Jewish Experience in the ‘New World’ Focus of UNM Conference

The University of New Mexico NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales Email: cgonzal@unm.edu Phone: (505)277-5920 November 9, 2009 Jewish Experience in the ‘New World’ Focus of UNM Conference The UNM Latin American and Iberian Institute sponsors “Unlikely Neighbors? The Jewish Experience in the ‘New World,’” a conference with leading national speakers exploring historical perspectives of Jewish Life in Spain, the Americas, Argentina, and Cuba, on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the UNM Student Union Building Lobo A&B from 1-5 p.m. The conference is free and pre-registration is recommended at Celebrate Festival Program. "Unlikely Neighbors" is presented as part of "¡Celébrate!," Nov. 5-15, of film, music, art, theater, food, exhibits and lectures highlighting the extraordinary historic and contemporary journey of the Jewish people after their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Funding for this conference was provided by the Isaac Liberman Foundation. In addition to the LAII, the program is sponsored by UNM’s the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League in conjunction with the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, the New Mexico Historical Society and UNM’s Departments of History, Spanish and Portuguese, Anthropology, Sociology, Religious Studies, American Studies, Women’s Studies and the UNM Libraries Center for Southwest Research. Four leading scholars will share their work during the conference: Seth Ward, University of Wyoming “From Convivencia to Concealment: The History of the Jews and Crypto-Jews of Spain” Stanley M. Hordes, University of New Mexico “The Sephardic Legacy in Spanish America: A History of the Crypto-Jews” Sandra McGee Deutsch: University of Texas, El Paso “A Bad Reputation? The Intimate Lives of Argentine Jewish Women, 1890s-1940s” Ruth Behar, University of Michigan “Always Searching for Home: Stories of the Jews of Cuba” Each talk will be followed by a Q and A session and books written by presenters will be available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be served. For a complete list of events in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos, visit Celebrate Festival. ###

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