Haym Salomon: Jewish Patriot of the American Revolutionary War

“It isn’t charity I ask; it’s an offering to the cause of liberty, a cause sacred to us above all others, because centuries of bitter persecution have taught us the value of liberty. It is not our duty to leave wealth to our children, but it is our duty to leave freedom.” -Haym Salomon

The 13 American colonies broke away from the rule of great Britain with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The United states was born but freedom and independence was going to have to be paid for by the blood of American Patriots in the American Revolution.

The signing of the Declaration meant war against the might of the British Empire. It seemed like an utter impossibility for the colonial militias to take on and defeat the seemingly invincible British Army. The American Revolutionary War would rage from 1776-1783.

One of the central (though often overlooked) figures to the American Revolution was Jewish Patriot Haym Salomon. Salomon was born in Poland on April 7, 1740 and eventually emigrated to New York City in 1775, right as the Revolution was leading to all-out war between the Patriots (colonials opposed to British rule) and the British Crown.

Salomon quickly joined the underdog Patriots and also became a member of the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty was a covert organization that opposed and undermined the British in the 13 colonies, often with force. Salomon worked tirelessly in the cause for American independence and was arrested multiple times by the British authorities, even being sentenced to death; however, Salomon was able to escape. Salomon also helped other colonial prisoners of war escape.

As the Revolutionary War raged on, Salomon gave almost the entirety of his personal fortune to support the Continental Congress and the Continental Army (which was formed from the colonial militias). Aside from giving almost all of his own money to the cause of the Revolutionary War, Salomon also managed and raised money that was desperately needed for the War. Salomon’s efforts were critical in helping keep the Continental Army supplied and able to fight in some of its most desperate moments and battles when all seemed lost.

Against all odds, the Colonials defeated the British in 1783. Salomon had a very strong and important role in that underdog victory that brought forth the new nation of the United States. Every Fourth of July, the United States celebrates Independence Day, a national and federal holiday.

After the War, Salomon helped establish the Congregation Mikveh Israel synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and advocated for religious freedom and tolerance. Salomon died in Philadelphia on January 6, 1785 and was buried in the Mikveh Israel Cemetery. Two memorial plaques and an engraved granite marker honoring Salomon adorn the cemetery. A statue of Salomon was erected in a park in Los Angeles, California in 1946. There have been several other memorials and commemorations honoring Salomon in the US.

As America celebrates it’s milestone 250th birthday this July 4, 2026, let’s remember the great personal sacrifices of Haym Salomon and the other American Jews that gave their everything to achieve an impossible victory that brought forth the United States. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 Jews were living in the 13 colonies when the Revolutionary War broke out. Jews bravely fought in the Colonial Army in the name of freedom and liberty and made many significant contributions to the war effort. Jews in the American Revolution, though a tiny minority, believed in the cause and the promise of the United States and what the new nation could become.

So, thank you, Haym Salomon! Happy 250th Birthday, America! We can proudly proclaim “Am Yisrael Chai” in the United States of America.