From the arrival of the first Jewish refugees in New Amsterdam in 1654 through the influence of Hebrew biblical concepts on the nation's founders, the Jewish contribution to America's founding has often been understated.
Historian Dr. Henry Abramson examines the experiences of America's earliest Jewish settlers and their historical context, including the Spanish Inquisition and questions surrounding Christopher Columbus' ancestry. The discussion covers George Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport, Alexander Hamilton's Jewish connections, and the ways biblical teachings about liberty, justice, and human dignity shaped the principles underlying the American republic.