New-York tribune., 1921-01-21
Jews and the Flag
The Record of Their Consistent Aid
in the Making of America

Ill tllc waking OF America
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: You have spoken we'll in your
editorial "Anti-Semitism." The vast
majority Of Jews have always sought
in their wandcrings to become citizens
of the country wherein they have
settled. 1t was partly due to this trait
that the Dutch government of Man
haitian was swayed to grant citizenship
to the shipload Of Portuguese Jews
(the first Jews to come to Manhattan)
whom you mention in your editorial.
These Portuguese Jews had migrated
to Brazil, colonial possession of
their native land, and while there
proved fidelity by taking up arms in
war that their country was waging.
After short controversy the Jews
of Manhattan were made citizens and
later were given permission to build
their own synagogue in Mill Street,
now called William Street. The con-
gregation, called Shearith Israel, is still
in existence, but now situated on Cen
u.
Out of this congregation arose many
stanch patriots, who materially aided
the Revolution. Among the musty
documents of the first Jewish eongre-
cation in America is to be found an
original manuscript paper written
during the Revolution by the Rev.
Gershom Mendes Seixas, imploring the
blessings of Heaven on the President
and Delegates in Congress and George
Washington, Captain General and Com
mander in Chief" 1t was this group
also that presented an address to "His
Excellency, George Clinton, Esq, Gov
ernor, Captain General and Com
mander in Chief of the Militia of the
State of New York and Admiral Of the
Navy of the same" which read as fol-
lows:
May it please Your Excellency:
= "We the members of the Antient
Congregation of Israelites, lately re-
turned from exile beg leave to well
ocme your arrival in this city with our
most cordial congratulations.
Though the society we belong to
is but small, when compared with other
religious societies, yet we 1atter. our
selves that none has manifested a more
Jealous attachment to the sacred cause
of America in the late war with Great
Britain. We derive, therefore,, the
highest satisfaction from rejecting
that it pleased the Almighty Arbiter
of Events to dispose us to take part
with the country we lived in, and we
now look forward with pleasure to the
happy days we expect to enjoy under
Constitution wisely framed to preserve
the inestimable blessings of civil and
religious liberty.
Taught by our Divine Legislator to
obey our rulers and prompted thereto
by the dictates of our own reason. it
will be the anxious endeavours of the
members Of our congregation to render
themselves worthy of these blessings
by discharging the duties Of good citi-
zcns and as an inviolable regard to
justice and the Constitution has ever
distinguished your administration they
rest confident of receiving an equal
share OF your patronage.
"May the Supreme Governor of the
Universe take you under His holy pro
lection, and may you long continue to
exercise the dignified office you now
possess with honor to yourself and ad
vantage to your constituents. Greatest
respect in behalf of the Antient Con-
gregati On of Israelites.
Your Excellency's very obedient.
humble servants,
HAYMAN LEVY,
MYER MYERS,
ISAAC MOSES.
January, 1884.
During every American war Jews
have offered their all for our flag. In
peace times Jews have aided America
to prosper. This is history notwith-
standing antiSemites to the contrary.
Why, it was only last night that l
heard young Levantine boys and girls
from the Settlement House (managed
By the Sisterhood Of the Spanish and
Portuguese Congregation, Shearith
Israeli proclaim their highes, ideal
was to become good American citizens
in every sense Of the word.
Your editorial, sir, speaks th- truth:
"Thcy (Jews) have taken a great part
in the making of the Republic. There
IS no reason to apprehend change"
FRANK l.. SWAAB.