version, ISBN 977-424-316-2) is a must-have for every Cairo-bound traveller!

Cairo is one of the great cities in the world, and a walk through its Islamic areas transports you back hundreds, even thousands of years. This guide has been my bible as I've walked and walked and walked on many visits over the years. It illuminates what you see. Almost every block has something of interest, and it is invariably described lucidly in this guidebook.

Enough said -- if you want to walk through Islamic Cairo, you need this book. And if you don't want to walk, the book will make you want to!

This slim volume is like a slender candle that sheds much light over a topic that seems so confusing. Until you read this book, you may never understand why the Mid-East "Peace Process" was still-born. Orr weaves together short essays that leave an indelible impression on the tangled origins and uncertain future of America's closest ally in the Mid-East, Israel.

This slim volume is like a slender candle that sheds much light over a topic that seems so confusing. Until you read this book, you may never understand why the Mid-East "Peace Process" was still-born. Orr weaves together short essays that leave an indelible impression on the tangled origins and uncertain future of America's closest ally in the Mid-East, Israel.

The only thing to say about this collection of insightful essays is that it is perfect. Nowhere else can one find such succinct, incisive writing about a topic so deliberately obfuscated as the Middle East. In one essay, Orr writes an exact history of Israel in nine pages. Major news media organisations, such as TIME and NEWSWEEK, would do well to follow. Their pages-long analyses of Israel and the Palestinians lack the focus and commitment to honesty that Orr exudes on every page.

Orr's credentials are rock-solid, too: he is a citizen of Israel and a former member of the Israeli Defence Forces, so he knows that nation from the inside. While he believed at first in the righteousness of Israel's cause, as a soldier and member of civilian society he came to see the true, criminal nature of the state. He compares its siege mentality to that of the Nazis, a comparison only a Jew can make.

If you haven't time to digest great tomes on Israel and the Middle East, sift through this one-hundred page beauty and emerge a more enlightened man.

Book uses unique overlay technique that allows the reader to see what a historical site looks like today as well as what it looked like in its prime. Excellent reference material for pilgrims to the Holy Land. I bought it in Israel and bought three more for friends when I got home.

This handy little spiral-bound book has thick pages and wonderful photographs of historic sites in Israel. It is a virtual tour book of ancient Israel. The plastic graphic overlays for each page lets you see what the same scene might have looked like in ancient times. This is an excellent study help that allows you to visualize the buildings and places in the time of Jesus. The back of each page provides explanations of the historical and religious significance of the site. The rest of the book includes a glossary, a brief synopsis of ancient history, and maps to pull it all together. Though published by Frommer's, I would suggest that this is wonderful study guide for any student of the Bible, not just travelers to the Middle East. From the fortress at Masada to the church at Kursi, this collection gives you a tour of ancient sites and transports you to that world in a way other books cannot.

Trying to picture the past is often diffcult. This book is an outstanding reference and visual aid for anyone touring or studing Israel. Each of the major sites is shown today and with an overlay of it's former glory.

I am an advanced amateur photographer who has been photographing for almost fifty years. On reading "Israel Through My Lens" there is an immediate connection between Mr. Rubingers experiences and those of any serious photographer/photojournalist. Through his remembrances the reader not only relives the history of Israel and the Middle East in the 20th century but also the very simple joy of being a photographer, getting the good shot. This is a simple story of his life and his relationships that have led to a brilliant career as a photojournalist. I enjoyed the book because I am able to feel his excitement in getting the picture. Rubinger is not a 'god' of photography, he is simply a talented photographer who clearly describes for the rest of us the fun and excitement of photography and photojournalism. All this while telling a wonderful personal story and national history.

