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The Wrong Kind of Jew: A Mizrahi Manifesto Paperback – October 21, 2022

by Hen Mazzig (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings
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Part memoir, part manifesto,The Wrong Kind of Jew catalogues the Jewish population of the Middle East and North Africa, their history, and the voices who fail to meet the expectations of both the Jewish and non-Jewish world—yet are better for it.

When people ask what I’m passionate about, Judaism, likely, comes first. If you ask where I’m from, the answer is Israel, so usually a dead giveaway. But if you dive into my ethnicity or race, I will tell you that my family comes from North Africa and the Middle East—Tunisia, and Iraq, to be more specific.

So you’re Arab? people often ask. And I respond, no, I’m a Jew.

I’m Mizrahi. The Jews of the Middle East and North Africa are known as Mizrahim. But few people—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—know of us. There are many reasons for that, one of which is that for too many, Mizrahim are “the wrong kind of Jew.” We’re not only unfamiliar, but our culture shatters stereotypes and unspoken rules. We break the expectations many hold about Jews and race, the Middle East and religion, and even politics and oppression.

Because of my Mizrahi heritage, I don’t fit into what many people see as the secular, cultural tenets of Judaism.

I like bagels, but I don’t consider them my cuisine. I don’t have opinions on Katz Deli or whether or not they are better than Langers. What kind of meat is Pastrami? I’m still not sure. My grandma doesn’t make matzo-ball soup when I’m sick or even on the holidays. Instead, she’s making a stew that most of my Jewish friends can’t pronounce.

Yes, my grandparents were in the Holocaust. Can’t get more Jewish than that, right? But their streets were never lined with swastikas or German soldiers. No one scrawled “Jude” on their homes or businesses. They didn’t survive Auschwitz or Dachau or Buchenwald. They were due to be sent to Nazi camps with unknown names. Their neighbors were shot and raped in antisemitic riots, which most people, even most synagogues, don’t commemorate.

For some, I’m not just the wrong kind of Jew; I’m a bad Jew. I’m bad at meeting expectations of what Jewish looks like, sounds like, thinks like, and means.

But I have the audacity to know that I am a bad Jew and feel good about it.
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 21, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1642937231
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1642937237
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wicked Son (October 21, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1642937231
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1642937237
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

About the author

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Hen Mazzig

Hen Mazzig

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For a decade, Hen Mazzig has been an educator on Jews with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa, and credited by historians as the founder of Mizrahi Heritage Month. Mazzig has appeared as an expert on Jewish issues on four continents, over 500 college campuses, BBC, SkyNews, TEDx, and countless Shabbat dinners. Mazzig's writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, NBC News, Haaretz, The Forward, Jewish Chronicle, International Business Times, and numerous other publications.

Hen was named in Algemeiner's top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life in 2018 and 2021, the top 50 online pro-Israel Influencers, and Top 50 LGBTQ+ Influencers. For his advocacy, he was awarded CAMERA’s Portrait in Courage Award in 2023. Hen Mazzig's first book, "The Wrong Kind of Jew" was released in 2022.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
53 global ratings
must-read book
5 Stars
must-read book
Hen is amazing activist, and a wonderful writer.The book is full of stories and interesting history, all combined with Hen personal storywas really enjoy reading it - and highly recommend for everyon.
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Top reviews from the United States

