Dr. Marion Kaplan

Professional Background

Dr. Marion Kaplan is the Skirball Professor of Modern Jewish History, New York University. While in residence at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, Dr. Kaplan conducted research on her project, “Lisbon is Sold Out! The Daily Lives of Jewish Refugees in Portugal during World War II.”

Dr. Kaplan has written or contributed to a wealth of published works. Books published include Gender and Jewish History, co-edited with Deborah Dash Moore (2011); Dominican Haven: The Jewish Refugee Settlement in Sosúa, 1940-1945 (2008); Jewish Daily Life in Germany, 1618-1945 (2005); Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Nazi Germany (1998); and The Making of the Jewish Middle Class: Women, Family, and Identity in Imperial Germany (1991). Three of her books have won the National Jewish Book Award, and one of them was a finalist for that award. All of her monographs have been translated into German.

Dr. Kaplan is a native English speaker, is fluent in German, and reads French and Italian. 

Fellowship Research

During her time as J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Senior Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Kaplan examined the lives of Jewish refugees in Portugal during World War II by analyzing their actions and feelings.  She also looked at the behaviors of the Portuguese national government, local governments, civil servants, Portuguese citizens, and Jewish and transnational philanthropies. Dr. Kaplan also saw how the refugees coped psychologically with their situation both publicly and privately.

Dr. Marion Kaplan was in residence at the Mandel Center from September 1 to December 31, 2014.