David Rubinger has laid it out as he saw it and lived it. This is a VERY personal book with little if anything held back. From his youth to the present, Rubinger gives a verbal as well as photographic picture of himself and the Sate of Israel growing up, maturing and "getting on". From his time in the British army to the horrific death of a woman he cared for deeply, this book tells it all. It is easy reading yet compelling. I was carried into a very personal environment and felt as if I were at each event, meeting each person, taking part in each "adventure". David Rubinger's life appears to be a string of wonderful and not-so-wonderful experiences. And you are right there. The country comes alive through the eyes and life of this exceptional man. I have read it twice and have given it as gifts to friends. Oh, yes, I highly recommend this book!!

As a photographer, I loved this book. As good as the photographs are, the writing is even better. Great stories about working as a Time photographer in the Mid East, growing up in Europe during WWII, and wonderful vignettes about Israeli leaders. Highly recommended.

Ms. Roarabach has done an incredible job clearly presenting both the history and present conditions of Palestine and Israel in one amazingly compact book. I would highly recommend "Israel-Palestine in a Nutshell" to anyone traveling to either of these countries or if you simply want to familiarize yourself with Palestine or Israel.

Highly Recommended!

This compact little book does a very good job of distilling both sides of one of the most confusing conflicts currently brewing. Chock-full of both facts and the historical narrative used to evaluate those facts, this is a valuable addition to the library of anyone wishing to understand how each side sees the region and the issues. If we are to have peace, understanding both sides is an important first step.

Israel/Palestine In A Nutshell is really two books in one. On one side is "Palestine in a nutshell". Flip it over and you have "Israel in a nutshell" on the other side. What is provided is the history of the current conflict presented from both the perspective of the Israelis and the Palestinians. A welcome addition to International Studies reading lists, Israel/Palestine In A Nutshell offers a informed and informative tour through the series of peace treaties between the two opposing communities from the Camp David accords down to the latest 2003 Geneva proposal. Also very highly recommended are the four other "World in a Nutshell" titles from Enisen Publishing: Afghanistan in a Nutshell; Iraq in a Nutshell; Pakistan in a Nutshell, and Islam in a Nutshell.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the "Peace Process". It should be readily available to all American Universities which sadly, as I can attest, are lacking. I borrowed my copy from a neighboring state's christian college through interlibrary loan. Sadly too, I can reveal there are over 40 copies of former President Jimmy Carter's Peace, not Aparteid in my county adjacent to Atlanta. Don't know the grand total of this worthless book in the greater Atlanta area.... I was going to review that book, but I will not waste my time. I don't want to make it appear to anyone that he is being victimized. I'm sure he's well protected anyway.

But not so for the Israelis. Their state is in a precarious position and is at the mercy of higher powers.

I laughed when an American diplomat wrote that an arab replied that only 10% of muslims are extremists: "Well, call me a taxi! That means there are only 100 million Islamics who want to kill Americans instead of one billion. I don't find that very comforting."

Another way to look at it is there are 900 million who are not extremists. If the greater international community will fight a war on terror with us, and continue homeland and international security vigilance, maybe peace would be around the horizon.

If you can find this book, I recommend HIGHLY that at least the last 2 pages be read; they are a summary of the book which is a compilation of 40 or so mini essays written by Israelis, American and British statesmen, diplomats, and religious leaders. The sixth item of fourteen on the last two pages states: "The U.N. is morally bankrupt and cannot function as the instrument of justice. Alternatives must be examined."
I loved the South African Rev. Malcolm Hedding's article entitled "Anti-Semitism: the Basis of Immorality".

Zechariah 8:18-23 (English Standard Version)

And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

This is a great book about the Arab-Israeli conflict, the war on terror, and the prospects for peace. Three dozen people contribute their perspectives on these topics.

The book consists of the best presentations from the first Jerusalem summit, held in October, 2003, in Israel's capital. That summit focused on developing a moral and efficient alternative to the failed Oslo process and mapping out ways to bring democracy and freedom to the Middle East.

Here are some of the points from the summit:

1) US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is a good idea, and might at least remind people that Israel is here to stay with Jerusalem as its capital.

