I was looking for something appropriate to read at the once-in-a-lifetime combination of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah dinner.
The letter George Washington wrote on Aug. 18, 1790 to the Jewish Congregation of Newport fits perfectly.
“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.”
The bold words above have become famous as one of George Washington’s sayings, but he was actually quoting it back from the letter sent to him by the leader of the Jewish Congregation of Newport, Moses Seixas:
“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.”
Moses Seixas Full Letter to Washington