The Jews of Beirut

Based on his research at the Ben Zvi Institute on Middle Eastern Jewish society during the period of modernization, Leviemphasizes the impact of urban change on the development of diverse, distinct Jewish communities in port cities in the Ottoman Empire. Drawing on primary documents, he sheds light on contacts between the Beiruti community and Zionist agencies in Palestine during and following World War I; the community's organizations and their competing political ideologies; and the emerging Arab-Jewish conflict. Topics discussed in this context include Jewish leadership, control of education, and philanthropy. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Tomer Levi received his MA and PhD in Near Eastern and Judaic studies from Brandeis University. He taught several courses at Tufts University and Ben-Gurion University, where he was also a post-doctoral fellow. From 2010 to 2011 he was a research fellow at the Ben-Zvi Institute conducting research on Levantine Jewish society during the time of colonial expansion.