Episode 20 of Cloister Talk Investigates Early Pennsylvania’s Jewish History

The historic parlor of The Rosenbach, which is filled with Gratz family artifacts.

The multicultural life of early Pennsylvania included a vibrant Jewish community.  In this episode of Cloister Talk Live!, Judith M. Guston, Curator & Director of Collections at The Rosenbach, discusses early Jewish settlement of the colony and the remarkable Gratz family holdings at The Rosenbach today, which document that early heritage.  Ms. Guston also comments on the theoretical and methodological challenges of adopting a material culture approach to the study of past religious and spiritual life, and the research methods she has employed over the years to explore and interpret the complex history of the Gratz family and their community.  She also reflects on the meaning of early Pennsylvania’s religious plurality for American society today. 
 
Listen to the episode here: ​

https://anchor.fm/cloistertalk/episodes/Cloister-Talk-Live--At-The-Rosenbach-The-Other-Pennsylvania-Germans--A-Discussion-of-Early-Southeastern-Pennsylvanias-Jewish-Community-with-Judith-M--Guston-e11dujh