Immigration, Religion, and Culture on New York's Lower East Side

FAIN: BH-50208-07

Eldridge Street Project, Inc./Museum at Eldridge Street (New York, NY 10002)
Annie Polland (Project Director: March 2007 to February 2009)

Two one-week workshops for 100 school teachers on the development and interaction of Jewish, African American, Italian, Irish, and Chinese communities in the Lower East Side of New York City.

Border Identities will feature 2 one-week sessions for 50 teachers per week led by scholars T. Michels, H. Diner, C.P. Moore, and J. Tchen that delve into the rich immigrant stories of the various immigrant groups that have made the Lower East Side (NY) their home - - African American, Irish, Italian, Chinese, and East European Jewish immigrants - - in a way that examines the particularities of the respective groups, the shared dynamics of adapting to Lower Manhattan and the interactions among them. Tying these strands together is a focus on how immigrant groups adapted their culture and religion to New York, and America. To this end, we will pursue two interrelated questions: (1) In what ways did their respective group(s) adapt their religion and culture to New York City? (2) What was the nature of their interactions with other groups on the Lower East Side like? Start date: 11/1/07. End date: 10/31/08. Scholars: J. Tchen, H. Diner, C.P. Moore, T. Michels.