1/26/10
1/24/10
A Reply
"Gentlemen:
While I receive with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of affection and esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the coridal welcome I experience in my visit to New Port from all classes of citizens.
The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and a happy people.
The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy, a policy worth of imitation.
All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of once class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the government of the United States, which give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.
May the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the Father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and, in his own due time and way, everlastingly happy. G. Washington
While I receive with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of affection and esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the coridal welcome I experience in my visit to New Port from all classes of citizens.
The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and a happy people.The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy, a policy worth of imitation.
All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of once class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the government of the United States, which give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.
May the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the Father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and, in his own due time and way, everlastingly happy. G. Washington
From The Hebrew Congregation of New Port, Rhode Island to George Washington (Aug. 17, 1790)
"Sir,
Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits and to join with our fellow-citizens in welcoming you to New Port.
With pleasure we reflect on those days--those days of difficulty and danger--when the God of Israel who delivered David from the peril of the sword shielded your head in the day of battle. And we rejoice to think that the same Spirit, who rested in the bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel, enabling him to preside over the provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests, and ever will rest upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these states.
Deprived as we have hitherto been of the invaluable rights of free citizens, we now, with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Disposer of all events, behold a government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance, but generously affording to all liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship, deeming every one, of whatever nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental machine. This so ample and extensive federal union whose basis is philanthropy, mutual confidence, and public virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, doing whasoever seemeth him good.
For all the blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal and benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great Preserver of Men, beseeching him that the angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised land may graciously conduct you through all the dangers and difficulties of this mortal life. And when like Joshua, full of days and full of honor, you are gathered to your fathers, may you be admitted into the heavenly paradise to partake of the water of life and the tree of immortality."
Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits and to join with our fellow-citizens in welcoming you to New Port.
With pleasure we reflect on those days--those days of difficulty and danger--when the God of Israel who delivered David from the peril of the sword shielded your head in the day of battle. And we rejoice to think that the same Spirit, who rested in the bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel, enabling him to preside over the provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests, and ever will rest upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these states.
Deprived as we have hitherto been of the invaluable rights of free citizens, we now, with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Disposer of all events, behold a government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance, but generously affording to all liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship, deeming every one, of whatever nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental machine. This so ample and extensive federal union whose basis is philanthropy, mutual confidence, and public virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, doing whasoever seemeth him good.
For all the blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal and benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great Preserver of Men, beseeching him that the angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised land may graciously conduct you through all the dangers and difficulties of this mortal life. And when like Joshua, full of days and full of honor, you are gathered to your fathers, may you be admitted into the heavenly paradise to partake of the water of life and the tree of immortality."
The Thirteen Original Colonies
Timeline-ing
Here's an excellent resource and beginning point for creating the concurrent timeline of our dreams--European history, American Jewish history, and American Events--as if made just for us by the people over at From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America (linked on the right side of this very blog). Enjoy.
1/22/10
How have the mighty fallen....
Eulogy: In the first quadmester, each student will write a 2-page eulogy about a person who or a place, site, object, community, organization or building that contributed in some way to American Judaism prior to the 20th century. As a eulogy, it most focus on someone who is no longer living or on some organization/place/institution/object that no longer operates or functions. Whom or what one choose to eulogize needs to be connected to Jews or a Jewish community but does not need to be Jewish; the eulogy, however, must focus on the contributions that person or place (or whatever) made to the advancement of Judaism in the New World. Full details here. Eulogies due no later than March 1st.
1/18/10
Swing by and see him yourself...
Haym Salomon (1740-1785) was a contemporary of Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786) and immigrated to the soon-to-be United States in the early 1770s. His letter to the Editor was published in 1784, just one year after Mendelssohn's Jerusalem.
(Here he is as seen in Pan Pacific Park, Los Angeles, at the corner of 3rd and Gardner)
(Here he is as seen in Pan Pacific Park, Los Angeles, at the corner of 3rd and Gardner)
His service to the new republic earned him his very own stamp, issued in 1975 (gotta love the title they gave him):
1/15/10
Right back at you Pete....
From the Dutch West India Company's reply:
"We would have liked to effectuate and fulfill your wishes and request...but after having further weighed and considered the matter, we observe that this would be somewhat unreasonable and unfair, especially because of the considerable loss sustained by this nation, with others, in the taking of Brazil, as also because of the large amount of capital which they still have invested in the shares of this company. ...[W]e have finally decided and resolved to apostille upon a certain petition presented by said Portuguese Jews that these people may travel and trade to and in New Netherland and live and remain there.... You will now govern yourself accordingly."
From The Jew In The Modern World, 2nd Ed., pg. 453.
"We would have liked to effectuate and fulfill your wishes and request...but after having further weighed and considered the matter, we observe that this would be somewhat unreasonable and unfair, especially because of the considerable loss sustained by this nation, with others, in the taking of Brazil, as also because of the large amount of capital which they still have invested in the shares of this company. ...[W]e have finally decided and resolved to apostille upon a certain petition presented by said Portuguese Jews that these people may travel and trade to and in New Netherland and live and remain there.... You will now govern yourself accordingly."
From The Jew In The Modern World, 2nd Ed., pg. 453.
Peter Stuyvesant to the Dutch West India Company, Sept. 22, 1654
"The Jews who have arrived would nearly all like to remain here, but learning that they (with their customary usury and deceitful trading with the Christians) were very repugnant to the inferior magistrates, as also to the people having the most affection to you...we have, for the benefit of this weak and newly developing place and the land in general, deemed it useful to require them in a friendly way to depart; praying...that the deceitful race...be not allowed to further infect and trouble this new colong to the detraction of your worships and the dissatisfaction of your worships' most affectionate subjects."
in The Jew in the Modern World, 2nd Ed., pg. 452.
in The Jew in the Modern World, 2nd Ed., pg. 452.
Maybe in a ship like this....?
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Welch's for Pesah? " Welch's Teams With Manischewitz in Battle Over Kosher Grape Juice " (NPR, 10/10/17)
