Antisemitism in America dates back to the arrival of the first Jewish people here in 1654 and it still persists today. Join us as Dr. Daniel Barrett moderates an important Conversations discussion with Dr. Ellen M. Umansky, the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies emeritus at Fairfield University. Dr. Umansky will discuss the origins of antisemitism in the United States, where the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, but where religious minorities have been subjected to violence and prejudice since colonial days.

The author of five books and dozens of scholarly articles and encyclopedia articles on modern Jewish history and religious thought and Jewish women’s spirituality, Dr. Umansky was awarded the National Religious Studies Honor Society (Theta Alpha Kappa)’s 2021 Kathleen Connolly Weinert Leadership Award.