Wednesdays – The Early History of Jewish America from The Revolution Through the Civil War
6/5 & 6/19 @ 1:00 PM/CH
Presented by Herb Kaufman
Around 1607, the first colonists began to arrive in America. Some came to avoid religious persecution, some to enhance their economic livelihood, and some to explore what the new colonies had to offer. From the very beginning, small numbers of Jewish men and women began to emigrate to the colonies.
Although relatively forgotten in history, some Jews continued to support the King, while many Jewish men supported the Patriot cause and served in both civilian and military capacities with distinction in the American Revolution.
By the time of the Civil War around 200,000 Jews were living in both the North and the South. Southern Jews were well assimilated into the Southern lifestyle while many Jews in the North were recent immigrants who stood solidly with President Lincoln.
We explore how the Jewish population remained steadfast to their cause on both sides in the Revolution and Civil War, often expressing their thoughts in writing. This presentation will describe how the Jewish community reacted to war, as well as the role of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and their relationship to the Jewish community
