Content
List of illustrations preface / ix Preface / xi Introduction / xiii I. Kurdistan and the Kurds / xiii II. The Jews of Kurdistan: Origin and History / xv III. Occupations and Economic Conditions / xxi IV. Religious and Spiritual Life / xxv V. Relationship to the Land of Israel / xxix VI. The Literature of the Kurdistani Jews / xxxii Note on the English Translation / xli
Chapter I Adam and Eve / 3 Chapter II Joseph and Zulikhaye / II Chapter III Joseph and His Brothers in Egypt / 16 Chapter IV Moses and Bithiah, the Daughter of Pharaoh / 24 Chapter V The Death of Moses / 33 Chapter VI The Duel of David and Goliath / 42 Chapter VII King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba / 55 Chapter VIII Solomon and the Cushites / 62 Chapter IX The Prophet Elijah / 68 Chapter X Lel Huza: Women's Lamentations for the NinBarzānīb / 71 Chapter XI The Conversion of Onkelos to Judaism / 84 Chapter XII The Mission of Bar Kappara to Annul a Decree against the Jews / 89 Chapter XIII David Alroy, the Messiah from Kurdistan / 94 Chapter XIV Apology of a Preacher / 101 Chapter XV Legends about Rabbi Barazān ben Nathanael hal-Levi Bazani Adoni and Other Rabbis of Kurdistan / 104
Introduction 1. How Rabbi Samuel, a Hopeless Child, Became a Poet and a Scholar 2. How Rabbi Samuel, an Illiterate Weaver, Became the Rabbi of Mosul 3. How Rabbi Samuel Wrought a Miracle 4. The Flight of Rabbi Samuel from ã to Amidya and His Death There 5. The Power of Rabbi Asenath, the Daughter of Rabbi Samuel 6. The Death of Rabbi Simeon Doga, the Astrologer 7. The Conversion of the Emir of Nerwa to Judaism by Rabbi Mordecai Chapter XVI Selections from the Chronicle of Jonah ben Gabriel / 130 Chapter XVII Folktales / 135 1. The Angel of Death and the Rabbi's Son 2. The Jewish Cobbler and the Kurdish Robber 3. By Virtue of a Single Good Deed 4. The Old Man's Treasure 5. The Poor Man's Trust in God 6. The Unfortunate Shoemaker 7. The Happy Carpenter 8. The Luck of a Child 9. One Gram More, One Gram Less 10. Hamdullah, Nisan, and lyyar 11. The Power of Man 12. The Ewe, the Goat, and the Lion 13. The Fox as Tailor and Weaver 14. The Raven, the Fox, and the Rabbit 15. The Serpent and the Poor Man 16. The Pain from a Blow Heals, the Pain from a Word Does Not 17. The Child Whose Shirt Stuck to His Skin 18. The Righteous Man, the Black Man, and Our Master Moses 19. The Donkey Who Gave Advice, the Ox Who Became Sick, and the Rooster Who Was Clever 20. The Prince Who Became a Pauper 21. The Letter to God 22. The Carpenter, the Tailor, and the Rabbi 23. The Sword of Redemption 24. The Amulet 25. The Midwife, the Cat, and the Demons
Chapter XVIII Nursery Rhymes / 193 Chapter XIX Folk Songs / 197 Chapter XX Proverbs and Sayings / 202 List of abbreviations / 224 Glossary / 225 Selected bibliography / 229 Index / 233 General Index / 233 Scriptural References / 244 Rabbinic References / 246 Tale Types, Motifs, and IFA Numbers / 247 |