← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Otho_Isch
Thread ID: 16550 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2005-02-03
2005-02-03 01:05 | User Profile
[URL=http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=news_history&Number=293336381&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1&t=1#Post293336381]Libertyforum link[/URL]
[URL=http://parkinglot.freewebspace.com/ajhs.pdf]Original article, PDF[/URL]
Washington Post, Dec 28, 1894
FROM A HISTORIC PEN
Letters by Washington Before the Jewish Historians
CLOSE OF THE ANNUAL SESSIONS
Many Important and Interesting Papers Presented At The Last Meeting Of the American Jewish Historical Society - Unpublished Letters From George Washington Presented To The Convention by Mr. Lewis Abraham
The American Jewish Historical Society closed its session at the Arlington yesterday after a brief meeting in the morning...
The paper of Mr. Lewis Abraham, of this city, was especially interesting in view of the historical data which that gentleman had laboriously compiled, showing the prominent and patriotic part taken by the Hebrew race in the development of the country. For instance, Mr. Abraham presented several letters from George Washington to various Hebrew congregations and, so far as is known, only one of these letters has ever been printed.
In his address, Mr. Abraham said that the number of Israelites in this country prior to the Declaration of Independence was not large, but there is undoubted evidence that they were staunch supporters of the colonies in the efforts of the latter to secure severance from the foreign yoke. When Washington had concluded his labors in the field of war and had attained civic honors and laurels from all quarters were being showered upon him, the Hebrews joined their fellow citizens in felicitating the hero and statesman. Out of this grew the correspondence referred to. Mr. Abraham related that the letter addressed to the Beth Elohim congregration of Charleston, S.C. was destroyed in the great fire of that city in 1838. In the effort to secure a copy the State Department was appealed to, but no copy seemed in existence until Mr. Abraham himself recently supplied the desired document and received the thanks of the authorities.
(three letters included in article: To the Hebrew Congregation of Savannah, May, 1790, Reply to Newport, RI Congregation and Reply to the adress of the Hebrew Congregations of Philadelphia, New York, Richmond and Charleston - link)
Mr. Abraham also presented an interesting paper showing the close relations of the Hebrews to the perpetuation of the memories of the founders of the government and illustrating their appreciations of the religious liberty which this country affords.