Monday, April 11, 2022

Jews under Islam

About a year-and-half back I reviewed Mark Cohen on Jews under Islam. Cohen was writing in 1994 but, to my 2020 eyes, his book held up (still holds up). Laskier and Lev summarised the field 2010ish. Didn't mention Cohen.

Cohen had structured his book as a parallel-life between, well, Crescent and Cross. The project is valuable; I wholly agree (as with CoVID) that you don't compare Crescent or Cross with the Messianic Kingdom, you compare Crescent/Cross with the available alternative. Failing a long trip across Turk territory to China, the Jew must pick one C or the other C. Historically that has been Crescent although, not always.

Did Laskier and Lev think Cohen was doing a Fuller? I'd call that unfair to Cohen. But maybe Cohen's project spooked the scholars. That's a pity if so.

BACKDATE EASTER THURSDAY.

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