President George Washington’s letter to the Touro Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, is one of the “founding documents” that, I believe, really ought to be taught in U.S. schools. Washington wrote the letter in 1790, his second year as the first President of the United States. In the letter Washington responded to Moses Seixas, a member of the Jewish community of Newport, who sought assurances that Jews would enjoy freedom of religion in the new republic. Washington’s reply is short, but eloquent. In it, he expressed his view of religious liberty. And it seems to me that George Washington’s view of religious liberty is a significant part of the historical record on the matter. Yet, for some reason, the Christian Nationalists ignore it.
Christian Nationalists insist all children must study other “founding documents” such as the Mayflower Compact of 1620, which extols “the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith,” and the Declaration of Independence, which mentions God (in diverse ways) four times. But the Mayflower Compact was an agreement among a small group of colonists who described themselves as “loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James.” It has no direct bearing on the founding of our independent nation more than a century later. Further, since the original was lost, we can’t know for certain what the original actually said. And the Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson, arguably the most out-of-the-closet Deist of all the Founders. See “God and the Declaration of Independence” for why Jefferson was no Christian Nationalist.
And before we go any further, I’d like to point out that the founding of the original colony of Rhode Island is another bit of Americana that Christian Nationalists like to ignore. It was founded by Roger Williams, a minister and theologian who was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because his religious views clashed with those of the Puritans. Williams was an early advocate for religious tolerance and diversity. And he was the first person in the New World to advocate for separation of church and state.
Washington and the Jews of Newport
Yes, there were Jews in Colonial America. Judaism’s history in the New World began in 1654, when 23 Sephardic Jews arrived in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, or today’s New York City. By the 18th century there were Jewish communities in several colonies. Sephardi in Newport built what is now the oldest synagogue building in the United States, the Touro Synagogue, dedicated in 1763. In March 1781 General George Washington traveled to Newport to meet with French officers about plans for the ongoing Revolutionary War. It’s my understanding he visited Touro Synagogue on that visit, although I haven’t found any details.
In 1790 President George Washington visited Newport again. Among the many people who welcomed him was Moses Seixas, a merchant and the warden of Congregation Yeshuat Israel of Touro Synagogue. Seixas spoke of the oppression and discrimination the congregation had faced in the past, But he looked forward to “all the blessings of civil and religious liberty” under the new government of the United States. Seixas also called for God’s blessings on Washington himself. And he handed Washington a letter, which read in part:
Deprived as we heretofore have 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, erected by the Majesty of the People — 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.
Washington’s Response
Washington responded in a letter addressed to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. I think this part of the letter is especially beautiful.
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 worthy 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 one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives 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.
I love what Washington wrote about there being no need for tolerance. To be tolerated requires the indulgence or permission of someone of higher status. But Washington wrote, “all possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.” The nation was not made for Christians alone.
And then toward the end of the letter, Washington wrote, “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 every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.” Here Washington was quoting the Jewish prophet Micah — “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” (Micah 4:4)
The complete letter is below.
Washington’s Letter to Touro Synagogue
Gentlemen:
While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport 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 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 worthy 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 were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives 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 children of 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, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.
G. Washington
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