Original Date of Event: Tuesday, May 10 at 1 pm ET

Howard Mortman’s When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill is an unprecedented examination of 160 years of Jewish prayers delivered in the literal and figurative center of American democracy. With exhaustive research written in approachable prose, it tells the story of more than 400 rabbis giving over 600 prayers since the Civil War days. In this program Mortman will be joined in conversation by Brian Lamb, founder and former CEO of C-SPAN. Mortman and Lamb will discuss, and screen specially selected videos of the history from the C-SPAN archives. The two will take questions the audience during the last ten minutes of the program.

About Howard Mortman

Howard Mortman has been C-SPAN’s Communications Director since early 2009.  He directs media outreach, corporate communications, and public relations efforts for the nation’s only public affairs cable television network.  The Washington Post has recognized C-SPAN for its “importance as a means of mass civic education … without any taxpayer money.” The Washington Post has also called C-SPAN “the channel that has achieved cult status among policy geeks.”

Mortman is responsible for planning and executing the strategic vision for extending the C-SPAN brand and content among traditional and social media.  Critical to this effort is working with the next generation of journalists and new media outlets and platforms.

Mortman’s first book, When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill” was published in October 2020. It is the first-ever academic and historical examination of a little-known tradition in Congress: opening each session of the House and Senate in prayer. Reporting on the research into rabbis who have prayed in Congress, the Washington Examiner calls his project “a remarkable history researched by Howard Mortman.”

About Brian Lamb

Brian Lamb is founder of the cable television network C-SPAN. He has been associated with the network since 1977, serving in various position, including CEO and Chairman of the Board. Lamb has been fascinated by Jewish history and Jewish stories throughout his life.

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