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
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