search
David Matlow
Owner of the world's largest Herzl collection

Remembering the First Amerikanisher President’s Message to Jewish Americans

George Washington, the first Amerikanisher President.  From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com).
Photograph by David Matlow.
George Washington, the first Amerikanisher President. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

The 60th inauguration ceremony for the president of the United States will take place on Jan. 20. Under the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1933, the inauguration takes place on that date—unless Jan. 20 is a Sunday, in which case the public inauguration takes place the next day, following a private swearing-in ceremony.

Jewish Palestine Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. The fair was held to commemorate the 150th anniverary of George Washington’s inauguaration as President in New York in 1789. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by Kevin Viner, Elevator Digital, Toronto.

The inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States took place in New York City in 1789.  The 1939 World’s Fair in New York was held to honour the 150th anniversary of Washington’s inauguration.

George Washington, the first Amerikanisher President. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com).
Photograph by David Matlow.

This drawing of Washington with his name in Yiddish (note ‘George’ in Yiddish is eight letters) and his title as the first “Amerikanisher President” is from a fold-out New Year’s booklet published in the late 1890s in New York by Katzenelenbogen Music Publishers. Judah Katzenelenbogen was a co-founder of the American Hebrew Publishing Company and a publisher of sheet music for Yiddish songs.

Cover of the fold out New Year’s booklet. From the Herzl and Zionism Collecton of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.
First fold out page in the New Year’s booklet including, from left to right, notes for the recitation of the Kol Nidre prayer, the composite picture of the delegates to the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, and the cover which indicates the Kol Nidre composition is by H. A Russotta and the booklet was published by J. Katzenelenbogen Music Publishers of 66 Canal Street, New York. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

In 1790, Washington wrote a letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, and stated that life in the new nation would be different. People would be free to practice their religion and not simply be tolerated, and the government would not interfere with individuals’ beliefs.

“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,” Washington wrote.

“May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants: while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

Jewish New Year’s Card from 1914 printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, New York. A the top is a wish for a Happy New Year in Hebrew and English, and at the bottom is the prophecy from the Book of Micah that every man shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree and none shall make him afraid. The image is of two members of a farming community in Palestine. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

The reference that “none shall be afraid while sitting under their vine and fig tree,” is from Micah 4:4 and was used by Washington in his writings almost 50 times.

As a new American presidency begins, let us hope that Washington’s wish for Jewish Americans is fulfilled not just for them but for all, regardless of where they may be sitting.

This article first appeared in the Canadian Jewish News (www.thecjn.ca) as part of the weekly Treasure Trove.  Past Treasure Troves can be found on facebook at #cjntreasuretrove.

About the Author
David Matlow practices law at Goodmans LLP in Toronto. He owns the world's largest collection of Theodor Herzl memorabilia and his Herzl Project is designed to inform people about Herzl's work to inspire them to work to complete Herzl's dream. He is the Chairman of the of the Ontario Jewish Archives and a director of the ICenter for Israel Education. More information about the Herzl Project is available at www.herzlcollection.com Over 200 items from David's collection were exhibited at the Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City from September 17, 2024 to January 24, 2025. David's weekly Treasure Trove column (including past columns) can be found at https://herzlcollection.com/treasure-trove.
Related Topics
Related Posts