In his letter to the Jews of Newport in 1790, George Washington assured the members of that religious minority they would face no persecution for their faith in the new United States. Washington’s words had a lasting impact, signaling to religious refugees that they would find tolerance and freedom in America.
“That letter is, to the extent there is a sacred document in the American Jewish community, still cited,” said Howard Mortman, whose first book, “When Rabbis Bless Congress,” uncovered an overlooked slice of our past.
As the communications director at C-SPAN, Mr. Mortman watches a lot of Congress, starting with each day’s opening prayer. As a Jew, he grew interested in the history of guest chaplains who are occasionally picked to deliver that blessing: More than 400 rabbis have given the opening prayer since 1860.
In this episode of History As It Happens, Mr. Mortman discusses the lives of the remarkable rabbis who prayed at the very center of American democracy, during times of disunion, war or historic domestic change.
Listen to the full episode here.
