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Jews in the New American Nation: Revolution, Religious Liberty and Civic Culture
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Even before the arrival of Jews in North America in the mid-1650s, centuries of European anti-Semitism made Jewish settlement difficult in Dutch, English and French colonies and impossible in areas controlled by the Portuguese and Spanish. Aided by emerging concepts of reason and new economic possibilities, tiny Jewish communities began to form along the Atlantic coast and individual Jews fought to expand their business and civic opportunities. By the time of the Revolution, the majority of the new, independent 13 states still maintained laws preventing Jews from holding public office but with the ratification of the Constitution, the "test oath" of office was removed at the Federal level and, subsequently, the Bill of Rights disestablished religion and provided for "free exercise." Even with Washington's famous 1790 assurance that the new national government would give "to persecution no assistance," anti-Jewish bigotry persisted throughout the country and extending the idea of religious liberty to broader concepts of freedom and social inclusion for slaves or indigenous people largely remained unarticulated. But for American Jews the shift from disfranchisement to citizenship was truly revolutionary, and Jews expanded their presence in government, civic culture, and military service in the new nation.
Rabbi Dr. Lance Sussman, well-known, respected, and admired by the Binghamton Jewish community, taught American Jewish History courses in the Department of Judaic Studies at Binghamton University, which he also chaired from 1998 to 2001. He also served Temple Concord, Binghamton, as Rabbi from 1990 to 2001, when he became Rabbi at Keneseth Israel Temple in Philadelphia.
In addition to his role as Rabbi Emeritus at Keneseth Israel, Sussman is Chair of the Board of Governors and Professor of Jewish History at Gratz College in Melrose Park, PA. Sussman also serves as Senior Scholar of Roots of Reform Judaism and past national Chair of the CCAR Press, the publishing arm of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi Sussman has taught courses in Jewish History at Princeton University, Hebrew Union College in New York City, Rutgers University, Temple University, and Hunter College. He appeared in several PBS specials on Religion in America and is currently working on a documentary on the Philadelphia Jewish experience with film producer Sam Katz. Among his many publications are his well-known book Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism. His current project is American Jews in the American Revolution.
This event is sponsored by Judaic Studies Department and Margolis Lectureship in Judaic Studies.