Jewish Ideas and the American Founders - Ep. 1: The Yiddish Letter and the Declaration

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Combining history with theology and politics, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik's online course on "Jewish Ideas and the American Founders" examines Jewish contributions to the early republic by tracing the life of one remarkable Jewish family. Jonas Phillips was a religious Jew and an American patriot, and his life is a testament to the Jewish significance of the uniquely American tradition of religious freedom. His story and the stories of his children orient us toward an understanding of American politics, culture, and law that combines modern and biblical ideals-contract with covenant, faith with freedom, and equality with pluralism. The Phillips family helps us to see just what makes America so unique in Jewish and world history-what is worth protecting, worth celebrating, worth bequeathing to our children.
In this first episode of the course, Rabbi Soloveichik traces the life of Jonas Phillips from his journey to American as an indentured servant to his becoming a dedicated patriot who fathered of one of America’s most important Jewish families.