Sweet Dates in Basra is a story of Iraq during and after World War II. The story takes place when Jews and Muslims more or less got along. The story follows young Kathmiya, who is a young “Marsh Arab.” When she reaches the ripe old age of 13, her thoughts begin to turn to marriage. After all, that is the age most young Muslim women in her community are married.
Instead, Kathmiya is sent into the city of Basra, where she becomes a maid in a Jewish household. Each weekend, Kathmiya returns to her humble home in the marsh and begs her family to find her a husband. Even though she is sent to several matchmakers, no viable husband find his way into her life. Her mother remains very mysterious about finding her young daughter a husband, hinting that there is some long family secret that is preventing Kathmiya from procuring a husband.
One day, while working as a domestic in Basra, she meets Shafiq, a young Jewish boy. Shafiq happens to be the brother of Kathmiya’s mistress. Shafiq and Kathmiya are both immediately smitten with each other, but are worlds apart and can only briefly speak to each other.
Shafiq’s best friend is Omar, his Muslim next door neighbor. Omar and Shafiq are best of friends who consider themselves brothers because as infants, each mother had nursed each child.
The ideology of World War II touches Iraq. The Iraqi’s are opposed to the British because of the oil interests. Politics in Iraq shift, making it dangerous to be a Jew. Shafiq’s family tries to emphasize their strong ties to Iraqi nationalism. One of Shafiq’s brother is a strong anti-Zionist, whose actions emphasize his love of his country. Ironically, he is arrested and beaten for on other reason than being a Jew.
Early on in the story, Shafiq and Omar encounter a man who had killed his daughter in an “honor” killing because she had had sexual relations before her marriage. This hints at what might happen if Shafiq and Kathmiya ever got together, since Jews and Muslims, while might live next to each other, would not marry.
This novel shows how individuals can look beyond religion and tradition and live in peace. The dynamics of groups, however, work differently. Shafiq and his brothers are denied entrance to the Iraqi University merely for being Jewish. The family realizes that it must leave the country in order to survive.
Sweet Dates in Basra was based, in part, on the author’s family. It is a good novel that sheds a bit light on a period of history that is largely unknown to Westerners.
Read: June 5, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Shavout
Shavout is the Feast of Weeks and is celebrated seven weeks after Passover. The word "Shavout" means "weeks", and the holiday is so named to denote the time lapsed between Passover and the holiday. Shavout marks the end of the counting of the Omer. Biblically, Shavout is one of the three pilgrimage festivals. In Exodus, the holiday is called Hag HaKatzir, or the Festival of the Harvest. In Numbers, the holiday is referred to as Hag HaBikkurim, or the Festival of the First Fruits. Both names emphasize its importance as an agricultural festival.
Passover, Counting of the Omer and Shavout are all interconnected by the ancient agricultural practices. The omer ~ the sheath of barley ~ was planted at Passover and came to fruition 50 days later ~ on or about Shavout.
Today Shavout is associated with the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. This connection originated following the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., when the Rabbi’s in exile linked the Shavout holiday with the revelation of Torah to the children of Israel. Tradition holds that all souls were present when G~d revealed Himself to Moses. Traditionally, the megillah of Ruth is read during Shavout to commemorate her presence during the Revelation. Ruth is Judaism's most famous convert. The Ten Commandments, as found in Exodus, are also traditionally read aloud during synagogue services on Shavout.
The synagogue is decorated with flowers for the Shavout holiday to mark the beginning of the harvest season. Jews also often stay up all night studying Torah, beginning at sunset at the beginning of Shavout. In the year 2011, Shavout begins at sundown on June 7th.
Dairy foods are the traditional foods that are eaten on Shavout.
Passover, Counting of the Omer and Shavout are all interconnected by the ancient agricultural practices. The omer ~ the sheath of barley ~ was planted at Passover and came to fruition 50 days later ~ on or about Shavout.
Today Shavout is associated with the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. This connection originated following the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., when the Rabbi’s in exile linked the Shavout holiday with the revelation of Torah to the children of Israel. Tradition holds that all souls were present when G~d revealed Himself to Moses. Traditionally, the megillah of Ruth is read during Shavout to commemorate her presence during the Revelation. Ruth is Judaism's most famous convert. The Ten Commandments, as found in Exodus, are also traditionally read aloud during synagogue services on Shavout.
The synagogue is decorated with flowers for the Shavout holiday to mark the beginning of the harvest season. Jews also often stay up all night studying Torah, beginning at sunset at the beginning of Shavout. In the year 2011, Shavout begins at sundown on June 7th.
Dairy foods are the traditional foods that are eaten on Shavout.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Yom Yerushalayim ~ Jerusalem Day
Yom Yerushalayim commemorates the unification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War of 1967. On the 28th of Iyar in 5757 (June 7, 1967), Israeli troops broke down the walls that had divided the city for the previous 19 years.
Following the War of Independence in 1948, Jerusalem had been a divided city, with barriers separating the Arab and Jewish suburbs of the city. After the Six-Day War, the two areas of the city were unified.
In the year 2011, the 28th of Iyar falls on June 1.
Following the War of Independence in 1948, Jerusalem had been a divided city, with barriers separating the Arab and Jewish suburbs of the city. After the Six-Day War, the two areas of the city were unified.
In the year 2011, the 28th of Iyar falls on June 1.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
