The book of Jubilees belongs to a category of literature that contemporary scholars designate by the pleasantly vague tag “the Rewritten Bible.” The author of the book, like a number of other ancient Jewish writers, found it convenient to convey his message through an annotated presentation of the older text. In this way he could show […]
True or not, Anita Hill told the story of her alleged sexual harassment by the now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to a nationwide television audience of millions, fascinated by the drama of sex and power. But Susanna was never given the opportunity to tell how she had been sexually harassed by two scurrilous old men. […]
A mix of folktale and prayer, biblical themes and classical motifs, Tobit depicts a fantastic tale of Diaspora life. Containing an angel in disguise, a murderous demon, a magical fish and a young man on a journey to maturity, the Book of Tobit is not told simply to entertain. Rather, it provides carefully crafted instructions […]
In Dominic Green’s review of Palestine 1936 (Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2023), he presents two concepts of the book that are inherently flawed. First, his assertion that Jewish-Arab tensions arose after 1936, and second, his portrayal of the British as being “patrons” of the Jews. The author argues that the Arab Revolt of 1936, […]
Courtesy of Biblical Archaeology Society
In August of 1847, the British Museum mounted the first major display of Assyrian antiquities in England. For a year, the public had pored over sketches from Austen Henry Layard’s Mesopotamian excavations in the Illustrated London News. Now, it was possible to inspect the impassive, chiseled faces of the Assyrian kings during a comfortable excursion to […]
No more cynical veto was ever applied by a major power to a United Nations decision than Great Britain’s refusal to comply with the recommendation of the General Assembly on November 29 that “an area situated in the territory of the Jewish state, including a seaport and hinterland adequate to provide facilities for substantial immigration, […]
“I’m like a Genoese mercenary. I get paid to do a job. I calculate the risks, and while I may get killed, I’ll never get ulcers.” These words are John Phillips’ own summing up of his quarter of a century of taking news pictures. Born in Algeria of an American mother and Welsh father, Phillips […]
June 1941. The Wehrmacht attacks the Soviet Union, for Hitler the center of the Jewish world conspiracy. From there, he intends to push further towards the Middle East. For this plan, Hitler finds an ally in the Arab world. The Fuhrer received the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, one of the most influential men within Arab […]
The Arab defeat in the War of Independence did not bring an end to Arab violence against Israel. Despite numerous overtures of peace from the Israeli government, the Arab world continued to threaten and perpetrate violence against the young state. The London Times reported in March, 1949, that the Arabs were by no means finished […]