Change within Tradition among Jewish Women in Libya

In the first major study of women in an Arab country s Jewish community, Rachel Simon examines the changing status of Jewish women in Libya from the second half of the nineteenth century until 1967, when most Jews left the country. Simon shows how social, economic, and political changes in Libyan society as a whole affected its Jewish minority and analyzes the developments in women s social position, family life, work, education, and participation in public life.

Jews lived in Libya for…