Neumark, Ephraim

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NEUMARK, EPHRAIM

NEUMARK, EPHRAIM (1860–?), traveler and writer. Born in Eastern Europe, Neumark was taken by his parents to Ereẓ Israel. At the age of 23 he left *Tiberias on a three-year journey through the Jewish communities in *Syria, Kurdistan, Mesopotamia, *Persia, *Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The account of his travels, Massa' be-Ereẓ ha-Kedem, is distinguished by critical observation and scholarly approach. He gives a detailed picture of every aspect of the Jewish communities in the Orient, their geographical diffusion, occupations, religious life, practices, and customs.

bibliography:

ks, 24 (1947–48), 28–29; E. Neumark, Massa'be-Ereẓ ha-Kedem, ed. by A. Yaari (1967), with introd. and notes; idem, in: Ha-Asif, 5 (1889), 39–75.

[Walter Joseph Fischel]

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