Happy 4th! -- CHRONICLE Online/The WORD 07/03/25

Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah

July 3, 2025

7 Tamuz 5785

Parashat Chukat

As we get ready to celebrate the 249^th anniversary of our country’s independence, our joy is tempered by the continuing rise in antisemitism that we are seeing across this country.

However, as Jews, we should take this opportunity to remind ourselves that Jews have been a part of the American experience from the very beginning as evidenced by the letter written by President George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, in 1790.

Here is an excerpt:

“The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. 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. For happily the Government 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 themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support....

May 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.”

Best wishes for a Happy Fourth of July –

Shalom,

RAF.