Jonathan Sarna

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Leading Commentator on Jewish History, Religion and Life
Chief Historian, National Museum of American Jewish History
Writer, Editor, or Co-Editor of More than 30 Books

Jonathan D. Sarna is University Professor and the Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University. He also is the past president of the Association for Jewish Studies and Chief Historian of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Author or editor of more than thirty books on American Jewish history and life, his American Judaism: A History, recently published in a second edition, won six awards including the 2004 “Everett Jewish Book of the Year Award” from the Jewish Book Council. Sarna is a fellow both of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Academy of Jewish Research, and he holds four honorary degrees. His most recent books are Coming to Terms with America, a volume of essays now translated into Hebrew under the title Zehuyot Bemifgash (Mercaz Shazar); and Yearning to Breathe Free: Jews in Gilded Age America, coedited with Adam Mendelsohn.

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Past Hosts Include:

University of Nebraska at Omaha Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies
United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto
Congregation Beth El
Congregation Ohr Shalom/Summit Jewish Community Center
Loyola University of Maryland

Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues
Congregation Beth Shalom
Park Avenue Synagogue
The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah
Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts

Rave Reviews About Jonathan Sarna

“

I tried for more than five years to engage him at our synagogue!! He was one of the most 'menschy' scholars with whom I have worked over the past 15 years. We selected him because of his expertise in American Judaism and the great reviews his students gave him. He was professional in every aspect of our work together for this weekend, and he even spent a moment or two addressing the bat mitzvah girl from the bimah before giving his Shabbat Dvar Torah. He gave a very interesting and powerful last session, but it was even beyond the scope of what we expected from him. His reviews for the entire weekend were nothing but positive and we are glad we waited; he spoke about topics I don't think we would have picked five plus years ago. Did I mention that he has a great sense of humor as well? I highly recommend Jonathan Sarna as a scholar without any reservation, but make the reservation soon.

- NSS Beth El

”

More rave reviews

"Dr. Sarna was great! The audience loved his talk. Many people have since commented that he is a storyteller unlike most academics who just lecture. Really made the history come alive."

-University of Nebraska at Omaha Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies

"Dr. Sarna was excellent. A very interesting speaker. We had a really great event last night."

-United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto

"It was wonderful to have Dr. Sarna here. His presentations were wonderful and very well received."

-Congregation Beth El

"The event with Dr. Sarna was very successful. His presentation was outstanding , very much appreciated by the 120 plus people in the audience. Dr. Sarna was a wonderful guest in every way. His scholarship and welcoming manner made this a truly memorable event."

-Congregation Ohr Shalom/Summit Jewish Community Center

"Everything went well. He was good company, full of energy and enthusiasm, and gave a very entertaining talk. Everyone here was pleased. "

-Loyola University of Maryland

"The evening was a huge success, withabout 275 in attendance. Dr. Sarna’s address was outstanding and the question/answer period that lasted about 45 minutes was very informative and stimulating. "

-Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues

"Jonathan was spectacular! We were thrilled about his visit. The feedback from everyone I spoke with was positive "

-Congregation Beth Shalom

"The weekend was a huge success, and Dr. Sarna was excellent. "

- Park Avenue Synagogue

"Dr. Sarna was wonderful, everyone found him outstanding! "

-The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah

"Dr. Sarna’s appearance was a smashing success! The attendees couldn’t stop talking about his grasp of historic knowledge and his entertaining style. Here are some of the comments describing Dr. Sarna’s presentation: 'Brilliant,' 'Really exceptional,' 'Wonderful,' and 'A real Tour-de-Force.' I could go on and on but I think you get the point. I will most definitely engage Dr. Sarna’s appearance at future venues whenever an opportunity arises and I will recommend Dr. Sarna as a keynote speaker to other conferences with which I am affiliated. Hats off Jonathan!"

-Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts

"We had a fabulous time this weekend. Rave reviews from beginning to end. Presentations were great and Jonathan's personality charmed everyone. "

-Congregation Etz Chaim

"We had a fabulous event with Jonathan Sarna. He was gracious and wonderful and the audience enjoyed his lecture!"

-Jewish Community Federation of Richmond

"Positively captivating. Jonathan Sarna, American Judaism's most important historian, is a gifted lecturer. His messages are riveting and unforgettable. Always animated, meticulously prepared, and refreshingly attuned to current concerns, Professor Sarna possesses the rare capacity for bringing history to life. "

-Congregation Kehillath Israel

"We have hosted a scholar-in-residence for over thirty years, and Dr. Sarna was certainly one of the best we’ve had. He is thoughtful and knowledgeable, and my congregants were raving about what a wonderful experience it was to learn from him. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any congregation or group."

-Congregation Beth David

"Jonathan Sarna is a historian and lecturer of outstanding talent. His talks are marked by original and stimulating thought presented with exceptional clarity, a sparkling style, entertaining wit and good humor. With an awesome mastery of the facts and a telling anecdote always at his fingertips, he brings vividly to life the story and significance of our past. Indeed, any aspect of Jewish life in America -- past, present or future -- on which Prof. Sarna speaks is brilliantly illuminated by him. It should also be noted that Prof. Sarna deals with questions from his audience with respectful attention and grace, and he is as engaging in informal conversation as he is on the lecture platform. In short, Sarna is that rare commodity: a truly profound scholar who can draw his listeners into the thoughtful exploration of his subject and bring them out feeling enriched and rewarded. Learning with Sarna is a sheer delight and not to be missed."

-Celebrate 350

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Jonathan D. Sarna on Lincoln and the Jews - Jewish Review of Books - Get Sharable Link

Jonathan D. Sarna on Lincoln and the Jews - Jewish Review of Books

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Jews and American Politics: Historical Ideals and Contemporary Realities | The Jerusalem Center

The Future of American Judaism

Talks & Conversations with Jonathan Sarna

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An Old Faith in the New World: The History of American Judaism

A lively presentation on American Judaism from 1654 to the present by the acclaimed scholar who wrote the bestselling book on the subject, American Judaism: A History. Beginning in the colonial era, JONATHAN SARNA recounts the dynamic story of people struggling to be Americans and Jews. He shows how each generation of American Jews has had to wrestle anew with the question of whether its own children and grandchildren will remain Jewish. Bringing the story down to the present, he illustrates how the past can both inform and inspire.

Looking Ahead: American Judaism in the 21st Century

What are the central issues facing the American Jewish community in the decades ahead? In this provocative presentation, historian JONATHAN SARNA examines key trends affecting Jewish life, particularly lesser-known economic, demographic, and religious changes that will affect American Jewry in the 2 ...

What are the central issues facing the American Jewish community in the decades ahead? In this provocative presentation, historian JONATHAN SARNA examines key trends affecting Jewish life, particularly lesser-known economic, demographic, and religious changes that will affect American Jewry in the 21st century and beyond. He concludes with a call for a new mission for American Jews, and a discussion of how we can meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Wondering Jews in a Changing America

American Jewry in the Age of Trump

That Obnoxious Order: Ulysses S. Grant and the Jews

On December 17, 1862, as the Civil War entered its second winter, General Ulysses S. Grant issued a sweeping order, General Orders #11, expelling “Jews as a class” from his war zone. It remains the most notorious anti-Jewish official order in American history. The order came back to haunt Grant in 1868 when he ran for president. Never before had Jews been so widely noticed in a presidential contest, and never before had they been confronted so publicly with the question of how to balance their “American” and “Jewish” interests. During his two terms in the White House, the memory of the “obnoxious order” shaped Grant’s relationship with the American Jewish community. In response, surprisingly, he did more for Jews than any other president to his time. How this happened, and why, sheds new light on one of our most enigmatic presidents, on the Jews of his day, and on America itself.

Children of the Stock of Abraham: George Washington's Correspondence with the Jews of Newport

In August of 1790, President George Washington made a state visit to Rhode Island, the last colony to ratify the Constitution. Visiting Newport, he listened patiently as different groups of citizens welcomed him to their city and gave voice to their hopes and concerns. Members of Newport’s beautiful synagogue stood among those bringing him greetings. Their letter and his remarkable reply to it stand as landmarks of American religious liberty. Many are familiar with the key words in Washington’s letter – “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance” – but there is much more to the correspondence than that. Guided by acclaimed historian JONATHAN SARNA, we will unlock the deeper secrets of this correspondence, and its meaning for Jews and Americans of every faith.