George Washington University, just blocks from the White House, has been the scene of some of the most hateful anti-Semitism sweeping America's campuses. Over a recent weekend, the iconic statue of our nation's first president was draped in a Palestinian flag. If Washington were here with us today, I have no doubt he would throw off that foreign flag and stand with the embattled Jewish students on the campus.
Back in August of 1790, George Washington visited Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his arrival, Christian clergy in the city delivered messages of support and praise to him. So did the Hebrew synagogue Yeshuat Israel in Newport, which represented the largest Jewish community in the colonies at the time of the American Revolution.
Their message from the synagogue's congregation said they believed the "God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword—shielded Your head in the day of battle…" They closed their letter with the hope that, "… when, like Joshua, full of days and full of honour, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality."
President Washington was deeply moved. He responded with a letter that should be required reading in every school today. You can read it here. It closes with this hope, "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. May the Father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way, everlastingly happy."
JDFI has no doubt that if by some miracle George Washington walked today on the campus of the university that bears his name, he would stand with the "Stock of Abraham."