Juggling Identities: Identity and Authenticity Among the Crypto-Jews

Content Description. Juggling Identities: Identity and Authenticity Among the Crypto-Jews by Seth D. Kunin. Columbia University Press, New York, 2009. First edition, first printing. In this scholarly examination of Crypto-Jewish identity in the American Southwest, anthropologist Seth D. Kunin explores the history, religious practices, cultural traditions, and complex questions of identity surrounding descendants of Jews who converted to Christianity in Spain but maintained elements of their Jewish heritage. Drawing extensively on ethnographic research among Crypto-Jewish communities in New Mexico, Kunin examines competing interpretations of the authenticity of Crypto-Jewish ancestry and religious traditions. He considers how family memories, inherited customs, religious rituals, and community relationships contribute to the construction and preservation of identity across generations. Particular attention is devoted to the relationship between historical evidence and contemporary understandings of Jewish identity, including the ways individuals and families interpret traditions whose origins may have become obscured over time. The volume includes discussions of cultural diversity, competing arguments concerning the authenticity of Crypto-Judaism in New Mexico, types of Crypto-Jewish identity, the role of memory and religious practice, and postmodern interpretations of identity. An important interdisciplinary contribution to Jewish studies, cultural anthropology, religious history, ethnic identity, and the history of New Mexico and the American Southwest. Includes scholarly notes, bibliography, and index. The subject matter and chapter coverage are corroborated by the book's bibliographic records and published synopsis. IUCAT Near Fine hardcover in Near Fine original dust jacket. First edition, first printing, with complete publisher's number line ending in 1. Bright orange cloth boards with crisp black spine lettering and decorative borders. Binding is tight and sound, with clean, bright page edges and well-preserved corners. Only minimal shelf wear is evident. Interior is exceptionally clean, with no writing, highlighting, underlining, previous owner's name, or other markings. Original illustrated dust jacket retains its vivid orange, black, red, and turquoise coloring, with light rubbing and minor edge and corner wear. No significant tears or paper loss observed. A particularly attractive, well-preserved first-printing copy of this specialized academic work.…