The past and the present come together in Jerusalem

December 27, 2009 - 9:28 AM by David

Sir Martin Gilbert

Sir Martin Gilbert

Who says Jerusalem isn’t a hopping place? Last night, if you were in the capital, you could take your pick of two riveting lectures by two brilliant 21st Century Jews – Professor Irwin Cotler and Sir Martin Gilbert.

Cotler, one of the world’s foremost international human rights lawyers and a tireless advocate for Israel, spoke at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue on ‘Facing the Challenge of Ahmadinejad’s Iran – Can the Free World Ensure the Security of Israel and Global Human Rights?’

Only a couple miles away in East Talpiot, at the Masorti Movement’s flagship synagogue, Moreshet Avraham, I chose to hear Gilbert, arguably the leading historian of the modern world, give a fascinating talk about his upcoming book ‘Jews Under Muslim Rule’ (alright, I also introduced him to the packed audience of 500).

The official biographer of Winston Churchill, Gilbert is the author of over 70 books including the comprehensive History of Israel, The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy, and his three-volume work, A History of the Twentieth Century.

In his hour-long talk, Gilbert mesmerized the audience with his anecdote-filled overview of the Jewish experience living under Muslim authorities from the time of Mohammed up until the present day. He recounted the ordeals of Jews in Arab countries in the years following the creation of Israel, pointing out guests of his in the audience who had provided their personal experiences of being persecuted and expelled from their native countries because they were Jews – and by association – Zionists.

Of special relevancy, he tied in the current debate about refugee status and restitution for Palestinians displaced by the creation of Israel with the 800,000 Jews from Arab lands who were thrown out of forced to flee, leaving their property and possessions behind.

One member of the audience who left Yemen with his family as a 10-month-old baby, who also served as a source for the book, spoke during the question and answer period about a movement which is gaining force to attempt to gain restitution for the lost Jewish property.

Gilbert astutely pointed out that the obstacle facing such a campaign was the tit for tat effort by Palestinians who are claiming restitution for their homes which were once in Talbieh in Jerusalem or in Jaffa.

It was one of those moments when you realize that it’s almost impossible to hold an historical talk in Jerusalem without current events becoming interminably entwined – which is probably why most of us live here.

Tags: , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, History and Culture, Life, Politics, coexistence 

Comments

2 Comments on The past and the present come together in Jerusalem

  1. sasha giler on Mon, Dec 28th 2009 9:04 PM

    2. David,
    Thank you for bringing Mr. Gilbert to Jerusalem!

    There is an award-winning documentary film that explores the history of Jews under Muslim rule including how they became refugees upon the creation of the State of Israel. It is called “The Forgotten Refugees” and it can be viewed here
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nwI2hzPjrA

    For more information email sg@davidproject.org

  2. SHELLEY on Thu, Dec 31st 2009 8:30 AM

    3. What if it were possible to reconstruct the homes and villages the Arabs fled from 60 years ago, but on Arab soil? Would that appease their nostalgia? Adding rooms for the family additions, since that time.This would solve the demographics of Israel, while showing the hapless Palestinians that the world does care for their plight, even though it has been deliberately made so by their fellow Arabs, who refused to absorb them into their own countries, in order to have a point for attacking Israel with their PR machine.

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