Taamrat Emmanuel: An Ethiopian Jewish Intellectual, Between Colonized and Colonizers

Description

Trevisan’s book offers an insightful biographical study of Taamrat Emmanuel, a key figure among early 20^th century Ethiopian Jews. Drawn to European Jewish culture, Western thought, and Italian customs, Emmanuel developed a fiercely independent mind. His years in Italy as a young man shaped his critical thinking, suspicion of power, and his sharp wit—qualities that defined his life and work.

About the Author

Emanuela Trevisan Semi is Professor of Modern Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. A leading scholar of Jewish communities in Ethiopia and the Mediterranean, she has written extensively on Judaizing movements, modern Hebrew literature, and Mizrahi identities. Her publications include Jacques Faitlovitch and the Jews of Ethiopia, Judaising Movements (with Tudor Parfitt), and L’epistolario di Taamrat Emmanuel.