This paper investigates the literary career of the Iraqi Jewish novelist and short story writer Samīr Naqqāsh (1938–2004), who remained committed to Arabic as his language of expression despite exile, displacement, and the sociocultural challenges he endured. Born in Baghdad, Naqqash was forced to emigrate with his family to Israel during childhood; however, his deep attachment to his homeland continued to resonate throughout his works, shaping both his literary voice and his thematic concerns. Naqqash’s writings vividly document the experiences and hardships of Iraqi Jews, particularly in the aftermath of their coerced migration to Israel, where they struggled with alienation and a lack of belonging. His novels and short stories—such as When the World Was Pregnant and Miscarried (1980), The Abomination (1987), A Story for All Times and Places (1978), I, Those, and Schizophrenia (1978), and When the Ribs of Triangles Fall (1981)—grapple with complex issues of identity, exile, and the tension between dual affiliations to Iraq and Israel. This study argues that Naqqash’s experience of exile fundamentally shaped his literary imagination and gave rise to a body of work marked by themes of uprootedness, estrangement, and cultural fragmentation. Special attention will be given to his insistence on writing in Arabic rather than Hebrew, a choice that placed him at the margins of Israeli literary life but reinforced his unique cultural positioning. By situating his literary production within the broader framework of identity formation and displacement, this paper highlights the intersection of literature, exile, and the politics of language.

Authors:
Saleem Abu Jaber, Kaye Academic College of Education, Israel

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Saleem Abu Jaber is head of the department of Arabic language and literature at Achva Academic College,where he is also an academic advisor. He is responsible for ensuring the accessibility of higher education to the College’s Arab students.

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Saleem-Abu-Jaber-2

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