How does the complex history of Jewish immigration reshape our understanding of today’s border debates?
Shalom Hartman Institute Senior Research Fellow and Felix Posen Professor in Modern Jewish History and Director of the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Jewish Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University, Jim Loeffler, reveals that the narrative of Jewish immigration is far more complex than the simple fables we are often told.
In this session from the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Day of Learning, “In the Face of Cruelty,” Jim illuminates the history of Jewish migration, showing how European economic shifts alongside antisemitic violence drove millions to the US . This session challenges us to rethink the divide between “refugee” and “economic migrant,” in order to inspire us to build a more inclusive and humane society. Learn what the story of 23 Jews arriving in New Amsterdam in 1654 can teach us about religious tolerance, coalition building, and political action in the modern era.
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