From Sofia to Jaffa: The Jews of Bulgaria and Israel

by Guy H. Haskell, Raphael Patai (Foreword by)

Overview

From Sophia to Jaffa chronicles the fascinating saga of a population relocated.

Within two years of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, an astounding 45,000 of Bulgaria’s 50,000 Jews left voluntarily for Israel. This mass exodus was remarkable considering that Bulgaria was the only Axis power to prevent the deportation of its Jews to the death camps during World War II. After their arrival in Israel, the Jews of Bulgaria were recognized as a model immigrant group in a fledgling state attempting to absorb hundreds of thousands of newcomers from more than eighty countries. They became known for their independence, self-reliance, honesty, and hard work.

From Sofia to Jaffa chronicles the fascinating saga of a population relocated, a story that has not been told until now. Beginning with a study of the community in Bulgaria and the factors that motivated them to leave their homeland, this book documents the journey of the Bulgarian Jews to Israel and their adaptation to life there.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814344057
Publisher:	Wayne State University Press
Publication date:	02/05/2018
Series:	Raphael Patai Series in Jewish Folklore and Anthropology
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Guy H. Haskell is the general editor of the Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

Editorial Reviews

Haskell, the general editor of the Jewish and Ethnology Review, has written what may be the definitive work on this somewhat esoteric subject. In fluid and authoritative fashion, he traces the history of Bulgaria’s largely Sephardic Jewish community from mainly the Ottoman period to the present.

Sheldon Kirshner Journal - Sheldon Kirshner

An astute work sure to be valued for its perspective on Jewish scholarship as well as its scholarship on Jews. It reveals the cultural dynamics of an often overlooked ethnic group adjusting to a new life in Israel, and in the process raises significant ideas about the nature of ethnicity generally. The book will be appreciated for its solid basis, its fresh insights on Jewish ethnicity and cultural tradition, and its clarity and sagacity.

Simon J. Bronner

Chronicles the story of the 45,000 Jews who migrated from Bulgaria to Israel within two years of that country's creation. Surveys the Bulgarian Jewish community and why all but 5,000 chose to leave, and their experience in Israel where they were considered model immigrants known for their independence. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews