July 4th and the Jewish Faith
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Five surprising ways Jewish ideas and people helped shape the founding of the United States.
While Americans festively celebrate July 4th with fireworks and apple pie, often overlooked is how influential Jewish ideas were in shaping the country they know and love.
In honor of America’s birthday, here are 5 surprising examples of how Jewish figures, stories and concepts shaped the USA.
1. Queen Esther Inspired the American Revolution
On May 17, 1776, the Continental Congress declared a public fast day “to supplicate [God’s] interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and posterity.” The President of the College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University) John Witherspoon noted that thousands of years earlier the Children of Israel had achieved victory after fasting, led by the ancient Persian Queen and her cousin:
“The scripture abounds with instances, in which the designs of oppressors were either wholly disappointed, or in execution fell far short of the malice of their intention, and in some they turned out to the honor and happiness of the persons or the people, whom they were intended to destroy… We have also an instance in Esther in which the most mischievous designs of Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, against Mordecai the Jew, and the nation from which he sprung, turned out at last to his own destruction, the honor of Mordecai, and the salvation and peace of his people.”
2. David’s Victory over Goliath
Three years later, on May 26, 1779, amidst the ongoing battles against British forces, the Congress issued a proclamation seeking to inspire the weary Continental Army. It turned to the story of the young shepherd David’s miraculous victory over the Philistine giant Goliath, which it viewed as a model for its own inexperienced troops.
Congress’s letter proclaimed:
“America, without arms, ammunition, discipline, revenue, government, or ally, almost totally striped of commerce, and in the weakness of youth, as it were with a ‘staff and sling’ only, dared in the name of the Lord of Hosts to engage a gigantic adversary, prepared at all points, boasting of his strength, and of whom even mighty warriors ‘were greatly afraid.’”
Thankfully, as David had done, General Washington and his men eventually defeated a vastly more fearful opponent.
3. Jews Supported the Fight - in Yiddish
Prior to the outbreak of the war against George III, Jews supported the stirring of what would become the Revolution. In 1770, a Jewish Pennsylvanian named Barnard Gratz wrote a letter to his friend commenting on the British monarch’s latest address. “I was going to inclose you the king’s speech to parlement,” Gratz wrote, but it “was such narishkeit”—foolishness—“that [it] is not worth the postage.”
Barnard Gratz
In 1776, British troops seized a letter sent by another Jewish Pennsylvanian, Jonas Phillips, which included his enthusiastic endorsement of the Declaration of Independence, the text of which he enclosed. Alas, the British couldn’t make heads or tails of Phillips’s letter and believed it to have been written in code. It was, in fact, written in Yiddish.
In 1787’s Constitutional Convention, Phillips petitioned - in a letter marked with the Jewish date - against the Pennsylvanian oath requiring expressing belief in the Christian Bible for those seeking public office on the claim that his and his coreligionists’ wartime service earned them equal rights.
As Phillips put it:
“It is well known among the citizens of the thirteen United States that the Jews have been true and faithful whigs and during the late contest with England they have been foremost in aiding and assisting the states with their lives and fortunes, they supported the Cause, have bravely fought and bled for liberty which they cannot enjoy.”
He was “solicit[ing]” the “Favor” of not having to proclaim fealty to Christian beliefs “for myself, my Children and posterity and for the benefit of all the Israelites through the 13 United States of America.” Eventually, the oath would be repealed, increasing the ability of all Americans to hold public office without compromising their personal beliefs.
4. America’s National Symbol Was Almost a Scene from Exodus
During debates by the Founders over what America’s Great Seal should look like, Benjamin Franklin suggested "Moses standing on the Shore, and extending his Hand over the Sea, thereby causing the same to overwhelm Pharaoh who is sitting in an open Chariot, a Crown on his Head and a Sword in his hand. Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Clouds reaching to Moses, to express that he acts by Command of the Deity.”
Though not particularly religious himself, Franklin understood that if the nascent nation was to be successful, it should model itself on biblical Israel, whose strong sense of covenant with God merited its people divine protection against their enemies. Franklin’s suggestion never made it past a committee vote.
5. Can I Get Freedom Fries with That?
Long before there were kosher hot dogs stands at baseball games, there was a kosher table at a parade supporting the Constitution’s ratification in Philadelphia. The gesture by the event’s organizers was an expression of recognition of the gifts the Jews had already bestowed upon America in the country’s earliest moments - both with their fighting fists, and their faith.
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