1st paperback ed.

viii, 344 pages : illustrations, map ; 21 cm

text txt rdacontent

unmediated n rdamedia

volume nc rdacarrier

Includes Reader's guide and other special features.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 329-332).

In a remote corner of the world, forgotten for nearly three thousand years, lived an enclave of Kurdish Jews so isolated that they still spoke Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Mostly illiterate, they were self-made mystics and gifted storytellers and humble peddlers who dwelt in harmony with their Muslim and Christian neighbors in the mountains of northern Iraq. To these descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Yona Sabar was born. Yona's son Ariel grew up in Los Angeles, where Yona had become an esteemed professor, dedicating his career to preserving his people's traditions. Ariel wanted nothing to do with his father's strange immigrant heritage--until he had a son of his own.

National Book Critics Circle Award, Autobiography

Zakho -- 1. What's in a name -- 2. An Island in a river -- 3. A Book with shining pages -- 4. Rotten core -- 5. A Surprise -- 6. The Dyer's son -- 7. Little thumb girl -- 8. A Woman's purpose -- 9. A Prayer to the Prophet -- 10. No wasted steps -- 11. Lost in the land of Assyria -- 12. Speaking with angels -- 13. Arabs before Jews -- 14. Plus and minus -- 15. The Mountains are our only friends -- 16. Freezing in Baghdad -- 17. Hanging -- 18. Let the Hajji speak -- 19. Can't help this time -- 20. To hell with books -- 21. Let my people go -- 22. A Suitable level of civilization -- 23. God will provide -- 24. Iraqi stamps -- Israel -- 25. Kissing the ground -- 26. Where are the Jewish synagogues? -- 27. Herzl's beard -- 28. Ana Kurdi -- 29. Some of the best in Zakho -- 30. John Savage -- 31. Sleepwalking out windows -- 32. The Brotherhood of man -- 33. Gold -- Aramaic -- 34. Lishana Deni -- 35. Cleft sentences -- 36. It's all God's world -- 37. Hets and 'Ayins -- 38. Abandoning the fountainhead -- 39. Exiled and redeemed -- 40. Systematic description of a living dialect -- 41. Getting lost -- Yale -- 42. Aramaic for dirges -- 43. To a deep well -- 44. Missions -- 45. A Memorial candle -- 46. Are they kings? -- 47. Some enchanted place -- Father and son -- 48. Speechless -- 49. Hollywood on the Habur -- 50. Coming of the Messiah -- 51. Covenants -- The Return -- 52. River keeps flowing -- 53. Time travel -- 54. Habur -- 55. Kiss the eyes of your sons -- 56. Turkish delights or Jordan almonds -- 57. Heaven sent -- 58. Chasing phantoms -- 59. A Disaster, God forbid -- 60. Kind of a problem -- 61. Breakdown -- 62. "The Girl. the Jew, is alive" -- 63. Convenient truths -- Conclusion -- 64. Paradise lost -- 65. Ice-blended mocha -- 66. Saba's music.

Sabar, Yona.

Sabar, Ariel.

Jews, Kurdish -- Iraq -- Z填h嵮

Jews, Kurdish -- Israel.

Jews, Kurdish -- United States.

Z填h嵠(Iraq)

9781565129337 (trade pbk.)

1565129334 (trade pbk.)