13th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research

Presentation Abstracts

HADDAD, Mo'nim

Supreme Humanism Among Arabs and Jews

Mo'nim Haddad is unable to attend the congress and present this paper.

In light of the recent Palestinian ‘Al-Aqsa Intifada’, and as a Christian Arab Palestinian Arab who is an Israeli citizen, I decided to present a paper concerning instances of supreme humanism among Arabs and Jews.

In this paper I shall introduce the story of the famous classic poet, knight and hero Emru-Al-Qais who lived in Arabia before Islam (500-545 AD). He was involved in a revenge-war against many enemies and intended to go to Constantinople, to ask the Byzantine Caesar (Emperor) for military help, aid and support. Unfortunately he couldn’t take his family, his weapons or property with him, and left his family as guests at the fortress residence (which was held as an ‘Autonomy’) of As-Samawa’l Ben A’adia, the Jewish poet, and went to Constantinople. His enemies came to As-Samawa’l’s fortress and demanded that he deliver into their hands the family, property and weapons of Emru-Al-Qais. As-Samawa’l was adamant in his refusal. The enemies took one of As-Samawa’l’s sons as hostage, threatening to kill him unless he complied with their demands. As-Samawa’l sacrificed his son rather than breaking his promise to Emru-Al-Qais. From that time he has been a symbol of faithfulness and loyalty, a person who will keep their word whatever the consequences.

During the First World War, the Turkish authorities who ruled in Palestine pursued foreign citizens, accusing them of being spies, and killing them. Mr. Levine, an American Jew who lived in Jerusalem, saw the Turkish soldiers coming to arrest him, and ran away to escape death. His search for a safe hiding place led him to the house of the Palestinian Christian educator, writer and leader Mr. Khaleel Al-Skakeeny whom he asked for help and shelter. As-Skakeeny, recalling the story of Emru-Al-Qais and As-Samawa’l, took him in, notwithstanding the fact that his actions, if discovered by the authorities, would invoke the death sentence. A few weeks later, informers told the Turkish authorities about Levine and he and As-Skakeeny were arrested and taken, on foot, from Jerusalem to Jericho, from there to Amman (the Jordanian capital) and then to Damascus (the Syrian capital) where there they were sentenced to death. While they were in prison awaiting execution, a Turkish army officer recognized his former teacher Al-Skakeeny. It was the end of the war and the Turkish army was in the process of evacuating Syria. Taking advantage of the resulting disorder, the officer arranged for the release of both the honest and honourable As-Skakeeny and Levine from prison. Thus did the Christian Arab Palestinian As-Skakeeny, through his offer of aid and shelter to Jewish Mr Levine, repay the historical debt of the Jewish As-Samwa’l to the Arab Emru-Al-Qais.