National Identity and Belonging of Yemenite Jews in The Journey of Buried Secrets

Bibliographic Data

ID7800673
AuthorsEbrahim Mohammed Alwuraafi (0000-0002-5537-7548, Al Baha University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue1
Pages128-149
Publication date2023-02-23
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman Affairs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1210-3055 • E-ISSN: 1337-401X
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/humaff-2022-1006
OpenAlexW4318020422
LanguageEN
References cited21

This article discusses the national identity of the Yemenite Jews as portrayed in Majdi Saleh’s novel The Journey of Buried Secrets . The novel, in addition to being a journey to the ancient past of Yemen, is a journey to the secret life of the Yemenite Jews as well. It is an exploration of their customs, traditions, worries, passions and identity. The writer has been able to dive deep into the depths of Yemeni society, both Muslim and Jewish, depicting the beauty of Yemen architecture, ancient inscriptions and living styles of bygone days. Saleh’s novel presents a new perspective of the Yemenite Jew, one who identifies himself with Yemen and feels proud of this attachment to the land of his birth. The article argues that Yemenite Jews have been emotionally and cognitively attached to their motherland and perceived themselves as being Yemenites belonging to the country where they were born and grew up. It asserts that such a sense of belonging is the outcome of religious tolerance and coexistence of the larger Muslim community

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Beauty · Genealogy · Jewish identity · Judaism · Literature · Passions · History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Philosophy · Religious studies · Socioeconomic Development in MENA

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