Jews in the American Revolution
"Jews in the American Revolution," was the title of a talk given by Netanya resident Yoel Sheridan on July 4, in honor of US Independence Day, at the AACI Netanya.
In 1776, the population of the 13 colonies was ca. 2.5 million, almost all of them British subjects. About 60% supported the insurrection against their homeland, while the other 40% remained "loyalist." There was only a sprinkling of Jews living in the colonies at the time, several thousand, and most of them supported the uprising. Apart from individual Jews who fought in the American war of Independence, and some who died, there were several who distinguished themselves. Most notable was Haym Solomon, a Polish Jew, who settled in New York City, became a patriot, was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by the British, but managed to escape, and became the chief financial supporter and advisor of the nascent American venture. He reputedly obtained $800,000 (now worth several billion dollars) to support the revolutionary movement. There are several memorials to him in the US (one in Philadelphia where he died and one in Chicago) and two movies have been made featuring his life.
An obscure incident reveals the difference between the British and American sides. There was a small Dutch colony on the island of St. Eustatius, that included ca. 150 Dutch Jewish families, most of them merchants. The British naval commander in the area, Admiral Romney, captured the island and stole all their wealth. He discovered that the Jews had buried some of their property in coffins in the Jewish graveyard. So he had all the coffins dug up, then he collected all the Jews, separated the men from the women and children, had the men stripped and exiled them. He also burnt their houses and the synagogue. Romney was an anti-Semite and a thief. He was widely criticized for these despicable acts in the British press, but he was also criticized because while engaged in this action he missed the fact that the French fleet had passed nearby, and went on to blockade Gen. Cornwallis and the British Army in Yorktown, that was the last battle of the War of Independence. So Jews played an inadvertent role in assuring American victory.
The Touro Synagogue, Newport Rhode Island, was built in 1763, and named for a Sephardic Jew, Isaac Touro, who donated funds for its erection. It was the first synagogue on the N. American continent and is the oldest standing synagogue in the USA and has been designated a National Historic Monument. When the President of the synagogue in 1790 wrote to George Washington congratulating him upon his election, he replied to the congregation in a manner that has become famous "...the Government of the United States...gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance...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 figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid...."
Happy Fourth of July !
In 1776, the population of the 13 colonies was ca. 2.5 million, almost all of them British subjects. About 60% supported the insurrection against their homeland, while the other 40% remained "loyalist." There was only a sprinkling of Jews living in the colonies at the time, several thousand, and most of them supported the uprising. Apart from individual Jews who fought in the American war of Independence, and some who died, there were several who distinguished themselves. Most notable was Haym Solomon, a Polish Jew, who settled in New York City, became a patriot, was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by the British, but managed to escape, and became the chief financial supporter and advisor of the nascent American venture. He reputedly obtained $800,000 (now worth several billion dollars) to support the revolutionary movement. There are several memorials to him in the US (one in Philadelphia where he died and one in Chicago) and two movies have been made featuring his life.
An obscure incident reveals the difference between the British and American sides. There was a small Dutch colony on the island of St. Eustatius, that included ca. 150 Dutch Jewish families, most of them merchants. The British naval commander in the area, Admiral Romney, captured the island and stole all their wealth. He discovered that the Jews had buried some of their property in coffins in the Jewish graveyard. So he had all the coffins dug up, then he collected all the Jews, separated the men from the women and children, had the men stripped and exiled them. He also burnt their houses and the synagogue. Romney was an anti-Semite and a thief. He was widely criticized for these despicable acts in the British press, but he was also criticized because while engaged in this action he missed the fact that the French fleet had passed nearby, and went on to blockade Gen. Cornwallis and the British Army in Yorktown, that was the last battle of the War of Independence. So Jews played an inadvertent role in assuring American victory.
The Touro Synagogue, Newport Rhode Island, was built in 1763, and named for a Sephardic Jew, Isaac Touro, who donated funds for its erection. It was the first synagogue on the N. American continent and is the oldest standing synagogue in the USA and has been designated a National Historic Monument. When the President of the synagogue in 1790 wrote to George Washington congratulating him upon his election, he replied to the congregation in a manner that has become famous "...the Government of the United States...gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance...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 figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid...."
Happy Fourth of July !
posted by Jack Cohen at 4:29 PM
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