Status of Latino Jews in the Northeastern United States
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City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 2-2014 The Privileged "In-Between" Status of Latino Jews in the Northeastern United States Laura Limonic Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/64 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] The Privileged “In-Between” Status of Latino Jews in the Northeastern United States by Laura Limonic A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2014 © 2014 LAURA LIMONIC All Rights Reserved ii Approval This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Sociology in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _____________________________________ _____________ Professor Nancy Foner, Chair of Examining Committee Date _____________________________________ _____________ Professor John Torpey, Executive Officer Date Supervisory Committee Professor Richard Alba Professor Laird Bergad Professor Mary Clare Lennon Professor Philip Kasinitz Professor William Helmreich THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iii Abstract of the Dissertation The Privileged “In-Between” Status of Latino Jews in the Northeastern United States by Laura Limonic Adviser: Professor Nancy Foner This study is an in-depth look at how religion, class, and ethno-racial status interact and intersect to affect assimilation and integration prospects for new immigrants. The research focuses on Latin American Jewish immigrants in the Northeastern United States, a particularly interesting group to study because they are not easily classified within the American racial and ethnic system and existing ethno-racial categories. As a result, they are presented with a number of ethnic options that they can call upon. The choices they make as well as the constraints they face in making these choices, can broaden our understanding of contemporary immigrant life in America today. Using qualitative data from forty-one in-depth interviews as well as ethnographic research, the study shows how immigrants develop and adopt different ethnic labels as part of their larger sense of ethnic identity. The study finds that Latino Jews have a number of identities to choose from – national identities, Latino, Jewish or panethno-religious (Latino Jewish) and the label or ethnic identity they choose (or are assigned) is often situational and instrumental, yet legitimate. The study also focuses on the construction of panethnicity and a panethnic group identity. Latino Jews develop a panethnic identity through interaction with other in-group members, in an institutional setting such as a community centre or religious organization. Within an institutional or organized site, the exchange of religious customs reinforces a sense of shared history and is a strong factor iv in the development of a new pan-ethnic identity. Overall, the experience of Latino Jews shows that class and race are important determinants in the construction and instrumentality of ethnicity and ethnic identity for this group of immigrants. v Acknowledgments I have been immensely fortunate to have the opportunity to study and learn from the faculty and students at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. It has been a long process and I have been able to count on the support of my advisor and committee members throughout it. My advisor, Professor Nancy Foner encouraged me to pursue this project during one of our first meetings, when I was a student in her immigration course. She has been an amazing and inspiring mentor throughout this journey, helping me maneuver and conquer the hurdles of the doctoral process, nurturing my growth as an academic, and showing me it is possible to have a child(s) and a job or three and still finish a dissertation (with the right mentor). Professor Foner read every draft with a fine-tooth comb and I benefited tremendously from her edits, comments and suggestions. I am immensely grateful to Professor Foner for all of her support and encouragement. Professor Richard Alba and Professor Philip Kasinitz have been an incredible source of knowledge, it has been an honor to work with them on this project. I am grateful to both of them for allowing me to “stop by and chat”, which often led to new ideas about the project or academic literature to consider. Professor William Helmreich showed me how to “do sociology” through our walks and explorations of the city. Professor Mary Clare Lennon has been a true mentor since I first began to work with her during my second year as a graduate student. I am deeply indebted to Professor Lennon both for her academic and personal support. She never made me feel that motherhood and academia were in any way incompatible and celebrated my children along with me. During my first semester at CUNY, Professor Laird Bergad gave me the opportunity to work on the Latino Data Project at the Center for Latin American Studies, Latino and Caribbean Studies (CLACLS). Since then I have continued to work at CLACLS, and have counted on the tireless support of Professor Bergad. He has been an intellectual sounding board, a data analysis resource, an academic mentor but most importantly a true friend. Thank you to all of my committee members, I am incredibly grateful for your support. I received funding from a number of sources, which have allowed me to pursue my work and complete this dissertation. Much of my financial support has come directly from the CUNY Graduate Center through grants and fellowships. CLACLS has also granted me number of travel and research fellowships, which funded a large portion of my fieldwork. In 2012 I received the Berman Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in Support of Research in the Social Scientific Study of the Contemporary American Jewish Community, which allowed me the financial freedom to complete this project. At the Graduate Center, I would have lost my footing on the first day without Amalia Leguizamon and Yolanda Martin, they have been my academic and personal confidantes every step of the way. I am also thankful to the CLACLS familia – Carolina Barrera- Tobon, Justine Calcagno, Lawrence Cappello, Teresita Levy, Victoria Stone, Debora Upegui, the cafecitos and conversations have been an indispensable part of the process. vi In my non-academic life, my friends have been my constant cheerleaders. Thank you for understanding when I was too busy to come for a drink or too tired after a day of teaching to come for dinner, yet always supportive and loving. Lucila Broide, Alexis Carter, Riely Clough, Kendra Falkenstein, Hope Jennings, Monica Levavi, Buffy Maguire, Michelle Ticknor, Tara Sansone and Haley Siman– I am so fortunate to have you in my life and always rooting for me – thank you. And to my running group thank you for listening to my dissertation woes, mile after mile. I’m not sure this would have been possible if I had not learned from all of you to just keep running (and writing), there are hard days and easy ones, but you all keep me going. My parents, Raquel and Alberto Limonic, have listened to my ideas, read my work and encouraged me along the way. The idea for this dissertation came, in large part, from their experiences as Latino Jews and our many conversations about it. My mother, whose inner sociologist comes out whenever we speak about my work, has added a richness to my analysis, which I would not have found without her. My father’s experience in the Jewish and Latino communities and the bridging of these identities was the true source of inspiration for my dissertation. My parents have never ceased by my cheerleaders and supporting me in all of my nutty endeavors. Thank you also to my fantastic brother, Fernando Limonic, and my sister-in-law Jenne Wax, their support, both emotional and practical, has been indispensable. I started the doctoral program right around the same time that my husband, Francesco Brandish, was finishing his. In a sense he had to live the ordeal all over again. Yet, I was fortunate to benefit from his experiences, his advice, his support and most of all his belief in me along the way. He has supported me throughout the process in every way, celebrating all of the milestones along the route to completion. I would not be where I am without him. Francesco, thank you for pushing to me to be the best I can be and supporting me with love, morning coffees, homemade waffles and a beautiful family. And a special thank you to my children, Alessandro and Annabella, you are my inspiration every day. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. And of course, I cannot thank my interviewees enough for allowing me into their lives and sharing their experiences with me. Thank you for your time, your honesty, your candor and your trust. vii Table of Contents Page Title Page i Copyright Page ii Approval Page iii Abstract iv Acknowledgements vi List of Tables ix List of Figures x Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature 15 Chapter 3: The History of Jews in the Americas 41 Chapter 4: On Being Jewish AND Latino: The Construction of a Panethno-religious Identity 89 Chapter 5: On Being Jewish: Exercising Strategic