2) The present international bodies designated to protect international law have sunk into immorality, corruption, and inefficiency. The UN is morally bankrupt and can not function as the instrument of justice; alternatives must be considered.

3) Ultimately, Arabs must liberate themselves from their irredentism. But we Westerners can help by not leading them towards more of the same.

4) For the first time in history, nihilists will actually have the means to match their ends. That means that civilization is indeed at stake.

5) Panting for peace with terrorists merely makes terrorists the masters of the situation. What we need to do instead is defeat the terrorists. Otherwise, the only way we'll get "peace" is to let the terrorists do whatever they please with us all, "peacefully."

6) Peace can be accomplished only by facing the truth. Those of us who are for human rights and justice need to go out and support it with our words at the very least. We are speaking the truth. We have nothing to be ashamed of. Let's do it!

7) A new Levantine Arab state would be a bad idea. It would be a terrorist state, and it would endanger Israel (and maybe Jordan as well). And it would have absolutely no moral or historical justification.

8) Israel must neither rule over a million Arabs nor cede them complete sovereignty within the borders of the 1930s British Mandate.

9) Israel is not a foreign occupying power in Yesha. Thus no international law prevents Israel or its citizens from establishing civilian towns on state lands.

10) Israel in 1967 did not "occupy" a Levantine Arab "nation." University professors ought to be the first ones to point out this obvious lie. But for the most part, they haven't.

11) There can't be peace if anti-Jewish incitement doesn't cease, and that includes the force-feeding of propaganda to schoolchildren.

There are several proposals for peace in the book. They emphasize the need to separate the combatants. A typical and excellent idea is to let Arabs vote in Jordanian elections and Jews vote in Israeli elections, independent of which side of the border they might actually live on.

While I don't agree with all the ideas in this book (a wide variety of ideas are covered here), I find them all interesting, valuable, and sincere.

Some people may assume that this book is of no use, because a majority of the people in the world disagree with what it says. They may consider the contributors to be a political fringe. And on some issues, they may be right. But when a political fringe tells us the truth, or requests sanity rather than arbitrariness, that fringe will be proved correct in the long run. This is a book that we all ought to read now, when there is still a clear chance to make things better for everyone.

I was present at this symposium and attended many of its sessions. For me the major element was in hearing so many different voices who are essentially sympathetic to Israel, this at a time when the Jewish state is under propaganda attack from the extreme left and the extreme right everywhere. But the major idea of the Summit, it seems to me, is especially important. The idea that moral clarity about the conflict between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East can come through understanding the historical reality seems to me a sound one. For if one has an idea of objective truth, and fairness- and if one believes in Justice then one should be able to weigh conflicting claims, and look to an answer for the conflict. The fact is that most of the claims of the Jewish side have been ignored and distorted by the other side since the beginning of the conflict. And there has emerged a strange process by where the Jews bend over backwards to understand and give to the ' other side' while the other side denies any Jewish claim and history to the Holy Land. This running away from Truth on the part of the Arab side, this refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the other is what has led to disastrous perpertuation of the conflict.
Many outstanding people spoke at this conference, from former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Richard Perle, Alan Keyes, John Loftus. I would simply like to commend one speaker especially the historian Joel Fishman who gave a telling analysis of the connection between the Soviet - and Vietnamese conception of ' total war' and the strategy adopted by Yassar Arafat for destroying Israel. The key point here is that the aggressor will sacrifice the good and well- being of its own people in order to destroy the enemy. This explains Arafat's action when in September 2000 he opened up the latest terror war phase against Israel. It did not matter how much his own society suffered as long as he would move the process forward of destroying the enemy. Fishman's exposure of this line of thought made what seemed to be an irrational process ' rational'.
On the whole this work gives great new insight into the Arab- Israeli conflict. And it makes it clear that without real change on the Arab side toward recognition of the reality and legitimacy of the other there can be no peace in the Middle East.

This book is a great overview of a complex city from it's beginnings. Nicely illustrated. Wonderful and not overdone timeline of events and architecture.

Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archeology Review (BAR) Magazine, offers an unrivaled look into the ancient City of Jerusalem. His concise descriptions and beautiful pictures captivated this reader and helped me to finally understand the relationship between biblical narrative and archeological evidence in the capital of Israel. Famous sites ranging from Hezekiah's Tunnel, to the Western Wall, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the Dome of the Rock are wonderfully elucidated within their historical context. If you are interested in the Bible, the history of Jerusalem, or Archeology in general, this book is a MUST!

Hershel Shanks, editor of the magazine 'Biblical Archaeology Review', put together this wonderful volume on the archaeology of Jerusalem in honour of the 3000th anniversary of the establishment of the city by King David (a date of conjecture, to be sure, and with some variability even within the conjecture). In the introduction, Shanks states:

'Through the archaeology of Jerusalem, one can learn about almost everything even remotely connected to the ancient Near East: from Bible and ancient history, art and architecture, burial practices, languages and scripts to geography, water supply systems, chronology, theology, pottery typology, archaeological methodology, warfare and daily life.'

Jerusalem is at or near the centre of three major faiths that have had profound and lasting impact not only on the city or region, but upon the entire world. Jerusalem has long been at an important crossroads in history--military expansion of major empires have had to go through the city; trade routes east and west have always been through or nearby the city -- indeed, Jerusalem has been conquered 23 times in its history. From the sack of the city Salem by King David (who had to conquer it three times before being able to hold it from the Jebusites) to the Moslem reconquest from the Crusaders, archaeological evidence is rich in diverse time periods.

This makes Jerusalem rather like the wall made of successive layers of wallpaper with subtle but distinct patterns--it is hard, when scrapping away layers, to discern accurately which layer belongs to which period.

The first chapter begins with Jerusalem before the Israelites. Despite the year 2000 celebrating the 3000th anniversary of the city, it has in fact a much longer history. Egyptian hieroglyph records show the existence of a city on the site of Jerusalem as early as 1850 B.C.E., called Rushalimum. Continuous occupation can be seen from various records (such as Armana letters) to the year Davidic conquests. However, yet other evidence points to even earlier settlement; pottery dating back to the Chalcolitic period, and architectural remains point to inhabitation as early as 3000 B.C.E., making this truly one of the oldest cities in continuous occupation in the world. From earliest times, Jerusalem has been a 'cosmopolitan' place; even the Bible attests to the fact that despite conquest, the Jebusites remained inhabitants alongside the Israelites. This of course give more credence to the idea of assimilation of the cities and tribal/pastoral groups in Canaan, as opposed to the military conquest idea which is high on glory and patriotic ideal, but short on archaeological evidence. Obviously, if Jebusites still held Jerusalem, Joshua could not have truly conquered the entire land.

Other articles explore the strongholds of Jerusalem, the possible tombs of David and other kings; intrigues about finding (and not finding) evidence of the first Temple, and the difficulties involved in working around presently-functioning holy sites; the Babylonian period of destruction, including preserved clay bullae, one of which bears the name of the prophet Jeremiah's scribe, dated to the proper time period; Jerusalem during the time of Herod and Jesus, including a discussion of the authenticity of 'holy sites' that are pilgrimage sites today; Roman destruction, Byzantine reconstruction, Moslem conquest, Crusader conquest, and Moslem reconquest.

This book has an extensive collection of beautiful photography, timelines, maps and charts. From collections of art and ruins to panoramic views including the beautiful Dome of the Rock, a magnificent piece of Moslem architecture which remains substantially unaltered since it was built 1300 years ago, standing on the site of the Temple mount; to recreations of architecture to textual analysis, this is a book that will treat the eyes and the mind with fascinating detail and general ideas about the sweeping history of this city, and with this, a greater sense of the history of the religions that have shaped the world.

This book was given to me as a gift from my friend Monty, and I continue to be grateful for it - a magnificent gift indeed.

