Using a comparative perspective to understand the lived experiences of Latino Jews in the United States, this talk explains how this group of immigrants attain upward mobility by successfully navigating racial and class structures.
In an effort to deepen public understanding of race, this free online lecture series beginning January 2021 uses the prism of Jewish experience to examine intersections of race and religion, drawing lessons from the history of antisemitism, examining the role of Jews in the racialized culture of the United States, and exploring the role of race in Jewish identity. Leading scholars in Jewish Studies, Critical Race Studies, and Religious Studies will share insights and research that deepens the conversation about race, racism and anti-racism in contemporary society, both American and Jewish.
Panelist:
Laura Limonic
Laura Limonic is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the College of Old Westbury of the State University of New York. Her research focuses on contemporary immigration to the United States and the integration trajectories of ethnic and ethno-religious groups. Her recent book, Kugel and Frijoles: Latino Jews in the United States, explores issues of ethnicity, race, class, and religious community-building among Latino Jewish immigrants in Boston, New York, Miami, and Southern California. Dr. Limonic’s current work examines the rise of Chabad in Latin America as an avenue for Jewish identity construction and communal life among Jews in Latin America and abroad. Her work has been supported by the Berman Foundation, the Association for Jewish Studies, and the Templeton Trust. In addition to academic research, Laura has an extensive background in public policy research and advocacy.
