Daniel and the Jewish Roots of American Liberty
About this episode
The episode explores the influence of the biblical prophet Daniel on American ideals of liberty and civil disobedience throughout history.
On this episode of Our American Stories, from the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement, the biblical prophet Daniel has served as an enduring American symbol of courage in the face of unjust authority. His refusal to abandon his faith, even when threatened with the lions' den, offered Americans a powerful example of standing firm when human laws conflicted with a higher moral law. Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern, co-author of The Jewish Roots of American Liberty , shares how Daniel's story inspired a Revolutionary-era preacher challenging British rule, enslaved Americans longing for freedom, and the abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. Generations later, Martin Luther King Jr. drew on the story of Daniel's fellow exiles to defend civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Guest: Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern
Topics covered
- American history
- civil rights
- religion
- courage
- moral law
- influence of biblical stories
Keywords
- Daniel
- American liberty
- civil disobedience
- moral law
- historical influence
- Rabbi Stuart Halpern
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Jewish Roots of American Liberty
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