Dr. Gary P. Zola explores the personal and professional characteristics that have inspired American Jews to embrace the 16th president as a man with a “Jewish soul.” Lincoln’s remarkable human qualities offer an uplifting legacy to ponder as his bicentennial anniversary comes to a conclusion.

Dr. Gary P. Zola is Executive Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. A native of the Chicago area, he has been involved in Jewish community affairs for three decades and is a recipient of the Bishop Herbert Thompson Jr. Distinguished Humanitarian Award.

Recorded Sunday, January 31, 2010 at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El.