Edot Hamizrah: From Yishuv to Statehood

Much confusion surrounds the multi-ethnic mosaic that makes up for pre-state Sephardi and Mizrahi Jewry. The objective of this undergraduate course is to strive for a clearer historical account of the non-Ashkenazi sections of Jewish society in Palestine. In so doing we will consider both fusion and friction with Palestinian Arab as well as Ashkenazi brethren in faith. The native SEhpardi intelligentsia experienced much ideological ferment as well as political turmoil during the formative Yishuv era, and this will be accounted for as well. Side by side, pre-state Mizrahi Jewry itself became of the object of disciplinary inquiry and curatorial curiosity. These dovetailing developments will also be contextualized.