The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book

by Norman A. Stillman

Norman Stillman has produced a comprehensive and articulate history of the turbulent and complex relationships in the Middle East that brilliantly captures the people and the history.

Genres: History, Judaism, Middle East, Jewish, Islam, Religion, Judaica

474 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Mark]

Stillman's The Jews of Arab Lands: a History and Source Book is not for the faint of heart. It is essentially a compendium of primary source material from the start of Islam in the 600's through roughly 1890 chronicling the interaction of Muslim states with their Jewish subjects. The source material is drawn from official edicts of various states from Morocco to Persia, letters from Jewish elders to synagogues, official correspondence from European embassies back to Italy, France, Prussia, and England, travelogues, and personal letters from friends and family. What I most appreciated about Stillman's book was how heavily footnoted it was (at times it seemed the footnotes had footnotes) but not being familiar with a wide spectrum of Arabic and Turkish words and political offices and a lot of Jewish customs/religious practices I was immensely grateful for all them. A very good read.

P.S. I picked up this gem at "Magic Door Bookstore IV" in Pomona, CA.

[Bob Mendelsohn]

I still, after all these years (I bought the book in the mid 80s) refer to this book, mostly the 2nd half which is the 'sources' section to read the primary sources for much of the discussion that persists to this day!

[Donna Herrick]

a difficult read, but well worth the effort. you will learn of the beginning of islam, and the role thar the jews had in that history. the ensuing
12 centuries were sometimes ok for the jews, but were most often lived in subjugation. the translted documents that support the description are an amazing work of scholarship.

[Miriam Jacobs]

An excellent documentary source book, highly revelatory of how Jewish lives in these territories were lived, on the ground.

The tone is rather dry and academic, but many implications/inferences are exciting.

[Lola Laurence]

Definitely a white man's look into my history but wow ! Learned so much
Tbh I feel like my Jewish education failed me since I knew so little of this

[Jennifer Spires]

For a class...
Lots of interesting information but gets bogged down with lists of Arabic names (only a problem if you haven't encountered that before probably). I sometimes have to read it with a war movie narrator's voice so that I can concentrate.
The author relates it to and discusses events involving Islam and Christianity often.

[Craig Bolton]

Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book by Norman A. Stillman (1979)

[Matty]

eichler's is from '79.

[Nranger7]

Is a good source book and I like that it gives some history of Islam before going directly into the documents.