Shmuel Moreh — Scholar of Arabic Language, Iraqi Jewish Literature, and Judeo-Arabic

Academic career and areas of study

During his academic career Moreh focused on the modern and classical Arabic literary canon while paying particular attention to the writings of Jewish authors who wrote in Arabic or in Judeo-Arabic. He produced critical editions, literary histories, and studies of poets, prose writers and cultural networks that linked Iraqi society to broader Arab intellectual life. His approach combined close textual analysis with attention to social and linguistic context, helping to recover neglected texts and to place Jewish-Arab cultural exchange within the history of modern Middle Eastern literature.

Major themes and contributions

• Recovery and study of Iraqi Jewish Arabic literature, including poetry and prose composed in Arabic or Judeo-Arabic.
• Critical editions and translations that made primary texts accessible to scholars working in Hebrew and English.
• Research on modern Arabic literary movements and the role of intellectuals in twentieth-century Iraqi and Levantine culture.
• Engagement with contemporary Arabic-language media and journals to foster dialogue between Arab readers and Israeli scholarship.

Moreh was also active outside the academy: he contributed commentary and cultural pieces to newspapers and to online outlets such as Elaph, one of the early independent Arabic-language online journals. His facility in three languages allowed him to address different audiences and to serve as a bridge between scholarly communities.

Recognition, publications and legacy

In recognition of his scholarship and of his contribution to Middle Eastern studies, Moreh was awarded the Israel Prize in Middle Eastern studies in 1999 (Israel Prize citation). He published numerous books and articles—ranging from academic monographs to edited anthologies and critical essays—on Arabic literature and on the particular literary output of Iraqi Jews. Students, translators and researchers continue to draw on his editions and bibliographic work when exploring Judeo-Arabic texts and the literary map of modern Iraq.

Moreh's personal background linked him directly to the cultural milieu he studied: born in Baghdad, he retained an intimate knowledge of Iraqi linguistic and social patterns that informed his readings. He passed away in Tel Aviv in 2017 at the age of 84, and his scholarship remains a reference point for anyone researching the intersections of Arabic literature and Jewish cultural life in the Middle East.