Whose Jewish history is it anyway? Ideology and practice in the study of the Jewish communities from the Islamic world in nascent Israel

This article explores the historiographical and ideological debates surrounding the academic treatment of Sephardi and Mizrahi (“Oriental”) Jewish history in Israeli academia during the early years of the state's independence. Through a comparative analysis of two significant initiatives–the attempted establishment of a university department for Jewish history in the Islamic world by S. D. Goitein, and the founding of the Institute for Research on Jewish Communities in the Middle East by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi–this study reveals the underlying Eurocentric biases that shaped the development of Israeli academic institutions. Despite their efforts, Goitein and Ben-Zvi faced considerable resistance, limiting the scope and impact of their projects. The article argues that these limitations were largely driven by ideological currents within Zionist historiography, which marginalized the historical significance of Jewish communities from the Islamic world, viewing them as peripheral to the dominant narrative of Jewish history. This study not only sheds light on the struggles of these early academic pioneers but also highlights the broader cultural and political implications of their work and views, serving as a precursor to ongoing debates in Israeli historiography and academia about the representation and integration of Sephardi and Mizrahi heritage in national narratives.