Moses Seixas - Jewish Patriot
Moses Seixas (1744–1809) was a first-generation Jewish American born in New York City.
In 1770, he moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where he became a successful merchant, Freemason, cofounder of the Bank of Rhode Island, and leader of the Touro Synagogue.
After the British occupation, he became an ardent patriot. His brother Abraham joined Washington’s army.
Quest for Jewish Equality
In 1790, soon after President Washington took office, Seixas was among the first to write to him to ensure that religious liberty, a principle upon which the nation was founded, was upheld for American Jews.
On August 17, 1790, President Washington visited Rhode Island with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Members of the Touro Synagogue presented Washington with letters of praise and concern. Seixas’s letter called for Jews to receive the same privileges as other religions and reminded Washington that Jews had been deprived “of the invaluable rights of free Citizens.”
Seixas further asserted that the republic was founded as “a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance—but generously affording to All liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue or language, equal parts of the great governmental Machine.”
Washington’s Historic Response
On August 18, 1790—the day after President Washington received the Touro letters, most notably from Seixas—he formally replied in what is now his historic letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. Washington distinguished between religious toleration and religious liberty as it applied to Jewish Americans and assured Seixas that liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship were inherent rights.
Referencing Seixas’s letter, Washington stated that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Further, alluding to the Old Testament, Washington called for religious equality for Jews, stating, “the Children of the Stock of Abraham … shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree.”
By the time Seixas died in 1809, Jewish men had achieved the right to vote and hold office in almost all states. In 1828, Maryland became the last state to remove religious restrictions.
Moses Seixas-Jewish Patriot
Moses Seixas (1744–1809) was a first-generation Jewish American born in New York City.
In 1770, he moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where he became a successful merchant, Freemason, cofounder of the Bank of Rhode Island, and leader of the Touro Synagogue.
After the British occupation, he became an ardent patriot. His brother Abraham joined Washington’s army.
Quest for Jewish Equality
In 1790, soon after President Washington took office, Seixas was among the first to write to him to ensure that religious liberty, a principle upon which the nation was founded, was upheld for American Jews.
On August 17, 1790, President Washington visited Rhode Island with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Members of the Touro Synagogue presented Washington with letters of praise and concern. Seixas’ letter called for Jews to receive the same privileges as other religions and reminded Washington that Jews had been deprived “of the invaluable rights of free Citizens.”
Seixas further asserted that the republic was founded as “a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance — but generously affording to All liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue or language, equal parts of the great governmental Machine.”
Washington’s Historic Response
On August 18, 1790 — the day after President Washington received the Touro letters, most notably from Seixas — he formally replied in what is now his historic letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. Washington distinguished between religious toleration and religious liberty as it applied to Jewish Americans and assured Seixas that liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship were inherent rights.
Referencing Seixas’s letter, Washington stated that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Further, alluding to the Old Testament, Washington called for religious equality for Jews, stating, “the Children of the Stock of Abraham … shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree.”
By the time Seixas died in 1809, Jewish men had achieved the right to vote and hold office in almost all states. In 1828, Maryland became the last state to remove religious restrictions.