In Crossing Cairo, Rabbi Ruth Sohn has written an exceptional account of her experiences living with her family in Egypt. Advised not to share the fact that they are Jewish, they discover what it means to hide and then increasingly share their identity. Wondering whether it would be possible to cross the boundaries of language, culture, and religion to form real friendships and find a home among the Egyptians, Sohn takes us on a remarkable journey as she encounters the many faces of Cairo.
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.
The richness of Crossing Cairo is that it functions on a number of different levels. It's a compelling personal story of the author's sojourn in Egypt; it provides insight into the Arab Spring and the events that led up to it; most importantly, it explores the question of what it means genuinely to listen to the "Other's" narrative and use it as a lens for examining one's own. Sohn's willingness to open herself to Egyptians' perspectives on Israel and Judaism is most impressive.
-- Judith Plaskow, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
Manhattan College
In Crossing Cairo, Rabbi Ruth Sohn writes in a passionate and insightful manner reminiscent of V.S. Naipul in his Among the Believers. Reflecting on a sabbatical that Sohn, her rabbi-academic husband, and their two sons spent in Cairo, Sohn manages in clear, engaging, and lyrical prose to capture the wonder and complexity, the profound sense of common humanity and great distance, that informed the web of feelings she and her Jewish family experienced as they encountered Egypt and Egyptians during their sojourn there. Writing with remarkable evenhandedness and extraordinary 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
In rich detail, Rabbi Sohn chronicles her months living in Cairo with her observant family. At first hiding her religious identity, then gradually and cautiously revealing it to Egyptian friends and acquaintances, she explores the language, culture and disparate attitudes towards Israel and Jews in this fascinating land. An absorbing book.
--Mark R. Cohen, Ph.D.
Khedouri A. Zilkha Professor of Jewish Civilization in the Near East
Princeton University
Author of Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages
Rabbi Ruth Sohn’s Crossing Cairo is compelling reading for everyone who cares about the Middle East, about Jewish-Muslim relations, about Israel and Palestine, indeed, about humanity...it captures the attitudes of “average” Egyptians toward Jews, Israel, their own government, and life. Thoughtful, balanced, insightful, and delightfully written, Sohn’s work earns a place on the shelf with travel writers as diverse as Bruce Chatwin, De Tocqueville, and ibn Battuta.
--Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, Ph.D.
Director, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue
Jewish Theological Seminary
Ruth Sohn’s Crossing Cairo is simply FASCINATING. A treasure-trove of candid reflections on society, religion, politics, history and national memory in today’s Egypt. I especially admire her honesty in voicing her religious anxiety as an American Jew while living for half-a-year with her family in Cairo; the little vignettes about the Jewish community there (made up of a few locals, Israelis and others) are priceless. I strongly recommend the book for anyone interested in Egypt or planning to visit it.
--Suleiman A. Mourad, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion
Smith College
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.
The richness of Crossing Cairo is that it functions on a number of different levels. It's a compelling personal story of the author's sojourn in Egypt; it provides insight into the Arab Spring and the events that led up to it; most importantly, it explores the question of what it means genuinely to listen to the "Other's" narrative and use it as a lens for examining one's own. Sohn's willingness to open herself to Egyptians' perspectives on Israel and Judaism is most impressive.
-- Judith Plaskow, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
Manhattan College
In Crossing Cairo, Rabbi Ruth Sohn writes in a passionate and insightful manner reminiscent of V.S. Naipul in his Among the Believers. Reflecting on a sabbatical that Sohn, her rabbi-academic husband, and their two sons spent in Cairo, Sohn manages in clear, engaging, and lyrical prose to capture the wonder and complexity, the profound sense of common humanity and great distance, that informed the web of feelings she and her Jewish family experienced as they encountered Egypt and Egyptians during their sojourn there. Writing with remarkable evenhandedness and extraordinary 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
In rich detail, Rabbi Sohn chronicles her months living in Cairo with her observant family. At first hiding her religious identity, then gradually and cautiously revealing it to Egyptian friends and acquaintances, she explores the language, culture and disparate attitudes towards Israel and Jews in this fascinating land. An absorbing book.
--Mark R. Cohen, Ph.D.
Khedouri A. Zilkha Professor of Jewish Civilization in the Near East
Princeton University
Author of Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages
Rabbi Ruth Sohn’s Crossing Cairo is compelling reading for everyone who cares about the Middle East, about Jewish-Muslim relations, about Israel and Palestine, indeed, about humanity...it captures the attitudes of “average” Egyptians toward Jews, Israel, their own government, and life. Thoughtful, balanced, insightful, and delightfully written, Sohn’s work earns a place on the shelf with travel writers as diverse as Bruce Chatwin, De Tocqueville, and ibn Battuta.
--Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, Ph.D.
Director, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue
Jewish Theological Seminary
Ruth Sohn’s Crossing Cairo is simply FASCINATING. A treasure-trove of candid reflections on society, religion, politics, history and national memory in today’s Egypt. I especially admire her honesty in voicing her religious anxiety as an American Jew while living for half-a-year with her family in Cairo; the little vignettes about the Jewish community there (made up of a few locals, Israelis and others) are priceless. I strongly recommend the book for anyone interested in Egypt or planning to visit it.
--Suleiman A. Mourad, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion
Smith College
