The Invention of the Jewish People

Published by Dar Al-Ahliya, "The Invention of the Jewish People" by historian Shlomo Sand is a provocative scholarly critique of Zionist historiography and national mythology. Sand rigorously challenges the foundational premise that world Jewry constitutes a single, biologically distinct nation exiled from its ancestral homeland. Drawing on archaeological evidence, genetic studies, and historical texts, Sand demonstrates how Judaism expanded as a major proselytizing religion, winning converts across diverse regions including Yemen, North Africa, and the Khazar Empire. The book reveals how 19th-century European nationalism constructed a mythical collective identity, urging a transition toward inclusive, democratic statehood based on equal citizenship.

It is an essential, highly researched critique of national history construction, offering a rare inside perspective from a prominent historian on the intersection of mythology, identity, and political power.

Historians, political scientists, cultural theorists, students of Middle Eastern studies, and readers interested in nationalism, historiography, and Israeli history.