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Crossing Cairo: A Jewish Woman's Encounter With Egypt
In Crossing Cairo, Rabbi Ruth Sohn has written an exceptional family portrait of the experience of living in Egypt with her husband and children. Advised not to share the fact that they are Jewish, they discover what it means to hide and then increasingly share their identity. Would it be possible to cross the boundaries of language, culture and religion to form real friendships and find a home among Egyptians? As she navigates new routines of daily life to make friends, find an Arabic teacher, and get to know the mysterious veiled woman that came with the rental of their apartment, Sohn takes us on a remarkable journey as she encounters the many faces of Cairo. In the Epilogue she returns to Cairo after the fall of Mubarak to find a newly exuberant and infectious patriotism and hope. Throughout this probing contemplation of self and other in a world that is foreign and in many ways inimical to her own as an American Jew, Sohn shows how even the seemingly mundane events of daily life can yield unexpected discoveries. "With remarkable evenhandedness and...openness, Sohn has written a provocative and mesmerizing book of extraordinary passion and insight. I could not put it down!" Rabbi David Ellenson, President Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
270 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 23, 2013
I heard her talk about this book at a book fair and knew that I had to read the whole thing. What I appreciated in this book is her ability to see events, people, culture and locations through the eyes of an expat, a mother, a rabbi, a female and a scholar -- and still have every last word be interesting! Most importantly, I think, is that it has set me to thinking about how I interpret news from the middle east, especially that which comes via TV. I'll be thinking about what she wrote for a long time....and I love books that do that for me!
October 24, 2013
Rabbi Ruth Sohn takes along on her journey to Cairo. Sharing her feeling so trepidation and awe, she beautifully explains life in Cairo in 2006. Her own quest for knowledge and understanding is our guide and I was sometimes shocked and overwhelmed by some of the experiences.
At times I was nervous for her as she thinks about sharing her identity as a Jew.
I loved reading how she and her husband parented during times that were not so easy and helping their kids understand some of these issues of inter-faith, politics, facing anti-semitism, and finding strength in your own beliefs.
At times I was nervous for her as she thinks about sharing her identity as a Jew.
I loved reading how she and her husband parented during times that were not so easy and helping their kids understand some of these issues of inter-faith, politics, facing anti-semitism, and finding strength in your own beliefs.
December 1, 2013
Beautiful book. Recommended reading for a glimpse into the complexities of building and maintaining relationships with Egyptians - a very human story in which the political and personal are deeply interwoven.
December 30, 2013
I loved this book. Rabbi Sohn's descriptions are so clear - she really paints a picture for you! I didn't want to put it down.
November 26, 2014
Our study group is reading this book and we will discuss it with the author on Saturday.
It is an interesting combination of a book on Judaism, a book on Israel, a travelogue of
Cairo, a review of Muslim-Jewish relations, a snapshot of how people in Cairo feel about Israel of Israelis.
More soon...... 11-18-2014
My notes including thoughts from these pages:
On page 115 “Didn’t we win the Yom Kippur War?” I had no idea that Egyptians have a victory museum and all feel Egypt won that war.
It goes to show we don’t neessarily know the truths and facts others perceive. On page 131 When you returned to visit Jerusalem after 3 months in Egypt, you said you warmed to the familiarity as you walked in Muslin and Chrisitain quarters. On page 135 you described the sad state of affairs that Reuven said in 2005 spontaneous friendships betweens Jews and Palestinians were rare occurrences. On page 147 she discusses how both Americans stereotype Arabs and Arabs stereotype Jews. On page 162 Egyptians feels that Islam teaches tolerance for Jews and Christians but Ruth didn’t see examples of that. On page 166 ADEW jAssociation for the Development and Enhancement of Women. instrumental in getting poor women legal papers and righsts. In Cairo alone several hundred thousand women are still in need of legal documentation. ADEW offers micro loans to women interested in starting own business. Egypt suffers one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. On page 180 Danish cartoons of the prophet brought forth a discussion of freedom of speech - American concept primary and honor - Egyptian concept primary. Safiya felt USA was at war with the Muslim world In the Arab world there is a different kind of criticism of Israel. “There’s such hatred with a level of demonization that goes well beyond critisicsm. Modern egyptian woman wearing the higaab - Zayna. she said “ I wear the higaab so peple will focus on who I am inside, what kind of person I am, not how I look.” I highly recommend this book. I also liked the travelogue aspect of it and a chance to learn about Cairo geography. An overall thread was everyone learning to speak Arabic and the difference it made when Americans can speak Arabic while in Egypt.
It is an interesting combination of a book on Judaism, a book on Israel, a travelogue of
Cairo, a review of Muslim-Jewish relations, a snapshot of how people in Cairo feel about Israel of Israelis.
More soon...... 11-18-2014
My notes including thoughts from these pages:
On page 115 “Didn’t we win the Yom Kippur War?” I had no idea that Egyptians have a victory museum and all feel Egypt won that war.
It goes to show we don’t neessarily know the truths and facts others perceive. On page 131 When you returned to visit Jerusalem after 3 months in Egypt, you said you warmed to the familiarity as you walked in Muslin and Chrisitain quarters. On page 135 you described the sad state of affairs that Reuven said in 2005 spontaneous friendships betweens Jews and Palestinians were rare occurrences. On page 147 she discusses how both Americans stereotype Arabs and Arabs stereotype Jews. On page 162 Egyptians feels that Islam teaches tolerance for Jews and Christians but Ruth didn’t see examples of that. On page 166 ADEW jAssociation for the Development and Enhancement of Women. instrumental in getting poor women legal papers and righsts. In Cairo alone several hundred thousand women are still in need of legal documentation. ADEW offers micro loans to women interested in starting own business. Egypt suffers one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. On page 180 Danish cartoons of the prophet brought forth a discussion of freedom of speech - American concept primary and honor - Egyptian concept primary. Safiya felt USA was at war with the Muslim world In the Arab world there is a different kind of criticism of Israel. “There’s such hatred with a level of demonization that goes well beyond critisicsm. Modern egyptian woman wearing the higaab - Zayna. she said “ I wear the higaab so peple will focus on who I am inside, what kind of person I am, not how I look.” I highly recommend this book. I also liked the travelogue aspect of it and a chance to learn about Cairo geography. An overall thread was everyone learning to speak Arabic and the difference it made when Americans can speak Arabic while in Egypt.
October 7, 2015
The well written, thoughtful account of the six-month sojourn of the author and her husband, both rabbis, and two sons in Cairo in 2006, with brief accounts of later visits in 2007 and 2011. Ms. Sohn delivers a real sense of place and nicely delineated portrayals of the people she encounters, especially her housekeeper and her tutor in Arabic. "The chance to see the world through the eyes of others" entices her. Because of her openness, she certainly gets that, but looking back she says, "I was coming away from the experience humbled and more deeply troubled by the gap that separated our peoples and the implications this held for Israel, and indeed the whole world."
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews