Hasidic Politics in the US: A Pre-Election Discussion

Join Fairfield University’s Bennett Center for Judaic Studies on October 10 for an insightful pre-election discussion on Hasidic politics in America. USC legal scholar Nomi Stolzenberg, PhD and UCLA historian David Myers, PhD will present their perspectives, with a focus on the Satmar Hasidic dynasty.

Press release

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — On Thursday, October 10, Fairfield University’s Bennett Center for Judaic Studies will host a thought-provoking event entitled “Hasidic Politics in America: A Pre-Election Perspective.” The lecture, scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Kelley Center Presentation Room, will feature Nomi M. Stolzenberg, PhD, a noted legal scholar from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and David N. Myers, PhD, a distinguished professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Their discussion will focus on the political behavior of the Hasidic community in America, particularly highlighting the Satmar Hasidic dynasty.
Dr. Nomi Stolzenberg holds the Nathan and Lilly Shapell Chair at the USC Gould School of Law. A prominent legal scholar, Dr. Stolzenberg’s research spans an impressive range of interdisciplinary interests, including law and religion, feminism, and psychoanalysis. She has co-authored several academic works, including American Shtetl: The Making of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Village in Upstate New York, alongside Dr. Myers. Her other publications include influential articles on topics like secularism and the intersection of race and religion in law.
Dr. Myers is a Distinguished Professor of History at UCLA, where he also holds the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History. His extensive academic career includes serving as the director of the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy, and the UCLA Initiative to Study Hate. He is also the author or editor of numerous works on Jewish history, including American Shtetl, co-authored with Dr. Stolzenberg. Their collaborative work has earned significant recognition, including the prestigious 2022 National Jewish Book Award in American Jewish Studies.
This lecture promises to provide a deep dive into the Satmar Hasidic community’s distinctive political engagement and its broader implications in the upcoming U.S. elections. The discussion will offer valuable context for understanding the role of religion, law, and identity within the political landscape of contemporary America. Reflecting on their research, Stolzenberg and Myers will examine how Hasidic communities, particularly the Satmar dynasty, navigate American legal and political systems, presenting a nuanced understanding of religious and cultural autonomy within a democratic society.
The Bennett Center for Judaic Studies is proud to host this important discussion and looks forward to the enriching conversations it will spark ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections. Reservations for this complimentary event are requested at fairfield.edu/bennett.