Yiddish in the Land of Sunshine: Race, Labor, and Jewish Radicalism in Los Angeles – Caroline Luce
Yiddish in the Land of Sunshine examines how a cohort of young Jewish radicals from Eastern Europe helped reshape multiracial left-wing activism in Southern California. It traces their migration from the Russian Empire to Los Angeles and their involvement in labor and left-wing movements. Focusing especially on Boyle Heights, the book explores how the neighborhood’s diverse communities shaped Yiddish public culture and Jewish political organizing. It highlights the relationships, collaborations, and tensions that emerged as Jewish radicals built multiracial coalitions with Mexican, Asian, and African American neighbors. Drawing on previously untranslated Yiddish sources, the book challenges traditional Jewish immigration narratives centered...