About Me
Pamela Nadell, professor and Patrick Clendenen Chair in women’s and Gender History at American University, is a historian specializing in American Jewish history antisemitism. She authored America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today, winner of the 2019 National Jewish Book Award’s “Jewish Book of the Year.” Her new book Antisemitism, An American Tradition will be published on October 14, 2025 (W.W. Norton) and was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Award.
Nadell also wrote Women Who Would be Rabbis, which was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award in Women’s Studies, and has consulted for museums, including Philadelphia’s Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, Pittsburgh’s rebuild of the Tree of Life Congregation, and Tel Aviv’s ANU: The Museum of the Jewish People. A past president of the Association for Jewish Studies, she lectures widely and teaches courses on antisemitism, the Holocaust, and American Jewish History. She has testified before Congress three times and was the fourth witness in the congressional hearing with the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and University of Pennsylvania.
Contact Me
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Pages
- Antisemitism Book
- Books
- Antisemitism, an American Tradition
- America’s Jewish Women
- American Jewish Women’s History
- Conservative Judaism in America
- Making Women’s Histories
- New Essays in American Jewish History
- Women and American Judaism
- Women Who Would be Rabbis
- Three Hundred Fifty Years: An Album of American Jewish Memory
- Events
- News
- Videos
- About Me
- Contact Me
Topics
Events
- June 5, 2025 “2 Different Societies, 2 Different Approaches” at the French-American Forum on Antisemitism, Paris, France
- June 23, 2025 “American Antisemitism—Historical and Contemporary” at George Washington University, Washington, DC
- August 3-7, 2025 “America’s Jewish Women” and “Antisemitism, an American Tradition” Guest Speaker at the Everett Jewish Life Center, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
- September 29, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Pre-Publication Book Launch, Center for Jewish History, New York City The 2nd Annual Beinner Symposium at the Center for Jewish History, New York City
- October 2, 2025 A Yom Kippur Conversation about Antisemitism, an American Tradition at Temple Sinai, Washington, DC
- October 14, 2025 Date of Publication of Antisemitism, an American Tradition – Book Tour to be Announced Soon!
- October 14, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Book Launch at Politics and Prose, Washington, DC
- October 19, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Book Launch at The Tree of Life, Pittsburgh, PA
Past Events
- May 18, 2025 “Columbia and Harvard” Jews and Elite Universities Symposium at Center for Jewish History, New York City
- May 18, 2025 “Understanding Contemporary Antisemitism” Hosted by Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL – Zoom Conference
- May 4, 2025 “Celebrating Professor Jonathan Sarna’s Scholarship” at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- April 8, 2025 “Through Women’s Eyes: Antisemitism in America” Hosted by Women’s League for Conservative Judaism – Zoom Conference
- March 30, 2025 “Antisemitism, an American Tradition” Keynote, Contemporary Antisemitism Conference in London, England
News
- Senate Education Panel Hearing to Address ‘Antisemitic Disruptions on Campus’
- Scholars Have Told Important Jewish Stories with the NEH’s Support. What Happens to Them Now?
- Guthrie’s three-act ‘Lehman Trilogy’ charts one immigrant family’s epic rise and catastrophic fall
- Antisemitism Seeing Global Rise
- Pamela Nadell’s History: Professor, Author, Researcher
- Q&A: Antisemitism in America
- How Republicans Echo Antisemitic Tropes Despite Declaring Support for Israel
- Hollywood is Failing Jewish-Americans Despite a History Together – Opinion
- The 4th to Testify: Congressional witness Pamela Nadell on the US Antisemitism Crisis
- New Study Highlights Campus Antisemitism ‘Hot Spots’
- What Jewish College Students Have to Say About the Campus Climate
- A Brief History of Antisemitism in U.S. Higher Education
- The Gaza Crisis is Stoking Antisemitism in the U.S.
- Antisemitism on Elon Musk’s X is Surging and Dredging Up Many Ancient, Defamatory Themes of Blaming Jews
October 2, 2025 A Yom Kippur Conversation about Antisemitism, an American Tradition at Temple Sinai, Washington, DC
/in EventsOctober 2, 2025 Spend Yom Kippur afternoon with award-winning historian, American University Professor Pamela Nadell, to discuss her new book Antisemitism, an American Tradition, to be published on October 14, 2025. Nadell explores the deep roots of antisemitism in the US from colonial times to the present and the powerful ways American Jews have resisted this hatred and bigotry.
October 14, 2025 Date of Publication of Antisemitism, an American Tradition – Book Tour to be Announced Soon!
/in EventsPamela Nadell is excited to share that her forthcoming book, Antisemitism, an American Tradition, will be published on October 14, 2025. This timely exploration of the deep-rooted history of antisemitism in America sheds light on its enduring presence and contemporary resurgence. Stay tuned—book tour dates will be announced soon!
October 14, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Book Launch at Politics and Prose, Washington, DC
/in EventsOn October 14, award-winning historian Pamela S. Nadell will appear at Politics and Prose Bookstore to launch her new book, Antisemitism, an American Tradition. Drawing on centuries of history, Nadell will examine how antisemitism has shaped American life and how Jewish Americans have resisted through activism, law, and solidarity.
October 15, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Book Launch at Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, DC
/in EventsI am delighted to return to Washington Hebrew Congregation for the launch of Antisemitism, an American Tradition on October 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm.
October 19, 2025 Antisemitism, an American Tradition Book Launch at The Tree of Life, Pittsburgh, PA
/in EventsJoin Pamela Nadell, an award-winning author and member of the Tree of Life Advisory Board, for the Pittsburgh book launch of Antisemitism, an American Tradition. Tracing the long history of antisemitism in American history, Nadell shows the roots of the hatred that shattered Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and their neighbors.
Guthrie’s three-act ‘Lehman Trilogy’ charts one immigrant family’s epic rise and catastrophic fall
/in NewsThe Guthrie Theater’s production of “The Lehman Trilogy” is a three-act play that chronicles the rise and fall of the Lehman Brothers financial empire. Adapted by Ben Power from Stefano Massini’s original work, the play spans 170 years and is performed by three actors who portray over 50 characters. It begins with the arrival of the Lehman brothers from Bavaria in the 19th century and follows their journey from a small fabric business in Alabama to becoming a powerful international finance firm, culminating in the firm’s collapse during the 2008 financial crisis. The production delves into themes of the American dream, capitalism, and the personal costs of success.
Antisemitism Seeing Global Rise
/in NewsListen to Pamela Nadell, director of the Jewish Studies Program at American University and an expert on the history of anti-Semitism, speaking with ABC NewsRadio’s Sarah Morice that anti-Semitism is on the rise not only in Australia but globally.
Everyone Has a Plan to Fight Antisemitism. Few Have Studied What Actually Works.
/in NewsThis article from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency explores how certain programs aim to address the roots of antisemitism and promote a broader understanding of its impact on society, with Pamela S. Nadell providing insight into the role of education in combating this pervasive issue.
Pamela Nadell’s History: Professor, Author, Researcher
/in NewsPamela Nadell, a historian and professor at American University, has spent over 40 years exploring Jewish history and gender studies. In a recent interview with Washington Jewish Week, she shared insights into her celebrated career as an author, past president of the Association for Jewish Studies, and advocate against antisemitism, highlighting her dedication to scholarship and community leadership.
Q&A: Antisemitism in America
/in NewsIn Pamela’s Q&A session with American University Magazine, she discusses the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023 and the long history of antisemitism in America. From the first Jewish settlers to today’s rise in hate crimes, she examines how understanding this history is crucial to addressing the ongoing challenge of combating antisemitism.