One of the central events in the history of "Western" countries is the discovery of the "Orient", as reflected in the famous saying by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). The term Orient, anchored in folk stories and ancient traditions, was seen by Kipling to be something huge, fantastic, magical, mysterious and imperceivable.
A classic example are the "Arabian Nights" stories. Those stories influenced many writers and poets in Europe as well as Arab artists, and were even translated into Hebrew in 30 volumes, by Joseph Joel Rivlin.
I've been dealing with questions arising from the discussion of East-West relations: the modern, critical and aware view by the West of the Orient-East, as opposed to the "Orientalist" romantic view from the past. Here, in Israel, in the Middle East, we see ourselves as "Westerners", but no less also as "Easterners": the adoption of capitalist modernization, the cult of ambitiousness and hedonism, which have changed the purpose and work of man and added stress to life, contrasted with the fantastical, rich with imagination, glorifying the spirit, nature and the soul of the Eastern man in ancient times.
“The five hundred and thirty two night”
“The forty-five night”
“The nine hundred and twentieth night”
“The nine hundred and twentieth night”
“The Three hundred and sixtieth night”
“The twentieth night”
