Steven T. Rosenthal

Background

Steven T. Rosenthal was born in the United States. He is the son of Siegfried and Miriam Rosenthal.

Education

Steven Rosenthal was educated at Yale University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1975. While an undergraduate at Yale, he was drawn to the history and culture of the Middle East.

Career

Steven Rosenthal, after graduation from Yale University, volunteered for Peace Corps service in Turkey. There he became fascinated with the textiles of the Middle East: the lush pile carpets, the colorful and aesthetically complex flatweave kilims, and the rich variety of woven tribal artifacts. He traveled all over Turkey, expanding his knowledge and seeking out special and unusual textiles. In 1979 he opened The Kilim Company in New Haven to share his collection and his enthusiasm. The store provides clients with whatever size and type of rug they desire.

Rosenthal's interest in the Middle East led him to his teaching career. First, he became an associate professor of history at the University of Hartford. Now he is holding the position of a professor.

His activity also includes research and writing. Two of his books include The Politics of Dependency: Urban Reform in Istanbul (1980) and Irreconcilable Differences?: The Waning of the American Jewish Love Affair with Israel (2001).

The Politics of Dependency: Urban Reform in Istanbul addresses issues of modernization of the Islamic world. Rosenthal looks specifically at urban reform in the Galata/Pera district of Istanbul from 1856 to 1871. During this time Western influences spurred the formation of municipal government. The experiment was ultimately a failure, and Rosenthal blames Western involvement stating that it created a sense of dependency in the region's inhabitants.

In Irreconcilable Differences?: The Waning of the American Jewish Love Affair with Israel, Rosenthal analyzes the attitude of American Jews toward Israel. After Israel was founded in 1948, American Jews considered it to be an example of Judaism's greatness and equated support of the country with Jewish identity. The author argues, however, that since the 1980s, "disastrous events and conflicts - the invasion of Lebanon, the Pollard spy affair, the Palestinian intifada and the 'Who is a Jew?' crisis - have tested the silent, uncritical unity of American Jews." Rosenthal believes this change in perception is a positive development and means that Israel will be held accountable for its actions, good or bad. This book provides the reader with a convenient overview of public events over the past half-century and raises many important questions.

In addition to his books, Rosenthal published articles in, among others, Middle Eastern Studies, The International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, and the Der Uberlick. He is also a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Islam and The Cambridge Guide to Judaism.

Achievements

• Steven Rosenthal is known as an expert in the Middle East who is actively engaged in teaching and writing. As a professor of history at the University of Hartford, Rosenthal is the recipient of the Danforth Foundation National Teaching Award.
  
  As the author of books, he was also honored. Irreconcilable Differences?: The Waning of the American Jewish Love Affair with Israel was nominated for the National Jewish Book Award and for the Koret Foundation Award. The Politics of Dependency: Urban Reform in Istanbul is considered to be a significant contribution to Ottoman and to urban history.
  
  For many years, Rosenthal has been an executive of The Kilim Company respected for the highest level of individualized attention to its clients. The Kilim Company developed a reputation for high-quality oriental pile carpets and for an unparalleled collection of antique, old, and new Turkish flatweave kilims. Clients included world-famous architectural firms and well-known designers.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Irreconcilable Differences?: The Waning of the American Jewish Love Affair with Israel

    (From the birth of Israel in 1948 to the mid-1970s, Americ...)

    2001
  • The Politics of Dependency: Urban Reform in Istanbul

    (The Politics of Dependency: Urban Reform in Istanbul disc...)

    1980

Connections

Steven Rosenthal married Mary McCormack in 1984.

Father:

Siegfried Rosenthal

Mother:

Miriam Rosenthal

Wife:

Mary McCormack