George Washington and Jews in Early America

By Douglas V. Gibbs

In 1789, when George Washington became president, the Jewish centers from around the new country sent him letters of congratulations. The Hebrews were important to the United States. In fact, the Mosaic system was such a part of the decision making in regards to the structure of the new government, that it was seriously considered to include the Star of David on the first national seal. George Washington's response to the letters of congratulations from the Jews in Early America set the tone for how the Israelites would be considered in the future.

George Washington also recognized that the Jewish God was also the same Christian God that had His providential hand in establishing this nation. In a letter to the Jews in Savannah, Georgia, Washington asked God to bless the Hebrews with the "dews of heaven." He also requested that God bless the Jews with the material and spiritual blessings for the people whose God is Jehovah.

"May the same wonder-working deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors, planted them in a promised land, whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous to establishing these United States as an independent nation, still continue to water them with the dews of heaven and make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah."

In George Washington's letter to the Hebrews in Newport, Rhode Island he included the same types of blessings. Washington aimed to ensure the Jews had the goodwill of the nation, and he thought of them as equals. In 1790, Jews in America were the freest on Earth.

"May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants; while everyone shall sit 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."

Referring to Micah 4:4 in the Holy Bible, Washington expressed his desire for the children of Abraham to each sit under his own vine and fig tree - a tremendous verse to use when pronouncing a blessing on the Children of Abraham.

Washington desired that the United States be like the time of the Messiah's reign for the Jews, which would be a time of peace and prosperity for the Jewish People. This is a far cry from the tyrants of Europe throughout the ages and the horrors they inflicted on the Jewish people. No nation has ever exhibited such favor to the Jewish people. This was yet another thing that made America unique, and exceptional, among the nations of the world.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

McTernan, John P., As America has done to Israel; New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House (2006), pages 58-59

Skousen, W. Cleon, The 5000 Year Leap: The 28 Great Ideas That Changed The World; New York: National Center for Constitutional Studies, (1981), pages 15-19