This fall, Rabin succeeds Tobor Family Endowed Professor of Modern European Jewish History Eugene M. Avrutin as Director of the Program in Jewish Culture & Society.
She specializes in the history of law, gender, and race in eighteenth century Britain. She's the author of Identity, Crime and Legal Responsibility in Eighteenth-Century England (Palgrave) and Britain and its Internal Outsiders, 1750-1800: Under Rule of Law (Manchester University Press).
Her latest research examines Jewish life in the Caribbean during 1780-1830—a period that saw the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of enslaved people. She's exploring the relationship between Jewish communities, enslaved and freed people of color, colonial and metropolitan authorities, and surrounding white Christian populations to understand how Jewish communities built relationships across the Jewish Atlantic, how race and faith intersected during this period, and how definitions of families were shaped during this turbulent period of change.
"My goal as director is to build community within Jewish Studies and across campus," she said. "By talking with one another about our research and teaching, engaging the public whenever possible, and facing the difficult conversations of our time, I hope to bring people together with experts in the field to navigate the challenges we face in ongoing dialogue."