Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 41 (1976) Winner
Raphael Patai
ラファエル・パタイ
Raphael Patai
Aliases:
Ervin György Patai / エルヴィン・ギョルギー・パタイ
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1910-11-22 （Budapest, Austria-Hungary）
- Died
- 1996-07-20 （Tucson, Arizona, United States） age 85
- Nationality
- Hungary, United States
- Languages
- Hungarian, German, Hebrew, English
- Religion
- Judaism
- Residence History
- Budapest (birth and early life) → Jerusalem (moved 1933; 1930s–1940s) → New York (after moving to the U.S., mid-20th century) → Tucson (later life)
Career
- Occupations
- ethnographer, historian, anthropologist, author, professor
- Active Years
- 1933-1996
- Affiliations
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (teaching/affiliated), Technion (Haifa) (administrative/program involvement), Palestine Institute of Folklore and Ethnology (founder, director of research), Dropsie College (professor), Fairleigh Dickinson University (professor)
- Influenced By
- József Patai (father, Hungarian-Jewish intellectual), Hungarian- and German-language Jewish intellectual tradition
- Influenced
- Jennifer Patai (daughter, collaborator), Daphne Patai (daughter, influenced)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew University of Jerusalem | — | Semitic languages and Oriental history | 博士（Ph.D.） | 1930年代 | British Mandate of Palestine |
| University of Breslau (now University of Wrocław) | — | Semitic languages / Oriental studies (studied) | — | 留学期間（詳細不明） | Germany (historical) |
| Budapest Rabbinical Seminary | — | Rabbinical studies | 叙階（オーディネーション） | 1930年代（叙階完了時期は不確定） | Hungary |
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Semitic languages and Oriental history
Degree:
博士（Ph.D.）
Period:
1930年代
Year of Graduation:
1936
Country:
British Mandate of Palestine
Reportedly among the first doctorates awarded by the Hebrew University
University of Breslau (now University of Wrocław)
Semitic languages / Oriental studies (studied)
Period:
留学期間（詳細不明）
Country:
Germany (historical)
Studies at Breslau are noted in sources; details on degree vary between accounts
Budapest Rabbinical Seminary
Rabbinical studies
Degree:
叙階（オーディネーション）
Period:
1930年代（叙階完了時期は不確定）
Country:
Hungary
Reported to have completed ordination at the Budapest rabbinical seminary
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Bialik Prize (for Jewish thought) | — | ユダヤ思想 | Tel Aviv Municipality (Bialik Prize) | 受賞（共同受賞） |
| 1976 | National Jewish Book Award (Jewish History) | The Myth of the Jewish Race | ユダヤ史 | Jewish Book Council | 受賞 |
Bialik Prize (for Jewish thought)
1936
Category:
ユダヤ思想
Organization:
Tel Aviv Municipality (Bialik Prize)
Result:
受賞（共同受賞）
National Jewish Book Award (Jewish History)
1976
Work:
The Myth of the Jewish Race
Category:
ユダヤ史
Organization:
Jewish Book Council
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Arab Mind
1973 ethnography / sociocultural analysisAn analysis of cultural traits and behavioral patterns in Middle Eastern societies; influential and controversial in parts.
Middle Eastern cultureethnic psychologysocial customs
The Hebrew Goddess
1968 religious history / folkloreA study tracing remnants of goddess worship in ancient Hebrew religion and its cultural roles.
religious historyritualmyth
The Myth of the Jewish Race
1975 history / anthropologyA historical and scientific examination of the concept of the 'Jewish race', addressing misconceptions about ethnicity and race.
race conceptsethnic historyhistory of science
Apprentice in Budapest: Memories of a world that is no more
1988 memoirAn autobiographical recollection of life in Budapest between the world wars.
memoryJewish lifeCentral European culture
Man and Temple in Ancient Jewish Myth and Ritual
1947 religious history / folkloreAn academic study considering belief and social structures through ancient Jewish myth and ritual.
religious ritualancient historyfolklore
Bibliography
- Arab Folktales from Palestine and Israel
- The Jewish Mind
- The Myth of the Jewish Race
- The Hebrew Goddess
- Apprentice in Budapest
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- scholarly and descriptivecomparative cultural analysis-focused style
- Recurring Motifs
- ethnic culture and traditionsreligious ritual and mythstructures of Middle Eastern societies
Legacy
Patai left a wide-ranging body of work in Jewish history, ancient Hebrew culture, and Middle Eastern anthropology. His numerous writings influenced both academic fields and public understanding; his papers and research materials are preserved in institutional archives.
Academic Societies
- Jewish Studies associations (related)
- Middle Eastern Studies associations (related)
Archives
- New York Public Library: Raphael Patai Papers
In Popular Culture
- Raphael Patai Prize by Western Folklore (award named in his honor)
Trivia
- Born Ervin György Patai.
- Co-recipient of the Bialik Prize (Jewish thought) in 1936.
- Won the National Jewish Book Award in 1976 for The Myth of the Jewish Race.
- Naturalized U.S. citizen in 1952.
- His brother Saul Patai was a professor of organic chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.