In mainstream film, the triumph of perseverance over adversity often involves protagonists overcoming economic hardships; from Rocky to The Goonies to Spider-Man, Hollywood heroes typically succeed despite their means, not because of them. History, however, is rarely as consistent.
On this day in 1858, Sir Lionel Nathan Rothschild took his seat in the House of Commons, making him the first Jewish member of the British Parliament. A member of the prominent, wealthy Rothschild banking family, Rothschild was first elected to Parliament in 1847. However, the oath of office of Parliament required members to swear upon, “The true faith of a Christian.”
Despite four successive bills passed by the House of Commons to alter the oath, Rothschild’s seat remained vacant as the House of Lords failed to assent to changes, and Rothschild refused to swear the oath as written. Only after Rothschild won three successive elections without occupying his seat did the House of Lords consent to a proposal to allow each house to decide its own oath, formally allowing Jews to serve as members of the House of Commons and enabling him to occupy his elected seat, 11 years after he was first elected.
Lionel Nathan Rothschild’s long battle and victory over discrimination illustrates that the power of perseverance to eliminate social and legal barriers is one available to us all, should we choose to exercise it, asking us to consider what barriers we can remove on behalf of ourselves and others.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel