Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos talks about "Romaniote Jewry and the Lower East Side" in her capacity as director of the museum at Kehila Kedosha Janina, the synagogue erected by immigrant Greek Jews. Ikonomopoulos describes the culture and practices of the Jewish community in Greece during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. She talks about the period of immigration to the U.S. and tension in the community caused by desires to retain a cultural identity in the face of pressures to Americanize. Ikonomopoulos explains current practices of the still vital congregation. A question and answer session follows. MSU Director of Jewish Studies Kenneth Waltzer introduces Ikonomopoulos. The session is convened by MSU Librarian Deborah Margolis. Part of the MSU Libraries' Colloquia Series held at the MSU Main Library.
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