In a time of divisiveness, the reading of General George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Touro Synagogue brought solace to the capacity crowd who came to honor the 78th annual reading in Newport. On Sunday, Newport once again honored one of the most enduring civic traditions in the area: the reading of a letter written by Washington to reflect on the promise of religious liberty. The event underscored the cornerstone of America’s constitutional commitment to the free exercise of religion, a message as vital today as it was over two centuries ago.
Just a few months after Rhode Island had ratified the U.S. Constitution, George Washington made a significant visit to Newport in the summer of 1790. RI was the last of the original 13 states to join the new federal union, and President Washington’s visit was not only celebratory, but symbolic: honoring the rich religious diversity as well as the state’s commitment to individual freedom.
During his visit, Touro Synagogue’s warden, Moses Seixas, wrote to Washington, thanking his government for granting religious freedom to all individuals in the nation and freedom from bigotry.
We now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People — a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance — but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine.
You can read the full letter here.
Meryle Cawley, Touro Synagogue Foundation’s Executive Director, read Seixas’s letter during the celebration, which was held at the Old Colony House, sponsored by the Newport Historical Society (NHS). With his letter, Seixas expressed hope that this liberty would continue.
Washington’s reply became one of the most substantial documents in American history extolling virtues and rights of liberty and freedom of religious expression.
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
You can read the full letter here, which was read by NHS’s Executive Director, Rebecca Bertrand, made all the more meaningful while reciting the letter in front of Washington’s portrait in the expansive main room of the building.
“Washington wrote that “all possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship,” said Elliot Slom, who administers the Aaron and Rita Slom Scholarship Fund for Freedom and Diversity. “This is a standard as we must continually measure ourselves,” he added, celebrating the letter considered a milestone in Jewish American history. The event honored Touro Synangogue, the nation’s oldest standing synagogue, a house of worship that was first dedicated in 1763.
The audience was reminded of the letter’s message of trust, freedom and respect for diversity as they heard from civic leaders praising Washington’s vision of a free, pluralistic society.
“Think of what this great Republic has been through in those 235 years. We have been through a lot,” said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of RI, acknowledging the resilience of the American Republic since the time of Washington’s letter. He noted that the founding ideals have carried the nation through wars, depressions and social upheavals.
Whitehouse added that Washington’s letter expressed a universal pledge for all Americans: that liberty belongs to all. The RI senator reminded the Newport audience that the principles articulated in the letter continue to guide our efforts to preserve democracy in the face of challenges.
“These men were not perfect, they disagreed,” said Lynn Ceglie, Vice Chair of the City Council, Second Ward, about the Founding Fathers, continuing, “but they shared a vision of building a government that was better than the one they left behind.
“Washington’s famous letter to the Hebrew congregation shows us, in Washington’s humanities, he understood that separation of Church and State is the foundation of a free society.”
“It’s a great honor to be with you on this day, to spend time together, to consider, to reflect on what it means to be a citizen, to continue to work towards our political aspirations,” said the keynote speaker Crystal Williams, President of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Drawing from her personal experiences and work as a poet, she reflected on the importance of creative expression and resisting exclusion. Her remarks offered a bridge between Washington’s ideals and the broader struggles for dignity across all experiences.
Poignant musical moments were performed by Newport Classical’s Director of Artistic Planning, Trevor Neal, who is a Baritone. Accompanied by Suzanna Laramee on the piano, also Newport Classical’s Board President, they performed Aaron Copland’s “Zion’s Walls” and “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”
The Artillery Company of Newport performed the Presentation of Colors.
