معرفی
Flora Cassen is an Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, holding dual appointments in the Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies and the Department of History. She specializes in early modern Jewish history, focusing on themes such as anti-Judaism, cultural symbolism, and Sephardic experiences. Her research bridges academia and public engagement through contributions to outlets like Psyche, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Conversation. Notably, she authored Marking the Jews in Renaissance Italy (2017), examining the historical and symbolic dimensions of Jewish badges in Italy. She currently leads a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded project to translate Joseph ha-Kohen’s Sefer ha-India ha-ḥadasha, a Hebrew account of the Americas. Cassen’s work also explores the intersection of genetics and Jewish history, as seen in her 2025 article on ancient DNA’s role in historical interpretation. Born in Belgium, she earned a PhD in Jewish history from NYU and taught previously at the University of Vermont and UNC Chapel Hill.
Education:
- PhD in Jewish History, New York University
- MA in Comparative History, Brandeis University
- Bachelor’s in History and Law, Brussels
Research Interests: Early modern Jewish life, colonialism’s cultural impact, translation as resistance, and the ethical application of genetics in historical scholarship. Her forthcoming book on antisemitism (New Jewish Press, University of Toronto Press) addresses modern manifestations of historical prejudices.
Grants & Projects:
- NEH Grant (2017–2020): Translation of Joseph ha-Kohen’s colonial-era Hebrew manuscript
Labs/Teams: Directs the Sefer ha-India translation initiative and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on genetics and historical methodology.
