NEW COURSE
FYSEMR 66P – Jews in the Modern Middle East and North Africa, 1800-present
Semester: Fall
Offered: 2025
Instructor: Jessica Marglin
Meeting Time: Th 9:45-11:45am
Not so long ago, nearly every corner of the Middle East and North Africa was home to thriving Jewish communities who spoke dialects of Arabic, Persian, and Spanish, among other languages; who professed their loyalty to Ottoman sultans, the beys of Tunis, or the sultans of Morocco; and who thought, dreamed, loved, and died according to the rhythms of Muslim-majority societies. Starting in the mid-twentieth century, Jews began leaving the Middle East and North Africa in increasingly large numbers—heading to the new state of Israel, to Europe, or to North and South America. Today, very few Jews live in the region outside of Israel/Palestine, though the memory of their presence remains vibrant in many places.
The conflict in Israel/Palestine often casts more shade than light on the history of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa. Alongside the mass departure of Jews from this region, current politics can make enmity among Jews and Arabs (and/or Muslims) seem inevitable. This seminar encourages students to resist seeing the past through the lens of the present, and instead to consider how Jewish communities navigated the rapid pace of change in places where Jews had lived for centuries. Students engage with an array of primary sources, from novels to popular music.
Rather than focusing on “the conflict,” this course engages with a lesser-known dimension of both Jewish and Middle Eastern histories.
For more details please visit the Harvard Course Catalog.