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Benbaruk, Leon

By Leon Benbaruk

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (History), McGill University

Leon was born in Morocco. He immigrated to Canada in 1964. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History Cum Laude, Loyola College (1968 - 1972).

He was an elected Rhodes Scholar in 1972 and studied at Keble College, Oxford.KEBLE COLLEGE , OXFORD

Read Modern Middle Eastern Studies – Oriental Studies , OXFORD UNIVERSITY 1975.

Leon obtained his Master of Arts in Islamic studies at McGill University, in Montreal, in 1977.

He wrote his thesis on the Moroccan Monarchy and Nationalism (1912-1956), A REPUBLIC FOR A MONARCHY .

He lives in New Zealand since 1980.

He has published several articles on MENA Middle East and North Africa

Last book review : DOING IT MY WAY – an Egyptian memoir by ELHANY ELZAYAT

Founder of SOCRATES CAFÉ a discussion group on MENA

Observer of MENA issues since 1967. Taught MENA to adult classes .

Articles in this column

Jenin is one tough neighbourhood and well worth writing about

By Leon Benbaruk, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (History), McGill University

MORNINGS IN JENIN by Susan ABULHAWA is a novel reflecting the reality of the Palestinian plight and suffering. Its original title in 2002 was THE SCAR OF DAVID in 2002 which becomes relevant in the story. The SCAR of David is probably a metaphor for the Star of David. The book is well researched and is also a personal account . (Full Story)