Philadelphia – George Washington’s Letter to Jewish Congregation Going on View

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    George Washington's reply to the Newport, RI, Philadelphia – Historic correspondence by President George Washington to a Jewish congregation in Rhode Island is the centerpiece of an exhibit in Philadelphia this summer.

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    The National Museum of American Jewish History said Thursday the privately owned 337-word letter is arguably the most important document in American Jewish history. The museum says the letter was written by Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R.I., in August 1790.

    Washington’s letter is addressed to “the children of the stock of Abraham.” It describes his vow for a government that “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

    The exhibit opens July Fourth weekend. It also will include Washington’s correspondence to Quakers and other Jewish congregations and a Gilbert Stuart portrait of the president from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.


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    9 Comments
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    DACON9
    DACON9
    11 years ago

    FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO GEORGE BUSH….
    We never had a president like obama….

    No president in history ever gave so many Americans a vacation like obama.
    we didnt get a cadillac but we got vacations…………………
    LADY EXCUSE ME, IS THIS THE RIGHT LINE FOR FOOD STAMPS?

    Benjey
    Benjey
    11 years ago

    Haym Salomon: Financier of the Revolutionay War
    by Seymour “Sy” Brody
    Haym Salomon was a hero and a fervent patriot whose love of liberty and business acumen combined made him a vital force for the War of Independence. Born in Poland, in 1740, he was forced to flee for his life due to his fight for freedom alongside Pulaski and Kosciusko, who later became military heroes in the American Revolution.

    After Salomon landed in New York, he immediately became a successful broker because of his education and his remarkable talents. He married Rachel Franks, who came from a famous American Jewish family.

    While New York was the seat of British power, and he was doing business with the wealthy loyalists, Salomon joined the Sons of Liberty, a group of revolutionary patriots. When the Revolutionary War started in 1776, the British arrested him and flung him into prison as a SPY.

    The British recognized his linguistic abilities-he could speak 10 languages — and put him to work as an interpreter. He was finally released and went back into business, aiding the Colonists with his mounting fortune.

    Salomon was arrested again for his pro-revolutionary activities. This time he was tortured and condemned to be hanged. With the aid of his friends, he managed to escape to Philadelphia, where he arrived penniless. Salomon quickly retumed to business, using his profits to buy food for the starving Colonial Army. Generals Washington, Lafayette, Von Steuben and others often came to him for food and material aid.

    Salomon negotiated many loans for the Colonies from France and Holland, but never took a commission for himself. According to legend, General Washington’s appeal for funds with which to maintain his ragged army came to Salomon on Yom Kippur. Devoutly religious, Salomon recognized that love of country was an aspect of his religion. So he turned to the congregation and suspended services to secure pledges for the necessary funds. Only after he obtained the necessary amount needed in pledges did he proceed with the solemn holiday observances.

    It became a regular practice — the Revolutionary leaders’ diaries testify to this- “that when money was needed for the Revolutionary War, you went to Haym Salomon.”

    Benjey
    Benjey
    11 years ago

    And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This is not something that happened by chance.

    This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result.

    blackandwhite
    blackandwhite
    11 years ago

    It also will include Washington’s correspondence to Quakers and other Jewish congregations.

    Funny, Quakers don’t look Jewish.

    Jewnurse
    Jewnurse
    11 years ago

    Which museum will this be in???

    Different
    Different
    11 years ago

    HOWEVER – The article shows a quote from Washington’s letter that his government “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Yet in his letter it should have shown that phrase in quotes as well! Washington lifted that entire phrase form the letter written to him by the president of the congregation in which he thanked the President for visiting the shul. Ever since then he has been credited with those noble sentiments penned by a Jew. See the following link – http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/bigotry.html