Jewish Folktales from Morocco: Tales of Seha the Sage and Seha the Clown

(Hardback)

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Description

Seha, the traditional wise man-fool in Jewish Morocco is a popular fictional hero in simple yet rich tales, playful yet witty enough to provide life lessons with commitment to social fairness and mutual respect. In this collection of tales, the authors introduce readers to their grandparents and the teaching they imparted. Through humorous Seha tales, the authors transmit deeply engrained Jewish values, accentuated in accompanying socio-historical commentaries which shed light on the evolution of Seha as a popular fictional hero as well as on processes of social change and modernization experienced by Moroccan Jews, who were influenced by movements in three nations that impact their identity, namely Israel, France, and Morocco.

Reviews

With this volume, Marc Eliany becomes a transformational agent who introduces to readers the tales of Seha that he heard in his family oral tradition. The sage-clown, who could also be a trickster and a fool, represents two aspects of wisdom in the folklore of many peoples. Seha joins a gallery of Jewish wise-clowns in Ashkenazic and Sephardic narratives.

-- Dan Ben Amos, University of Pennsylvania

Elianys allegorical tales, convey with wit a community quest for intercultural respect and emancipation. Entertaining and informative.

-- Yigal Bin-Nun, Paris VIII University

Elianys tales of Seha the Sage and Seha the Clown, convey with humor and wit colors, shades, flavors and fragrances, community values that bridge folktales to social-history, social change and modernization in Jewish Morocco. Elianys work indicates that recounting thousands of years of a communitys history requires telling its folktales too.

-- Dan Albo, Bar Ilan University

Through the memories of his beloved grandparents, the author transmits his appreciation for the humor, way of life, and values of Moroccan Jewry. They present us the witty character Seha, which has been enjoyed by many generations of both children and adults. We are grateful for the authors works which preserve the culture of Moroccan Jewry which has been transmuted by modernity and emigration.

-- David Bensoussan, Universit du Qubec

Author Bio

Annette B. Fromm is an associate editor and review editor of the online journal Sephardic Horizons.

Marc Eliany is the chairman and founder of the Jewish Moroccan Museum and Archive.