Jonathan D. Sarna

Jonathan D. Sarna is a leading scholar of American Jewish history and serves as the Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University. He has authored or edited more than 30 books on Jewish history, particularly focusing on American Jewish life, culture, and religion. His most widely recognized work is "American Judaism: A History," which won the Jewish Book Council's Jewish Book of the Year Award in 2004. The book provides a comprehensive examination of Judaism's development in America from colonial times to the modern era. Sarna's research has significantly contributed to understanding pivotal moments in American Jewish history, including his work on General Ulysses S. Grant's relationship with Jews and his examination of the Civil War's impact on American Jewish life. His expertise extends to Jewish education, religious movements, and the evolution of Jewish institutions in America. His scholarly influence has been acknowledged through numerous awards and appointments, including his election as Chief Historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History and his past presidency of the Association for Jewish Studies. Sarna regularly contributes to academic journals and public discussions about contemporary Jewish life and its historical context.

Readers consistently note Sarna's clear writing style and ability to make academic history accessible. His work "American Judaism: A History" receives particular attention for balancing scholarly depth with readability. What readers like: - Thorough research and documentation - Engaging narrative approach to historical events - Clear explanations of complex religious developments - Inclusion of primary sources and personal accounts - Balance between religious and social history What readers dislike: - Dense academic language in some sections - Heavy focus on institutional history over cultural aspects - Limited coverage of certain Jewish movements and regions Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "American Judaism" - 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: "American Judaism" - 4.5/5 (80+ reviews) "When General Grant Expelled the Jews" - 4.3/5 (40+ reviews) One reader noted: "Sarna presents complex historical developments without oversimplifying them." Another commented: "The footnotes alone are worth the price of admission for researchers."

American Judaism: A History (2004) A comprehensive history of Judaism in America from colonial times to the 21st century, covering religious developments, institutions, and major movements.

When General Grant Expelled the Jews (2012) An examination of General Ulysses S. Grant's Order No. 11 in 1862 that expelled Jews from his military district and its aftermath.

Lincoln and the Jews: A History (2015) A detailed account of Abraham Lincoln's relationship with American Jews and his evolving policies affecting Jewish citizens.

Coming to Terms with America: Essays on Jewish History, Religion, and Culture (2021) A collection of essays exploring various aspects of American Jewish life, identity, and religious development.

The Jews of Boston (1995) A chronological study of Boston's Jewish community from its colonial beginnings through modern times.

JPS: The Americanization of Jewish Culture 1888-1988 (1989) A historical analysis of the Jewish Publication Society and its role in shaping American Jewish culture.

People Walk on Their Heads: Moses Weinberger's Jews and Judaism in New York (1982) An annotated translation and analysis of Rabbi Moses Weinberger's 1887 Hebrew work about Jewish life in New York.

Jacksonian Jew: The Two Worlds of Mordecai Noah (1981) A biography of Mordecai Manuel Noah, examining his life as both a Jewish leader and American politician in the early republic.

Norman Stillman writes scholarly works on Jewish history with a focus on Sephardic communities and the Middle East. His research examines Jewish-Muslim relations and cultural interactions in medieval and modern periods.

Hasia Diner documents American Jewish immigration and adaptation through social history methods. She focuses on economic patterns, gender roles, and the development of Jewish institutions in the United States.

David Biale analyzes Jewish intellectual and cultural history across multiple time periods and regions. His work covers Jewish power dynamics, secularization, and the evolution of Jewish thought.

Beth Wenger specializes in American Jewish history with emphasis on gender and memory studies. Her research explores how American Jews have constructed their identities and commemorated their past.

Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi wrote foundational texts on Jewish historiography and collective memory. His work examines how Jews have recorded and transmitted their history throughout different eras.