Ari Ariel, Ph.D.
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Research Interests
Dr. Ariel's first book, ​Jewish-Muslims Relations and Migration from Yemen to Palestine in the Late Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, analyzes the impact of local, regional and international events on ethnic and religious relations in Yemen, and on Yemeni migration patterns. It argues against claims that Muslim oppression of Jews, messianism, or Zionism were the primary drivers of Yemeni Jewish emigration. Instead this research identifies global transformations, such as improved transportation technologies, the integration of Yemen into the world economic system, and increased transnational contact with non-Yemeni Jews, as the underlying factors provoking Yemeni migration to Palestine.  
 
His current project follows Yemeni Jews as they moved abroad, asking how migration impacted Yemeni culture and identity, and how Yemeni Jews negotiated their interactions with Jewish and Muslim communities in their new homes. It argues against understanding emigration as a complete break with Yemen or Yemeni Muslims and instead emphasizes both continuity and change in Muslim-Jewish relations. In particular, this research studies representations of, and by, Yemeni Jews in order to better understand the emergence on a hybrid Yemeni identity and Yemeni-non-Yemeni relations in Palestine/Israel, and elsewhere. 

Dr. Ariel is also actively engaged in the study of foodways and culinary history. He has published work on the Hummus Wars and on Yemeni Jewish foodways, and has forthcoming articles on the transformation of Middle Eastern Jewish foodways in Israel and on using food to teach the Israel/Palestine conflict. He is also the editor-in-chief of NYFoodstory: The Journal of the Culinary Historians of New York.

Appearances
Dr. Ariel has been invited to speak at numerous universities and academic conferences, and has participated in television and radio broadcasts. He presents annually at the Middle East Studies Association and the Association for Jewish Studies conferences. 
 
Curriculum Vitae
Click Here for Dr. Ariel's Full CV
Ari Ariel, Ph.D.
Department of History, University of Iowa, 280 Schaeffer Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1409
ari-ariel@uiowa.edu

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