tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post256179620565392791..comments2024-03-14T02:22:26.957+00:00Comments on Point of No Return: Jewish Refugees from Arab and Muslim Countries: About those salted, decapitated heads ....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-4712248690261309492011-11-16T00:03:04.712+00:002011-11-16T00:03:04.712+00:00What I am saying is that it is an appropriation of...What I am saying is that it is an appropriation of negative stereotypes originating in the dominant society. This is a very marked characteristic of the dhimmi. Many of our customs which we cherish as ours, originated as prohibitions. ex: "you can't wear green because it's not our custom" (that was my mother speaking when for my 12th I wanted a green dress:)Sylvianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-43269475905163418182011-11-15T23:49:32.634+00:002011-11-15T23:49:32.634+00:00Yes agreed, cursed victims or outcasts. But a bloo...Yes agreed, cursed victims or outcasts. But a blood libel?bataweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15829104245735619972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-4428341616954609522011-11-15T23:45:43.441+00:002011-11-15T23:45:43.441+00:00Norman Stillman "The Jews of Arab Lands"...Norman Stillman "The Jews of Arab Lands", p.81.<br />"The later legendary etymology of the word mellah as a place where Jews originally salted the heads of executed criminals for public display emphasizes the outcast connotation that was attached to it".Sylvianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-62651252104078026272011-11-15T23:43:43.742+00:002011-11-15T23:43:43.742+00:00'comes' in.
How much this was a blood libe...'comes' in.<br />How much this was a blood libel, I'm not sure - the beheaded rebels were not killed by the Jews and to associate the Mellah with this activity casts the Jews as cursed victims more than anything else, perhaps?bataweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15829104245735619972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-8913082375599825012011-11-15T23:39:25.076+00:002011-11-15T23:39:25.076+00:00Sylvia, I see what you mean.
No doubt the Mellah ...Sylvia, I see what you mean. <br />No doubt the Mellah (Persian: Mallaleh) started off as rather a comforting place of protection, but then the word acquired a derogatory meaning, and that's where the association with the salted heads come in.bataweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15829104245735619972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-13414763959715425152011-11-15T23:17:38.999+00:002011-11-15T23:17:38.999+00:00"he was reputed to have been to the Jews"..."he was reputed to have been to the Jews" = He was reputed to have been good to the Jews.Sylvianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12677825.post-33233227272691173452011-11-15T23:14:23.278+00:002011-11-15T23:14:23.278+00:00But are the beheadings the reason "Mellah&quo...But are the beheadings the reason "Mellah" got its name? No, this is a malicious legend that I believe made it into print only in the early 20th century.<br /> <br />First - To say that Mellah got its name because of the beheadings is to ignore the historical background. The Jews of Morocco remembered in their history books the Merinid Sultan who moved them to their new quarters outside the city of Fes as "Abdel Haq the compassionate". They were aware that the intention was to protect them from fanatics even though they didn't like the idea. he was reputed to have been to the Jews. In fact he was assassinated on the pretext that he had a Jewish Vizir (who was assassinated as well).<br /><br />- Second every Jewish quarter - and this seems particular to Morocco - was named Mellah - even in those areas where, until the French protectorate, were tribal areas where the Sultans had no jurisdiction.<br /><br />- Three, the grammatically correct translation of Mellah in the North African dialects is "the salter". Just like "to the Baker" means a Bakery and the Butcher is a butcher-shop so "Salter" means salt station. A place where they received salt and salted the meats not only for themselves (Kashrut) but for the rest of the population. <br />Salt was a precious commodity until the appearance of the ice-box.<br /><br />To adopt this as if it was the regular occupation of Jews and attach it to an etymology is tantamount to Jews adopting the blood libel.Sylvianoreply@blogger.com