Customer Reviews

Saint Veneration Among the Jews in Morocco (Raphael Patai Series in Jewish Folklore and Anthropology)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Utterly fascinating, vivid, moving description of a little-known area of Judaism. Appalling as it may be to many Western Jews, saint veneration is an ancient, deeply felt practice that is shared by Jews and Muslims in North Africa, and that is tenaciously observed despite being frowned upon by the "official" arbiters of tradition.

For the topic, this is the only book to read. It is a penetrating survey of saint veneration in Morocco and contains much material that is probably being saved for posterity (since most Moroccan Jews now live in Israel). Particularly useful is the appendix of interviews and tales. They are great stories, and belong in the pantheon of Jewish Folktales. Ben-Ami is exhaustive and meticulous in his scholarship and the work is flawless and well documented. This book deserves to be included in a series named after the great folklorist and ethnographer Raphael Patai.