What does it mean to be both a rabbi and a historian in modern America?

In Portrait of a Rabbi-Historian: How Did We Get Here?, Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D., presents a compelling anthology of essays exploring the evolution of American Jewish history, Reform Judaism, and religious leadership through the eyes of a scholar deeply rooted in both pulpit and academia.

Spanning over forty years of research and reflection, this collection brings together 36 essays that examine topics such as American Jewish history before and after the Civil War, the role of figures like Isaac Leeser, the impact of the 1883 Trefa Banquet, and the transformation of synagogue architecture. Readers will discover fresh insights into the development of Jewish communities, the intersection of Jewish and American identities, and the challenges faced by Reform Jewish leadership.

Sussman’s work is deeply informed by Jewish historiography, original source analysis, and personal experience. His dual career as both rabbi and professor offers a rare perspective that blends academic rigor with lived spiritual engagement.

Perfect for readers interested in Jewish community studies, synagogue life, interfaith relations, and American religious history, this book offers not just historical facts, but a meaningful narrative of cultural continuity, faith, and change.

Whether you are a student of Jewish history, a member of the clergy, or a curious lay reader, this anthology invites you to explore how the American Jewish story has unfolded—and where it might go next.

Start your journey into American Jewish history today.

Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.

Since beginning his service as the eighth Senior Rabbi of KI in July 2001, Rabbi Sussman has had a transformative impact on the congregation and the greater Philadelphia region, as well as nationally, through his scholarship, leadership, and diverse community and educational activities. Rabbi Sussman is Chair of the Board of Governors  and Professor of Jewish History. of Gratz College in Melrose Park, PA.  Gratz College is the oldest non-denominational Jewish institute of higher learning in the world and is the home of the first online Ph.D. program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Sussman serves as Senior Scholar of Roots of Reform Judaism and was a past national Chair of the CCAR Press, the publishing arm of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He formerly served as a  Trustee of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania  and the American Jewish Historical Society; and is an active member of the Academic Advisory and Editorial Board of the American Jewish Archives (Cincinnati). He is the founding  president of the Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council and a former Chair of the Delaware Valley Association of Reform Rabbis.

Sussman has been involved nationally in promoting Jewish-Muslim dialogue.   In recent years,  KI has intensified its Social Action programs and now offers monthly home cooked meals to the food insecure and runs a tutorial program at the Lowell School in Olney.   Sussman has also helped developed an outreach program to residents of Federation Housing including an annual Hanukkah dinner.

Previously, Rabbi Sussman served as Chair of the Jewish Studies Department at Binghamton University-SUNY. He has taught courses in Jewish History at Princeton University, Hebrew Union College in New York City, Rutgers University, Temple University and Hunter College.   Rabbi Sussman has appeared in several PBS specials on Religion in America and is currently working on a documentary on the Philadelphia Jewish experie