Rabbi A. James Rudin, of the Center for Catholic - Jewish Studies' Board of Directors, was one of three distinguished guest panelist at a forum on religion and presidential politics sponsored by Wagner College and the Center for Jewish History of New York entitled "The Pulpit and the 'Bully Pulpit'."  The event took place on November 11, 2008, one week after the presidential election.  Along with Rabbi Rudin, the forum featured Peter Steinfels, Professor of Philosophy and co-director of Fordham University's Center on Religion and Culture, and James M. Dunn, Resident Professor of Christianity and Public Policy at Wake Forest University.  Each panelist was invited to share his observations and analyses about religion in the 2008 Presidential Election.  Moderating the discussion was Seymour P. Lachman, Distinguished Professor in Residence at Wagner College.  
 
The event's sponsoring institutions have longstanding interests in promoting the life of the mind in America.  Wagner College, located on Staten Island is a secular four-year private college committed to the liberal arts, experiential learning and interdisciplinary education.  The Center for Jewish History, headquartered in Manhattan, is the home of five preeminent Jewish institutions dedicated to history, culture, and art. It unites under one roof collections that bring together centuries of Jewish life: the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and the Yivo Institute For Jewish Research.