The Seed of Abraham: Jews and Arabs in Contact and Conflict [Paperback]

Raphael Patai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1987

This wide-ranging discussion of Jews & Arabs, Judaism & Islam, is historical, psychological, & anthropological in approach. By focusing his study on folk culture, Raphael Patai makes a unique contribution, complementing classic works in the field. The volume is a distillation of the best available material on the subject of Jewish-Arab interactions over the ages. It provides an excellent overview of Arab-Jewish relations vis-a-vis religion, theology, culture, literature, & politics from the pre-Muhammad period to the present day, showing the shared heritage as well as divergence of Arab & Jew. Winner of the Jewish Book Council Award & the Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Relations.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Arabs have been conditioned by their religion, tradition and history to have an especially disdainful attitude to the Jews," writes Patai, who explains that for 13 centuries, Arabs viewed the Jews as dhimmishumble, downtrodden people who accepted their lower-class status. But the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel changed all that; Arabs, writes Patai, are now "psychologically unable to accept" the fact that some Muslims live under Jewish rule, a condition said to violate the will of Allah, and egged on by anti-Semitic leaders, the Arab masses consider Jews a sinister menace. Patai's apologetic screed, an attempt to probe the psychological roots of Arab-Jewish enmity, is likely to raise hackles on both sides, though he does underscore commonalities that have linked Jews and Arabs through the centuries. Patai (The Arab Mind, etc.) also highlights past Jewish cultural achievements that flourished despite oppressive Muslim regimes.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

This excellent overview of Arab-Jewish relations vis-a-vis religion, theology, culture, literature, and politics from the pre-Muhammad period to the present day shows us the shared heritage as well as divergence of Arab and Jew. Patai, a well-known and prolific scholar, rightly contends that prior to 1948 Jews in Arab lands, although grudgingly tolerated as second-class citizens, were able to achieve a fruitful cultural symbiosis with their Moslem brethren. Since the establishment of the state of Israel, however, a pervasive anti-Semitism has captured the Arab mind, creating a split that will not be healed soon. Suitable for general readers interested in the subject, this book is recommended for most collections. Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 394 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co (February 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684187523
• ISBN-13: 978-0684187525
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,634,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)