Faith of Our Fathers

Gilbert Stewart portrait of George Washington (1803), Clark Art Institute (Accession No. 1955.16), (PD)

The first Jewish congregation in Georgia — Mickve Israel — was established in Savannah around 1735 [1A].  After the American Revolution, the leadership of Mickve Israel wrote to congratulate George Washington on his election as the nation’s first president.

Below is an excerpt of his response.  It demonstrates that the historical revisionists who today seek to label Washington a mere “deist” do him an injustice.  And that anti-Semitism is un-American.

“To the Savannah, Ga., Hebrew Congregation

Gentlemen,

I thank you with great sincerity for your congratulations on my appointment to the office…

I rejoice that a spirit of liberality and philanthropy is much more prevalent than it formerly was among the enlightened nations of the earth; and that your brethren will benefit thereby in proportion as it shall become still more extensive.  Happily the people of the United States of America have, in many instances, exhibited examples worthy of imitation — The salutary influence of which will doubtless extend much farther, if gratefully enjoying those blessings of peace which (under favor of Heaven) have been obtained by fortitude in war, they shall conduct themselves with reverence to the Deity, and charity towards their fellow-creatures.”

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

G. Washington [1B]”

“Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee,
And thru the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then be truly free [2].”

—

[1A and 1B]  Founders Online, “From George Washington to Savannah, GA Hebrew Congregation, 14 June, 1790”, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0279.

[2]  Third verse of the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers, Still Living” (1849); text by Frederick Faber; music by Henry Hemi; refrain by James Walton.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
https://www.avoicereclaimed.com