About this episode

This episode reflects on the history and future of American Jewry in light of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

From the Editor’s Desk: This special Semiquincentennial podcast is the capstone of our symposium at TraditionOnline.org considering “The Jew in America at 250.” It revisits a series we published in 1976 for the Bicentennial (read about both and sample all the contents). In the course of human events 250 years ago, Thomas Jefferson concluded his Declaration of Independence “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we [the signers of the Declaration] mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Since Jews first arrived in the British colonies in the seventeenth century, and throughout 250 years of independence, they have similarly relied on the protection of divine Providence—just as we trusted in the promises of religious freedom, that great boon of American life. We and our American Jewish ancestors similarly pledged our lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the country—the malkhut shel hesed in R. Moshe Feinstein’s memorable phrase—which has done more than any other in history to enable Jewish flourishing—any other country, that is, aside from the one I have made my home for over three decades, the State of Israel. We are now met…

Topics covered

• American Jewry
• Semiquincentennial
• religious freedom
• Jewish history
• community
• cultural identity

Keywords

• American Jewry
• Thomas Jefferson
• religious freedom
• Jewish history
• Tradition Podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TraditionOnline.org, State of Israel

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Tradition Podcast podcast page.