The Jewish Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean: Fragments of Memory

The Jewish Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean is an excellent and sorely needed introduction to Jewish life in Latin America and, at the same time, to the field Latin American Jewish studies. The editor Kristin Ruggiero sought to build on earlier work and show a broad sweep of current research. She has succeeded on both counts. The chapters (most written for this volume but some previously published) represent the work of leading scholars in this growing field. The book is directed to students curious about Latin American Jews and specialists in other areas who wish to keep abreast of work outside their own field. From a variety of angles, Ruggiero’s collection demonstrates the maturity of Latin American Jewish studies as a field. Methodology varies from chapter to chapter, including traditional historical approaches with the author hidden behind the reconstruction of events,...