Hotspur
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on understanding antisemitism today
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2022
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Hen's book is addictively written and compulsively readable, as well as informative and relevant. He defies the neat little boxes of societal classification. He's Queer, he's Mizrahi, he's progressive, he's secular, he's Jewish. He calls out anyone and everyone and slaughters sacred cows like a high priest at the time of the Second Temple, but he also is willing to offer anyone a chance if they come with good faith. He tells his story with incredible candor and clarity, shedding light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with wit and nuance. He loves Israel with his whole soul, but won't deny it needs to do better on Mizrahi issues. He explains the reason for the strong Mizrahi right-wing movement, while also critiquing it. I can keep going, but just buy the book, he says it better.
8 people found this helpful
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Susan Blumberg-Kason
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, No Matter Your Background!
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
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I have been following Hen Mazzig on Instagram for a while now and was so excited to see that he has a book out, so I ordered it as soon as it was published. It did not disappoint!! As a Jewish American with Ashkenazi roots, I've been troubled with the way some people are viewed as "more Jewish" than others. Hen Mazzig covers this with a comprehensive history of Mizrahi Jews, not just in Israel but in the countries from which they were expelled and in the US. Without understanding Mizrahi Jewish history and culture, we cannot understand Israel and the controversies and obsessions some people seem to fixate over in a disproportional way when compared to other countries. So that's why I think everyone should read this book! It enlightens and educates in a way that anyone can understand. If there's any book to read about Israel now, it's Hen Mazzig's!
6 people found this helpful
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Alex Molayem
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
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I finished this book cover-to-cover in one sitting. It's such a beautiful perspective on Jewish identity that weaves the too-often ignored history of Jews across the middle east and north Africa. Growing up as a Persian Jew, we do not have many opportunities to learn about our own history, especially compared to Ashkenazi Jews. And while this book just touches the tip of the iceberg, it weaves our common narrative into the larger story of the Jewish diaspora. I didn't know it til I read it, but I've been waiting for a book like this all my life. Thank you Hen. The work you do is so important. I'll definitely be buying copies for friends and family.
9 people found this helpful
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Devon P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2022
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This book took me 24 hours to read cover to cover - I couldn’t put it down. Hen’s account is well-articulated, well-researched, and above all, passionate. Everyone should read this book - both Jewish and non-Jewish people, harsh critics and ardent supporters of Israel, Mizrahi and non-Mizrahi Jews alike - as it highlights the history, oppression, and erasure of Mizrahim in Israel and the West. You cannot fully understand what it means to be Jewish or Israeli without understanding Mizrahi Jews.
5 people found this helpful
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Massimo Lagoda
5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone with a slight interest in Jewish world or Israel should read this!
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
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I was not able to put this book down for a moment over the weekend. Having Mizrahi family members and a daughter of Mizrahi descent, it was important for me to hear these experiences that so often are left standing silently in the shadows of society. Hen’s heartfelt account of his personal life and his family gives a voice to so many, even those that out of necessity of moving forward for the sake of their children, have buried their painful history in the past. Hen connects to you through his words on the pages of his book in a way many writers can’t. Everyone, with even the slightest interest in the Jewish world and Israel, should read this book to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Jew. Hen, by being the “wrong kind of Jew” you’ve been exactly the type of Jew you were always meant to be. The right kind.

Shipping was quick and book was brand new.
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon customer
5.0 out of 5 stars very interesting
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
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This was very interesting and thought provoking.
One person found this helpful
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Maccabee Mamma
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for Ashkenazi Jews/NonJews/Educators/Rabbis
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
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Hen beautifully tells the history of his family and of the Mizrahim. He shares the struggles they have faced in Israel, breaking down the bigotry and challenges they still deal with today. Sadly, too many Jews have zero knowledge of the Farhud and brush aside the absolutely necessary retelling of the history of the Jews from the Middle East/Africa. Our synagogues have neglected to include these voices and they are doing a disservice to all of us by only highlighting the history of Ashkenazi Jews. Now, more than ever, we must unite and share our collective history. I truly hope this book is read in our public schools and shared in our synagogue reading groups. This book is long overdue. Thank you Hen, I know you have given power and strength to so many through your words.
8 people found this helpful
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Alberto B. Nathan
5.0 out of 5 stars Egyptian mizrahi Jew
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
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Reading this book made me feel good and proud of my identity. I always sought I am a Sephardi Jew because somewhere Sephardic Jews were the opposite of ashkenazi Jews, but now I feel like Mazzini brilliantly says: a proud descendent of the Judah nation exiled by Nabucodonosor long time ago.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Roland
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read for a Mizrahi jew
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2023
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As a Mizrahi Jew myself I found this book interesting to read, although as a person with middle-eastern looks I don't think that the racism mentioned is unique to this race or religion. It's everywhere.
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