I have not yet read this book, and may never do so unless I can find a copy for a more reasonable price. I do not understand why books about Lebanon (with a few exceptions) are so hard to find and/or so incredibly expensive. I am an Irishman (my ancestral village is in that part of Ireland which is still under British occupation...), and a student of history, so for obvious reasons I find Lebanese History fascinating. I also believe that the decision of the U.N. to send Irish troops to Lebanon as peacekeepers was far from accidental... In the Detroit area are many Lebanese; and of the handful of Lebanese men with whom I have had more than a nodding acquaintance two are Muslim, one a Maronite, one a Druse, one a Jew, and for the rest I am unaware of their religious background. Three of them, oddly enough, came from Sidon- one gentleman had even been the Governor of that city at one time. Obviously, they all have had wildly differing perspectives on the recent History of their native land. One of these men, who owns a business down the street from my house, is the only person I have ever met who actually reads as much as I do. We occasionally loan each other books, and discuss them; he has been quite helpful in explaining various aspects of Lebanese History and culture, but that only goes so far. More, and more easily accessible books on the subject would help a great deal. I hope I can get a copy of this book- the Lebanese Jew I knew was a fairly tragic individual. Culturally, he was for all intents and purposes (his native language was Arabic, etc.) an Arab- but he was a Jew. He hated Israel (and Syria for that matter...) both for what it had done to his country, and for causing the anti-Jewish backlash which directly resulted in his leaving- but he was a Jew. Unfortunately, I lost track of this guy several years ago, and I don't even remember his name. I look forward to reading the story of his people, and hopefully gaining some understanding of that aspect of Lebanese History.

Dimestore Liam

The book not only accurately re-tells the story of a once vibrant Jewish community living in Lebanon, but also offers a lot of history about the formation and the two civil wars of Lebanon in order to put the Jewish story in context.
The style is inviting, though boring at first. Even though the book was published in 2001, research and interviews were done much earlier, in mid 1990s.
Everyone who enjoys reading about Lebanon, or for that matter, the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli relations, should read this book. The author strips the story of Jews in Arab countries from myth and puts it in a new context which has it that the Jewish community in Lebanon, like the other remaining faith groups, prospered as the country prospered and dwindeled with the nation's diminishing fortunes.
Despite the author's apparent Jewish roots, objectivity runs high in the book and Schulze knew perfectly well when to describe the Lebanese Jews as aloof from Zionism and when to report on the single incident of aleviating non-Lebanese Israeli sympathy that led to spying in Israel's favor.
Finally, it felt sad that some Lebanese Muslim radicals kidnapped and killed 11 of their Jewish compatriots. This savagery stands as a proof to the amount of radicalism that small nations like Lebanon imported from regional neigbors like Iran. This imported policy reached to the extent that one deputy, Najah Wakim, accused Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of striking partnerships with Edmond Safra, a Lebanese Jew, as a sign of pro-Israeli collaboration. Wakim is a well-known Syrian puppit.

