Sam Shuman

Sam Shuman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. He holds a PhD and Graduate Certificate in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan, along with multiple undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and Jewish Gender Studies. His research examines Hasidic Judaism through a global lens, addressing intersections between religion, capitalism, gender, and state authority. Shuman employs ethnography, archival research, and textual analysis in his projects, including studies on Antwerp’s diamond sector restructuring and the revival of Reb Shayele as a patron saint among Hasidic men. His work has been funded by the SSRC, NSF, and Fulbright programs. Notable publications include studies on Hasidic labor dynamics, pandemic-era religious practices, and feminist critiques of cultural narratives. Shuman has received prestigious awards such as the Michael S. Bernstein Dissertation Prize. His teaching focuses on foundational questions in religious studies, emphasizing critical methodologies and global religious phenomena.

Shuman’s research combines fieldwork with theoretical frameworks: his first project analyzed how digital platforms displaced Hasidic diamond brokers in Antwerp, while his second explored how Reb Shayele’s cult offers protection against state intrusion. He conducted research among 50,000 pilgrims at Shayele’s Hungarian gravesite, analyzing multilingual hagiographies and social media. His publications span academic journals like Jewish Quarterly Review and Religions, addressing topics from medieval saintly mediation to modern labor politics. Grants include SSRC International Dissertation Fellowships and NSF Doctoral Research Grants.

Awards highlight his scholarly contributions: the 2022 Bernstein Prize and AJS Dissertation Fellowship recognition. His work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and Jewish studies, offering critical insights into Hasidic communities’ global engagements and internal dynamics. Shuman’s research agenda emphasizes interdisciplinary methods, with future work likely expanding on mediation practices in religious contexts and the socio-political dimensions of Hasidic identity.