Imagining Early American Jews

Join the Jewish Heritage Center for a topical webinar with Dr. Michael Hoberman on his book, Imagining Early American Jews. Dr. Hoberman will discuss popular interpretations of early Jewish American history, looking closely at contemporary historical novels, museum curation, and genealogy as modes of historical inquiry. He will examine how the Jewish experiences of the American Revolution, the institution of slavery in the early republic and antebellum period, and westward migration have been imagined, commemorated, and frequently mythologized. Dr. Hoberman will offer a timely and original talk to explore how interpretations and representations of the past are key to understanding Jewish American history and identity.

Michael Hoberman

Michael Hoberman teaches English Studies at Fitchburg State University and has published several books on Jewish American history, including New Israel/New England: Jews and Puritans in Early America and A Hundred Acres of America: The Geography of Jewish American Literary History. His articles can be found in Tablet Magazine, The Jewish Review of Book, and other popular and scholarly venues. During the Spring semester of 2026, he will be on fellowship at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, at the University of Pennsylvania. His current project tells the story of Theodore Seixas Solomons, the founder of California's John Muir Trail.