New Israel Fund at Jewish Book Week Not the Enemy: Israel’s Jews from Arab Lands Sunday 22 February, 12:30pm, £8 Stanley Room, Royal National Hotel RACHEL SHABI, Chair: IAN BLACK

Rachel Shabi and Ian Black discuss the complexities within Israeli society, scrutinising the bitterness that many Jews originally from Arab countries experience towards Ashkenazi Jews of European origin. Shabi traces this back to the early days of the newly created state – steadfast in its identification with Europe. Immigrants who brought Middle Eastern customs and spoke Arabic were often regarded as inferior; sixty years on, such attitudes still persist, affecting not only Jewish Israeli society but also Israel’s relations with its neighbours.

Friendly Fire: A.B. Yehoshua; (IN HEBREW) in memory of Risa Domb Sunday 1st March, 5.00pm, £8 Institute of Education AB YEHOSHUA, Chair: TSILA RATNER

Friendly Fire: A.B. Yehoshua
Sunday 1st March, 8.30pm, £15
Galleon Suit, Royal National Hotel
AB YEHOSHUA, Chair: LYSE DOUCET

At the core of Yehoshua’s latest novel, Friendly Fire, is the pointless death of a young soldier, the actual meaning of military terminology and the devastating effect it has on his family. An insightful exploration of relationships and Israeli society today. Yehoshua discusses the role of literature and of the writer in Israel as well as his hopes and fears for the future.

The above events are in association with NIF

Please book these events directly with Jewish book Week at www.jewishbookweek.com