Congrégation

1790 · 52510 — New York: John Fenno no. 41 Broad-Street near the Exchange 1790. First edtion. Softcover. Fine. Two leaves folio 16.25 by 10 in. Edges slightly trimmed; a touch of mild foxing else a fine crisp copy. Housed in linen clamshell box with gilt paper label at spine and previous owner's dediction pasted to inside cover.<br /> <br /> The first known published appearance of Jewish support for the newly elected president of the United States George Washington. One week after Washinton's inauguration Levi Sheftall on behalf of the newly reorganized Savannah Hebrew Congregation wrote him an elegant and effusive letter of congratulation. This letter along with Washington's reply was published for the first time by the United States Gazette:<br /> <br /> "Sir We have long been anxious of congratulating you on your appointment. and of testifying our unbounded confidence in your integrity and unblemished virtue. Your unexampled liberality and extensive philanthropy have dispelled that cloud of bigotry and superstition which has long as a veil shaded religion -- unrivetted the fetters of enthusiasm -- enfranchised us with all the privileges and immunities of free citizens and initiated us into the grand mass of legislative mechanism. May the great Author of worlds grant you all happiness and a continuance of guardianship to that freedom which under the auspices of heaven your magnanimity and wisdom have given these States."<br /> <br /> Washington's reply is undated but addressed "To the Hebrew Congregation of the City of Savannah." After accepting their congratulations he extends this hope: "May the same wonder-working Deity who long since delivering the Hebrews from their Egyptian Oppressors planted them in the promised land -- whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in established these United States as an independent nation -- still continue to water them with the dews of Heaven and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah. George Washington." <br /> <br /> Provenance: old entry of . Hopkins at top margin first leaf trimmed. Six weeks later <br /> <br /> References: Enc. Jud. first ed. 1972 vol. 16; Evans Amer. Bibl. vol. 8; From the Ends of the Earth Judaica Treasures of the Library of Congress. John Fenno, no. 41 Broad-Street, near the Exchange unknown