Travels in Argentina: From Gauchos to Freemasons and More


In the town of San Antonio de Areco, locals celebrate their historic gaucho heritage. In the pampas, vegetation is sparse and desolate. Back in Buenos Aires, the botanical garden displays vegetation more common to the coast. Nearby, a freemason temple brings together a fraternity of men in the downtown area. […]

Retracing Garibaldi’s Steps in Uruguay


Before he became known as a key figure in the struggle for Italian unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi played a military role in helping to defend the city of Montevideo from Argentine proto-dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas. To this day, Uruguayans honor the role of Garibaldi in their own independence struggle. Colonia […]

Jews and Anti-Semitism in Buenos Aires: A Photo Essay


Despite recent reports about anti-Semitic attacks, Argentine Jews constitute a well-integrated minority in Buenos Aires.  The oldest synagogue in the city, Templo Libertad, is located near the center of the city. Nearby, Jews are well ensconced in the the Once neighborhood. Beneath the surface, however, Argentina has witnessed episodic outbursts […]

Park Slope, Brooklyn Reacts to Rising Anti-Semitism


Though comfortable Park Slope, Brooklyn has not witnessed violent anti-Semitic attacks which have been proliferating in Crown Heights and Williamsburg, some local congregations aren’t taking anything for granted. After Donald Trump was elected, the historic Temple Beth Elohim was transformed into an activist hub intent on rolling back anti-Semitism. If […]

Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Anti-Semitism


What’s behind the wave of anti-Semitic incidents in Williamsburg, Brooklyn?  The neighborhood is home to Orthodox, Hassidic and Satmar Jewish communities, and recently there has been a spate of violent attacks as well as arson against Jews.  Though Donald Trump has certainly aggravated social tensions by pursuing ties to right-wing […]

Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Anti-Semitism


What’s behind the wave of anti-Semitic incidents in Crown Heights, Brooklyn?  The neighborhood is home to a substantial Hassidic community, and recently there’s been a spate of violent attacks against Jews, as well as vandalism.  Though Donald Trump has certainly aggravated social tensions by pursuing ties to right-wing nationalists and […]

Reflections on the Rusyn People and a Voyage to Transcarpathia


As I sat in the café, I felt myself getting more and more nervous.  Behind me, an irate woman shouted “secessionist!” while filming me with her cell phone camera.  Eager to learn more about ethnic politics, I had come here to Uzhgorod, a city lying in the western Ukrainian province […]

World-Wide Anti-Semitism and Ukraine: Old Patterns or a “New Wave”?


While many people routinely employ the word “anti-Semitism,” the term itself is rather ill-defined.  Though the news media has reported on recent anti-Semitic attacks which have spread through both Europe and the United States, such coverage has fallen short of the mark by failing to contextualize this “new wave” of […]

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