Brandeis University Professor of American Jewish History Jonathan Sarna presented a lecture on April 1 entitled, “On 350 Years of Jewish Life in America, 1654-2004,” in honor of Rabbi Bernard Raskas, professor of religious studies at Macalester since 1983. Raskas, who has worked as a rabbi and teacher in the Twin Cities area since he first moved here 53 years ago, was honored for his retirement.

Raskas’s contributions to the Jewish and academic communities have included over 1,000 essays and articles, according to Sarna. It was Raskas’s wish to bring one of the most well-known scholars of Jewish history to commemorate his retirement, said Religious Studies Professor Jim Laine when he introduced Sarna.

“Rabbi Raskas has been here for a long time but he’s also been a staple of the Jewish community in the Twin Cities. It was a fitting tribute to him to have Sarna honor him and Macalester,” lecture attendee Zachary Teicher ’07 said.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale ’50 was among the diverse audience, many of whom were community members. “There were a lot of non-Macalester people present,” Kate Cohen ’05 said. “It’s important to get the community involved. If Macalester can be a place for multiculturalism, it can also be a place for a group [to come together around] one culture or religion.”

Sarna’s lecture detailed the history of Judaism in the United States, as well as the 150-year history of Judaism in St. Paul. Jews first arrived in what is now New York in 1654, marking the beginning of Jewish communal life in America.

“My hope is that the community will celebrate [this anniversary] and investigate Jewish history,” Sarna said.

“For the major part of American history, Judaism has been the country’s largest and most visible non-Christian faith. From their very first steps on American soil, Jews have expanded the definition of American religious liberty,” Sarna said.

“To study the history of American Jews is to be reminded anew of human potential,” Sarna said. “It’s not just a record of events, it is the story of how people shaped events.”

“We need to be surrounded by diversity and teach other people about it,” lecture attendee Annette Lerew ’07 said.

“I really liked the lecture,” Cohen said. “I wish that [Sarna] had gone into more detail, but time didn’t allow for it. He was very funny.”

Sarna also touched on the history of Judaism abroad, which he said has been a history of terror and oppression. “American Jewish history stands as a great exception to this melancholy history. Persecution, mass murder and terrorism are not the central themes of American Judaism,” he said.

Sarna went on to describe some of the problems such as assimilation that the American Jewish community faces today. “Freedom carries with it responsibilities, even perils,” he said. According to Sarna, the history of American Judaism involves both embracing multiculturalism and claiming distinct identities. “The story of American Judaism is not just a story of religious declension, of people struggling to be both Americans and Jews. It’s a story of revitalization,” he said.

Sarna also addressed the issue of “Jewish consolidation.” “Jews have abandoned unstable countries where they were prosecuted. We may be seeing a Jewish community restricted to first-world countries,” he said.

Sarna went on to commemorate Raskas. “The innovations led by people like Rabbi Raskas seems to be a theme of significance to the Jewish community. There is an American Jewish tradition of pushing forward,” Sarna said. Raskas was also honored by asking the first question of Sarna after the lecture.