By Nili Unger ’27
In the First Amendment to the US Constitution, five freedoms are guaranteed to every single American citizen: freedom of speech, assembly, petition, press, and — often most importantly to Jewish Americans — freedom of religion. In 1776, the concept of freedom of religion being one of the founding principles of a new country was unheard of, with most of the Old World built on Christian values. After centuries of persecution from France, Spain, Greece, and almost everywhere else in the world, many Jews saw an opportunity to start fresh and build a community in America.
In the 250 years since America was founded, the nation has seen many prominent Jews participating in civic life and government, through just about every era. From the Revolutionary War to modern America, Jews have always been here. This article will go through the history books, in five periods of 50 years, and highlight a few Jews who have made an impact.
Revolutionary War and Foundations: 1776–1825
The American Revolution had a handful of Jews fighting for the patriots and helping support them financially, and many stand out as touchstones for Jewish connections with the government and pride in America. One notable businessman was Haym Solomon, a member of the Sons of Liberty and a patron of the Continental Army who gave his entire fortune to fund pivotal campaigns of the Revolutionary War. Solomon donated $650,000, $14.8 million today, over the course of three years. He gave the army a $20,000 loan that went on to fund the Yorktown campaign, which ended up finishing the war and winning America its independence from Britain for good. Along with helping to finance the war, Solomon also fought for religious liberty in America and fought discrimination against Jews, challenging many laws and founding Mikveh Israel, one of the first American shuls, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
One of the more interesting figures on this list is an actual pirate! Jean Lafitte, a privateer and spy. Although his heritage is quite mysterious, Lafitte claimed to be born to Jewish parents who were conversos from the Spanish Inquisition, and his own testimony is rock solid. He was living in New Orleans during the 1810s, working as a smuggler after the US passed the Embargo Act of 1807. Smuggling turned into full on privateering, and Jean made a nice living for himself through his work. During the War of 1812, his smuggling business was discovered and he was captured by the US Navy where he remained until he received a legal pardon for his help in a military campaign. When the British were attempting to take the Mississippi, Lafitte and his fleet fought with General Andrew Jackson (later president!) and managed to fight them off. He would later serve as a spy for the Spanish during the Mexican War of Independence, and not much else is known about the rest of his life..
Railroads to Reconstruction: 1826–1875
One of the most important jobs any person in America can take on, is no doubt that of a legislator in Congress. David Levy Yulee was the first Jew to be elected to the House of Representatives, and later the Senate. He was a representative and senator for Florida, and built up many of Florida’s early railroads. Yulee was known as the “Father of Florida Railroads”. He joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, but was later granted a pardon and rebuilt his railroads.
Another prominent Southern jewish politician was Judah P. Benjamin, whose participation in the US Congress was not particularly noteworthy, but his participation in the Confederate Government was more expansive. He was originally a Senator from Louisiana, but after the secession he was appointed Attorney General of the Confederacy. He didn’t have much to do in the role, and was later promoted to Secretary of War, which was definitely more work. President Jefferson Davis later rewarded his loyalty and appointed him Secretary of State, and he was responsible for attempting to gain Britain and France’s support for the Confederacy. He was ultimately unsuccessful, but stands as an interesting Jewish figure in our history.
One of the most notable symbols of the United States is no doubt the lovely Statue of Liberty, but not everyone knows that on the base of the statue is a poem written by a Jewish author and activist, Emma Lazarus. Her poem, The New Colossus, was both inspired by the Statue of Liberty and had inspiration from her own Jewish roots, referencing the many immigrants who saw the statue as a symbol of hope and freedom.
The New Colossus Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Along with The New Colossus, Lazarus published various other collections of poetry, many religious and many not. As pogroms raged on in Europe, she turned her focus to advocating for the many Jewish immigrants who were making their way to America and various aid organizations.
