America is not a utopia. But it is a nation for the people, by the people, under God that has lasted on the earth for two hundred and fifty years. What a tremendous moment to celebrate- as Americans and Jews.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, our revolution was led by thinkers grounded in the wisdom of Torah — radical when given at Sinai, and radical still in 1776.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
If government is the source of rights, government can take them away. Our Declaration said God — not man — is the source of inalienable rights. That made our revolution different. Most revolutions in history were led by men thirsty for power — Robespierre, Lenin, Mao, the Ayatollah — who promised utopia while justifying endless violence and the suppression of speech, religion, and thought in service of the cause.
Our General Washington, however, was content to win and go back to farming. Even after relenting to become President, he set his own term limit. He believed America was bigger than him. At his first inauguration, he called it “the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” He didn’t promise a utopia. Government would ensure life and liberty but individuals are responsibility for pursuing their own happiness and religious and community associations (like SHIFRA) are responsible for caring for their neighbors. Freedom of speech, religion and thought would help protect the moral character of the people.
In 1790, the Hebrew Congregation of Newport wrote to welcome the new President. Washington replied, promising a government “which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” and blessed the “children of the Stock of Abraham” that they would “sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
For Washington, the prophet Micah’s vision of sitting under his own vine and fig tree embodies “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”.
America is not a utopia. But it is a nation for the people, by the people, under God that has lasted on the earth for two hundred and fifty years. What a tremendous moment to celebrate- as Americans and Jews.
