Rabbi Lance J. Sussman will speak on “In Our Time: American Jewish Life at the Beginning of the 21st Century” at Temple Concord, 9 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, on Sunday, October 15, at 2 pm. He will discuss his experiences and analyze the reshaping of Jewish life in the early 21st century, and read selections from his book. Following his talk, Sussman will sign copies of his recently published collection of sermons, “Portrait of an American Rabbi: In His Own Words” (Xlibris US). Copies of the book can be found at online bookstores. There is no charge to attend the event. (See the interview here.)

“The opening two decades of the 21st century are widely viewed as an inflection point in the modern Jewish experience,” said organizers of the event. “From September 11 to COVID, dramatic changes in American Jewish life and Israel challenged the Jewish status quo in almost every dimension. In his new book, Sussman includes dozens of essays presented in chronological order of his experience as a pulpit rabbi, and historian during this tumultuous period.”

Sussman is the rabbi emeritus at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA. He was formerly the rabbi of Temple Concord, Binghamton, and the former Temple Beth-El of Endicott, and served as the chairman of the Jewish Studies Department at Binghamton University-SUNY. He has published numerous books and articles, including “Isaac Lesser and the Making of American Judaism” and “Sharing Sacred Moments” (a collection of his sermons); he also served as an editor of “Reform Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook.” Sussman is currently the chairman of the Board of Governors and a professor of Jewish history at Gratz College in Melrose Park, PA.