Cultural, Social, and Political Perceptions in the Folktales of Libyan Jews

Rachel Simon is a social and cultural historian of the Jews in the modern Middle East and North Africa, with special reference to Libya, women, youth, education, Zionism, publishing, and journalism. Her publications include Libya Between Ottomanism and Nationalism: The Ottoman Involvement in Libya During the War with Italy (1911-1919) (Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag, 1987) and Change Within Tradition Among Jewish Women in Libya (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1992), as well as numerous journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopaedia entries. Her research was conducted in archives and libraries in Israel, Italy, Turkey, England, Germany, and the USA. She has a PhD from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.