In the winter of 1999, I was with a friend in one of Sodeco Square's movie theaters, watching "The Confession," starring Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin. When the movie was over, we left disappointed because of the massacre perpetrated by the censors against the movie. And we were not alone. Collective sighs could be heard from the audience every time an edited-out scene was announced by the appalling noise that accompanies the cut. My friend and I could not understand why some scenes were taken out. The movie was about a man (Kingsley) who killed a doctor and a nurse in revenge for their causing of his only son's death through negligence. Then he turned himself in and insisted on pleading guilty even if that led to his execution. We did not expect from the context that the edited-out scenes were of the sexual nature that the censors believe we are too immature to see.
But when I saw the same movie on a satellite movie channel, I noticed that the scenes in question included quotes from the Torah by Kingsley to his attorney (Baldwin), then to the judges and jury, to explain why his love for his only son was a part of his duties as a religious Jew. Then I said to myself: "Is the Torah banned here, though it is recognized as sacred by both Christians and Muslims?"
Since then, Lebanese censors have stripped all films of any scenes related to Jews or Judaism. I do not mean "only" the scenes that may draw the sympathy of viewers for the victims of the Holocaust. But even if I accept, for the sake of argument, that cutting out scenes related to the Holocaust can be somehow justified, why have Jews and their religion become a taboo? I have the right to ask this question in Lebanon because in this country Judaism is one of the 18 officially recognized sects. Ironically, Sodeco Square is very near to the Jewish cemetery, which have been rehabilitated by the remaining Lebanese Jews a few years ago, as newspapers reported. So what is our problem with the Jews of Lebanon? How many of them are still among us, and have the others left Lebanon for the West of for Israel, like so many other Jews in the Arab World after 1948?
The answers to these questions and others can be found in Kirsten Schulze's good book, "The Jews of Lebanon: Between Coexistence and Conflict", which appeared in London a few weeks ago. The book tells the story of Lebanon's Jews since the beginning of history, but it emphasizes the period between the arrival of Allied troops to the Near East in 1918 and the launching of the reconstruction process in postwar Lebanon in the mid-1990s, when leftist MP Najah Wakim criticized Prime Minister Rafik Hariri for allowing Jews to buy shares in Solidere, the company in charge of the process. Schulze argues that Lebanon's Jews were different from their co-religionists in other Arab countries because of their heartfelt identification with their fellow Lebanese In other words, they were Arabized and Leventine. Lebanese Jews believed in Lebanon as a permanent country for them and sympathized with Israel in a religious sense only. Interestingly, those who had left during the two civil wars of 1958 and 1975, feeling that the Lebanon of religious tolerance and cultural pluralism had ceased to exist, actually went to Europe and the Americas instead of to Israel
Lebanon's Jewry had a special affinity for France, whose Jewish Alliance schools did their best to propagate French language and culture among Jews in the Arab World. Lebanese Jews had a newspaper in Arabic. According to Schulze, while the numbers of Jews in other Arab countries were decreasing in the 1940s, the number of Lebanese Jews doubled to 14,000. Syrian and Iraqi Jews, fleeing the fallout of the conflict in Palestine, came to this oasis of freedom, and were welcomed by the Lebanese authorities, thought they were not given the Lebanese citizenship. Wadi Abu Jamil, or "the Jewish Street," was no ghetto; it was just a Jewish neighborhood, as there were neighborhoods for Sunnis, Shiites, Orthodox Greeks, Syriacs, etc. This is the standard neighborhood demography of any Leventine city. Many Lebanese Jews were economically prosperous, and the wealthiest left the neighborhood to more classy areas, like Ras Beirut and Qantari. Owners of real estate in Wadi Abu Jamil were granted shares in return for their property appropriated by Solidere, similar to Muslim and Christian compatriots.
Almost each family had two homes: one for the winter in Beirut or Sidon and another for the summer in Bhamdoun and Aley. There were 14 synagogues. News about the few Lebanese Jews who went to Israel did not encourage other Jews to follow in their footsteps. Work in kibbutzim was tedious, while services or electricity, water and telephone were poor, and leisure time non-existent. While most were fluent in Arabic and French, their weakness in Hebrew disappointed the Zionists in Palestine. Jewish life was not always easy in Lebanon, nevertheless, Lebanese Jews continued to develop their cultural, educational and religious institutions here after 1948. Lebanese Jews had famous doctors, like neurologist and Community Council President Joseph Attieh, who represented Lebanon in international medical conferences in the 1950s and 1960s. They also had famous journalists, bankers and merchants.
The book, despite some faults, like its irregular English and its failure to elaborate on interesting events, is informative. It is based on many good references, documents and interviews. And it sheds light on a period of tolerance in Lebanon that no other Arab country knew. In Lebanon's heyday, the country's Muslims chose it over Arab unity, its Christians over European protection, and its Jews over "the Promised Land." Maybe reviving tolerance - starting, perhaps, with movies - can help this country regain a role it lost.