1st Edition

Jews of the Dutch Caribbean Exploring Ethnic Identity on Curacao

By Alan F. Benjamin Copyright 2002
    212 Pages
    by Routledge

    212 Pages
    by Routledge

    Jews of the Dutch Caribbean addresses identity and ethnicity, through a detailed study of a little-known group in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. It asks readers to take a broad perspective on the contexts that play a role in ethnicity including, for example, ecology, history, kinship, commerce and language use in everyday life and, crucially, rituals. It asks readers to take a broad perspective on the contexts that play a role in ethnicity and draws on ethnographic research to analyze ethnic identities and look at how it is shaped and negotiated.

    1 Introduction 2 Research, a contract, and representation PART I Setting 3 Introduction 4 Ecology and prehistory 5 Selected elements of the Curaçaoan social setting 6 The Sephardi Jewish presence on Curaçao PART II Social practice 7 Introduction 8 Alternatively Jewish, alternatively Curaçaoan 9 Ascribing identities 10 Conclusion

    Biography

    Alan F Benjamin is a Lecturer in the Jewish Studies Program of the Pennsylvania State University, where his interests include contemporary Jewish identity and social boundaries.