Industrial Revolution to Roaring ’20s: 1876–1925
No doubt the most famous Jew of the progressive era was Chief Justice Louis Brandeis. Brandeis introduced revolutionary law to the Supreme Court, and fought on behalf of many important causes and faced antisemitism from all directions. One of his most important contributions to how law is practiced today is the Brandeis Brief. This was the establishment of using statistics and data in court to argue cases. While by today’s standards, using statistics and data in court is taken for granted, at this time theory was only used. Among his most significant achievements to America as a whole was his argument on the right to privacy, something that has become even more important and contested in the digital age. The invention of the Kodak camera prompted Brandeis to argue that the individual should not be intruded on by the government.
Another famous Jew of the time was an entrepreneur who set the standard for American clothing for decades to come: Levi Strauss. Strauss’s denim jeans have become a staple of American culture, and they were created by a Jew! Strauss started off as a humble immigrant, and moved out west for the California Gold Rush with his family. There he began his general goods store and started sewing jeans. A few years later a business partner would come along and together they would patent the now iconic concept of rivets in jeans to strengthen work pants. Strauss built an empire off of the pants and made what would be equivalent to $885 million today!
Depression to Equal Rights Movement: 1926–1975
When any famous Jew of the last century is discussed, no doubt one of the first names that comes to mind is Albert Einstein. Einstein’s revolutionary Theory of General Relativity changed the way physics was studied and was the basis for the famous equation e = mc^2, equating the speed of light for the first time. Additionally, during World War II Einstein worked on the Manhattan Project and assisted Robert Oppenheimer, another Jew, in the creation of the atomic bomb. Although the bomb had the power to end the war, Einstein always said he was ashamed of helping to create it and bringing that much destruction to the world. His contribution to science won him a Nobel Prize in physics in 1921.
In terms of entertainment, one of the most defining aspects of pop culture in the past century has always been comic books, and many of the most famous characters were, no surprise, created by Jews! One of the most famous comic creators is no doubt Stan Lee, known for his work on Marvel Comics as the creator of icons like Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. Lee often drew from his Judaism when creating these characters, with many of his creations being Jewish. These Jewish characters include Ben Grimm (the Thing) and Magneto, who is portrayed as a Holocaust survivor. Lee’s partner in comic book crime, artist Jack Kirby, was also Jewish, and they both brought their heritage to the characters they created.
Bicentennial to Today: 1976–2025
In an era where many women were not able to practice law, let alone be court justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the path for many after her to achieve their dreams. Ginsberg served as the second woman on the Supreme Court and the first Jewish woman on SCOTUS. As one of the only women in her class at Harvard Law, she faced constant discrimination from the rest of her classmates and professors. By first arguing gender equality cases on behalf of men, Ginsberg exposed the double standards that were placed on women. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993, and continued to support women’s rights from on and off the bench. Throughout her tenure, she also shaped key opinions involving religious rights, voting rights, and search and seizure laws.
Adam Sandler is one of the most recognizable Jewish figures in modern entertainment, known for his distinct humor and his ability to bring Jewish culture into mainstream film in fun and meaningful ways. Sandler has had a diverse career of comedy and movies, many of which are connected to his Judaism. Besides the famous (and funny!) movies Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy, he has movies like You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Don’t Mess With the Zohan, and the ever-iconic Eight Crazy Nights. (Come on, who does not love to sing a fun Chanukah song?) Sandler has long been an advocate for Jews in Hollywood, being vocal about raising his children Jewish and participating in many of the traditions that we do ourselves. Sandler’s presence as a proud Jew in Hollywood is increasingly important to Jews in America because it reaffirms the place of Jewish voices in American popular culture.
Conclusion
Jews have always had a strong presence within America; whether it be through politics, science, or pop culture, there is always at least one Jew succeeding in every field. In a country that was specifically founded for the right to celebrate whatever religion we choose, America has been a steady arm of support for Jews all around the world, and we should be very grateful for it! Happy birthday, America, and may the next 250 be just as prosperous as the last!
