Jonathan D. Sarna (born Jonathan Daniel Sarna on January 10, 1955, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a prominent American historian and scholar specializing in American Jewish history, recognized as a leading authority and leading historian of American Judaism. He is the University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University and director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. The son of biblical scholar Nahum Mattathias Sarna and librarian Helen Horowitz Sarna, he was raised in New York City and Newton Centre, Massachusetts. He earned multiple degrees including a B.H.L. from Hebrew College (1974), B.A. and M.A. from Brandeis University (1975), M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Yale University (1976-1979), and studied at Mercaz HaRav Kook in Jerusalem. He began his career at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (1979-1990) before joining Brandeis in 1990. He married Ruth Langer, a professor of Jewish studies, in 1986, and they have two children. A prolific author and editor, Sarna's work extends to public engagement and advisory roles.