Manhattan's Little Syria Online
Did you know that the first Arabic-speaking community in the United States was in New York City? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Until Linda Jacobs’ book, Strangers in the West, was published in 2012, the story of that community had been lost. Even the descendants of the people who lived there (among whom were Jacobs’ grandparents) didn’t know about it! Jacobs will talk about reconstructing the colony, name by name, its connection to the many smaller Syrian colonies in New Jersey, and her newest research.
- Date:
- Tuesday, September 30, 2025
- Time:
- 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Branch:
- Virtual
- Online:
- This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
- Audience:
- Adult
- Categories:
- Virtual Programs
About the Presenter: Linda K. Jacobs is a New York-based scholar and author. She holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Archaeology/Anthropology and spent many years working on archaeological excavations and economic development projects in the Middle East. Dr. Jacobs is committed to promoting Middle Eastern culture and knowledge in the United States, founding KalimahPress in 2011 and sitting on the board of several Middle Eastern organizations, including the Near East Foundation, the Washington Street Historical Society, and the Moise Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies. All four of her grandparents were members of the New York Syrian community.