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
- May 4, 2025 “Celebrating Professor Jonathan Sarna’s Scholarship” at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- May 18, 2025 “Understanding Contemporary Antisemitism” Hosted by Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL – Zoom Conference
- May 18, 2025 “Columbia and Harvard” Jews and Elite Universities Symposium at Center for Jewish History, New York City
- 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 The 2nd Annual Beinner Symposium at the Center for Jewish History, New York City
- October 14, 2025 Date of Publication of Antisemitism, an American Tradition – Book Tour to be Announced Soon!
Past Events
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
September 29, 2025 The 2nd Annual Beinner Symposium at the Center for Jewish History, New York City
/in EventsPamela S. Nadell is participating in the 2025 Beinner Symposium, a gathering of historians and journalists engaging in critical conversations about the American Jewish experience. This year’s symposium focuses on how historical insights can illuminate the unique challenges facing Jewish Americans today.
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!
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.
How Republicans Echo Antisemitic Tropes Despite Declaring Support for Israel
/in NewsIn The New York Times article How Republicans Echo Antisemitic Tropes Despite Declaring Support for Israel, Pamela Nadell highlights how terms like “globalist” and “cosmopolitan” have evolved into modern antisemitic tropes, particularly through the figure of George Soros. She explains how these terms, historically used to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Jews, continue to be weaponized in contemporary political rhetoric, reflecting a troubling continuity of antisemitic narratives in mainstream discourse.
Hollywood is Failing Jewish-Americans Despite a History Together – Opinion
/in NewsIn The Jerusalem Post, Pamela S. Nadell expressed concern over Dave Chappelle’s use of antisemitic tropes during his SNL monologue, which reached millions of viewers. She emphasized the troubling impact of perpetuating harmful stereotypes in such a widely viewed platform.
The 4th to Testify: Congressional witness Pamela Nadell on the US Antisemitism Crisis
/in NewsIn an article in The Times of Israel, Dr. Pamela Nadell described the December 2023 Congressional hearing on antisemitism as a pivotal moment, underscoring a ‘sea change’ in its visibility following the October 7 Hamas attacks. She called for greater awareness of antisemitism’s history and better funding to address discrimination under Title VI.