The History of Jews in the American South

Run time: 55 minutes

In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Richard Kreitner, author of Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery, and Shari Rabin, author of The Jewish South: An American History, join Jeffrey Rosen for a wide-ranging discussion on the Southern Jewish experience from the Revolutionary era to the Civil War. They discuss how American Jews reckoned with religious discrimination and slavery, explore Jewish participation in the Civil War, and remember some of the notable American Jews who helped shape this tumultuous era. Listen on We the People or Watch on America's Town Hall

We the People and Live at the National Constitution Center are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more 

Supreme Court deadlock on religious charter schools not likely the end of the story

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 6 minutes

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s deadlock on the constitutionality of religious charter schools did not resolve that contentious issue but it did encourage– indirectly– religious organizations to try, try again. …” Read more

Lincoln and Taney’s great writ showdown

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes

“On May 28, 1861, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney directly challenged President Abraham Lincoln’s wartime suspension of the great writ of habeas corpus, in a national constitutional showdown. …” Read more

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month at the Center

Ernestine Hara Kettler was born to a Romanian Jewish family and immigrated to the U.S. in 1907. As a suffragist, she picketed the White House and ended up in prison. Hear her recollections in our exhibit, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote.

13th Amendment

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Read interpretations in the Interactive Constitution

Support the Center

Your generous support enables the National Constitution Center to thrive as America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue.  

Connect With Us

Update your email preferences by clicking the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us.