Miriam Bodian delves into the intricate history of Jewish communities, particularly examining the formation and evolution of the Jewish populace in early modern Amsterdam. Her scholarship focuses on the complex interplay of identity, faith, and community amidst conversion and the preservation of traditions. She meticulously analyzes how individuals and groups navigated religious pressures, striving to maintain their cultural and religious distinctiveness despite challenging circumstances. Bodian's work offers profound insights into the resilience and adaptability of Jewish societies during periods of significant historical transformation.
Drawing on family and communal records, diaries, memoirs, literary works, and other sources, the author reconstructs the fascinating story of how Portuguese immigrant - merchants, professionals, and intellectuals, for the most part - reasserted their Judaism, while maintaining their Iberian heritage.