Prof. Barry Rubin, a dear friend and colleague, passed away on Monday, February 3 after a battle with cancer. He was much too young.
Everybody interested in the field of contemporary Middle East studies knew of Barry Rubin. He was an incredibly prolific writer with a remarkably comprehensive understanding of this region. He authored at least 20 books, published by the most reputable publication houses such as Cambridge, Yale, and Harvard. I saw him type at light speed and could not believe my eyes. He had the whole text in his head and smoothly transformed it without too much hesitation into an article or a book.
Barry wrote about a variety of subjects and themes. His endless curiosity led him to write about everything from espionage in the Middle East during World War II (the unforgettable Istanbul Intrigues), American policies toward the Middle East, the history of the PLO, a biography of Arafat, modern Syria, the Middle East predicament (called by him “a tragedy”), Egyptian Islamists, Israeli politics, and so much more. His numerous writings remain an indispensable tool for students and researchers. In final analysis, his very clear, well-argued, and jargon-free books and articles are his greatest monument.
His interests took him beyond the Middle East. He authored a seminal book on dictators in the Third World, and in search of his Jewish identity he wrote a book about Jewish assimilation, and researched his roots in an East European Shtetl (Dolhinov).
Barry had an illustrious career. He was the recipient of numerous awards, grants, and fellowships. His articles were published in the most prestigious newspapers. He was a well-sought-after Middle East analyst on radio and TV programs all over the globe.
From 1996-2002 I had the good fortune of working with Barry, when he served as my deputy at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. I accumulated many “Barry hours” and discovered an extraordinary personality.
Barry was a hard working person who used his time judiciously for writing quality analysis. This was his passion and he was very good at it.
He had a curious mind and discussions with him were invariably a fascinating intellectual experience. Particularly striking was his encyclopedic knowledge of a variety of subjects beyond the politics and cultures of the Middle East, including world history, English literature, trains, and culinary cultures. Traveling abroad with Barry was always a learning experience, as he could lecture about the history and cultures of so many different places.
Barry was also very creative, a characteristic from which the BESA Center benefited. For example, he pioneered an internet journal called The Middle East Review of International Affairs long before anybody else realized the power and potential of web-based academic publications.
Commitment to truth was another important trait in Barry’s complex personality. When he eventually came to the conclusion that the Palestinians were not going to be a partner for peace with Israel, or when he (quite early on) identified Barack Obama as promoting a misguided foreign policy, he did not hesitate to voice his assessments boldly. Barry never gave in to the political correctness that is suffocating much of academic life in Israel and abroad.
Alas, Barry was a rugged individualist, and consequently he had difficulties in adjusting to square Israeli academic structures. He also was somewhat eccentric ( he owned, for example, a red sports car, sported out-of-style big hats, and often got lost in Internet cafes). He spoke a funny Hebrew, and was very impatient with stupid or anti-Israeli people.
But those who were close to Barry Rubin knew that he was good-natured and very generous with his time and money. He could be a dear friend.
Finally, Prof. Barry Rubin was a true Zionist. He loved his adopted country and defended it assiduously against its detractors. While he remained very American until his last day, he nevertheless built his home in Israel, married his wife in Israel, and raised two Sabra children in Israel.
Farewell, Barry. I will miss you.