With Claris Harbon

Mizrahi Jews in Israel, like other minorities of color, have been suffering from institutionalized racism inflicted on them by Ashkenazi Jews, based on their racial and ethnic Otherness. Reversing the gaze away from this official Zionist narrative of Modern Israel, the main purpose of this lecture is to introduce students to a counter story of Modern Israel told from the perspective of Mizrahi Jews with special regard to the socio-legal oppression and racism inflicted against them encompassing many aspects of their lives from housing to education, the media, health etc. The lecture will draw some parallels to other transnational diasporas, such as Aboriginal displacement in Canada and elsewhere, the Arab, Black and the Black American diasporas. We will discuss the vast influence of Black American history, literature, critique and civil rights movement on the evolution of Mizrahi resistance and pride, promoting the sense of belonging within the context of what I call the Diaspora within. Learn more.

This is part of a Reconstructing Judaism free online lecture series on Jews, Race, & Religion.

Jews, Race, and Religion

Racism is one of the most pressing ethical challenges of our time. This site provides resources for studying race and racism through the prism of Jewish experience. It accompanies a lecture series co-sponsored by the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Leading scholars in Jewish Studies, Critical Race Studies, and Religious Studies will share cutting-edge research that deepens the conversation about race, racism and anti-racism in contemporary society, both American and Jewish.

Scroll down to find introductory materials and resources on the eleven topics our lecturers explore.

The lecture series is free and open to the public. The lectures begin on January 28, 2021, and take place on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. EST. Recordings of the lectures will be posted on this site after they occur.

Learn more and register for this free online lecture series.