In his visit to the VCU campus, Adam Jortner will talk about the main points he writes about in his book, "A Promised Land: Jewish Patriots, the American Revolution, and the Birth of Religious Freedom."

His talk will explore the central role of Judaism in the making of the United States and its definition of citizenship, widening the scope of the American Revolution and those who fought in it, including Jewish patriots. In addition, he will break down the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation first and foremost.

About the speaker

Adam Jortner has been teaching, researching, writing, and storytelling about American history for the last 20 years. His stories are great and fun and true and not bummers. They are stories you need to hear and will be glad you heard. He’s written 3 books and lots of other stuff, and he still thinks the best way to get American history across is face to face and person to person.