Shabbat Shalom,
Today marks 249 years of our independence as a nation.] We give thanks for the blessings of freedom, and we reflect on the founding ideals that have shaped America—ideals of liberty, justice, and equality.
For the Jewish community, one of the most powerful expressions of these principles came in 1790, when President George Washington wrote his historic letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, affirming what was then—and remains now—a revolutionary idea: that in America, religious liberty is not a favor granted to minorities, but a natural right guaranteed to all. He wrote:
“It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.”
And most famously:
“The Government of the United States… gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”
For generations, American Jews have held these words close to our hearts. They represented more than lofty rhetoric—they often reflected the reality we experienced. This country has been a haven. We have thrived here. We’ve built synagogues and schools, hospitals and cultural centers. We’ve contributed in every sphere—from the arts and sciences to politics and public service, to music and entertainment.
But this year, many of us are struggling. We feel the rise of antisemitism—in the media, on campuses, in casual speech and violent acts. We are witnessing a resurgence of old hatreds, now repackaged and circulated with alarming ease.
Some of us are asking:
Will we feel fully at home again?
Will our children walk safely and confidently as Jews in America?
Is this still a place where bigotry is given no sanction, where persecution receives no assistance?
These are real and painful questions. And we know we are not alone in them. Many others—including immigrant families and asylum seekers—also wonder whether this land of promise will remain a place where they can live in safety, contribute with dignity, and hope for a better future.
Etched into the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is a verse from the Torah:
וּקְרָאתֶ֥ם דְּר֛וֹר בָּאָ֖רֶץ לְכׇל־יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ
“Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)
Our Torah—our truth—is literally inscribed into the American story. It reminds us that freedom is sacred. That justice is divine. That the American promise and the Jewish vision are deeply intertwined.
May we continue to thrive in this beautiful Diaspora—this goldene medina (“land of promise”)—that has been a refuge for generations.
May this country remain a loyal ally to the State of Israel and a home where all people can live in dignity and peace.
May liberty and justice not only be ideals but lived realities.
And may we experience the blessing with which Washington concluded his letter, quoting the Hebrew prophet Micah:
“That 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 fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi