IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 62
Expressing the sense of Congress that the George Washington letter to
Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, which is on display at
the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington,
D.C., is one of the most significant early statements buttressing the
nascent American constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 14, 2001
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island (for himself, and Mr. LANGEVIN) submitted
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the George Wash-
ington letter to Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode
Island, which is on display at the B’nai B’rith Klutznick
National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., is one
of the most significant early statements buttressing the
nascent American constitutional guarantee of religious
freedom.
Whereas George Washington responded to a letter sent by
Moses Seixas, warden of Touro Synagogue in Newport,
Rhode Island, in August 1790;
Whereas, although Touro Synagogue, the oldest Jewish house
of worship in the United States, and now a national his-
•HCON 62 IH
toric site, was dedicated in December 1763, Jewish fami-
lies had been in Newport for over 100 years before that
date;
Whereas these Jews, some of whom were Marranos, came to
the United States with hopes of starting a new life in this
country, where they could practice their religious beliefs
freely and without persecution;
Whereas they were drawn to the Colony of Rhode Island and
the Providence Plantations because of Governor Roger
Williams’ assurances of religious liberty;
Whereas the letter from Touro Synagogue is the most famous
of many congratulatory notes addressed to the new presi-
dent by American Jewish congregations;
Whereas Seixas articulated the following principle, which
Washington repeated in his letter: ‘‘For happily the Gov-
ernment 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 them-
selves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their
effectual support’’;
Whereas this was the first statement of such a principle
enunciated by a leader of the new United States Govern-
ment;
Whereas this principle has become the cornerstone of United
States religious and ethnic toleration as it has developed
during the past two centuries;
Whereas the original letter is on display as part of the per-
manent collection of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National
Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas Americans of all religious faiths gather at Touro
Synagogue each August on the anniversary of the date of
•HCON 62 IH
the letter’s delivery and at the Klutznick Museum on
George Washington’s birthday to hear readings of the let-
ter and to discuss how the letter’s message can be ap-
plied to contemporary challenges: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the George Washington letter sent to Touro
Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, in August
1790, which is on display as part of the permanent
collection of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National
Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., is one of the
most significant early statements buttressing the
nascent American constitutional guarantee of reli-
gious freedom; and
(2) the text of the George Washington letter
should be widely circulated, serving as an important
tool for teaching tolerance to children and adults
alike.
Æ