I'm writing because I watched a TV special last night that may be rebroadcast, and I hope you can watch it! It was on PBS, called something like "They Came for Good: a History of the Jews in America," and it details the contributions of Jewish Americans during colonial times through the 1800s. It also talks about other Americans' reactions to the Jews - both good and bad - but my favorite quote was from George Washington, who stated his support for our religious freedom in this country so beautifully that I don't dare try to paraphrase.
I only hope you can find it on your local station! (If not, you can order it by phone.)

Shalom my friend.
I don"t watch television but I believe that the quote you are alluding to begins "Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection"....And it goes on to a most beautiful address from the Hebrew Congregation of Rhode Island which I believe is the oldest temple in America!
I find the history of the federal Constitution to be an interesting study, but not all politicians were for the freedom of religious expression. Jefferson took much time and many letters were exchanged between he and Madison.(whom opposed religious freedom based on his fear of losing commerce and maybe power?)
Jefferson delivered the statute of religious freedoms in the year of 1777,the separation of church and state became a viable way to keep ethics alive in the population while at the same time protecting human rights without prejudice to favoring the needs of a larger population who at the time were of course, christian.
This is my first answer here. I hope that helped. Olivia

Well I always thought that religious freedom in the States was an effort on the part of the founding fathers to avoid the religious wars of the continent between prostestants and catholics rather a committment to religious freedom in the sytle of William Penn and William Rogers. The Jews were sort of an afterthought. Correct me if I am wrong.

Aryeh Shore

I believe the oldest congregation was actually in Manhatten, south of Wall Street, with a residual cemetary still prominent a block or two from the Woolworth Building, in the City Hall area.

Touru Synagogue in Rhode Island is very old and still standing, and if I understand correctly, presently undergoing some renovation to preserve it.

Hi Rob,
Your right. But It is the oldest congregation in Rhode Island.
I didn't take the time to study that, and therefore I wrote it off the "top of my head." Bad habbit that I have. I will look up the history of the oldest Temple in America.
When I find out I will let you know.
Do you know what Psalm was written to the building of a shul? I think it is the 124th but I am not sure. If you can help me find that information I will be gratefully yours...Olivia

The old cemetary is about a mile north of Wall Street, and dates back to the time of Peter Stuvesant, and is owned by this shul.

http://www.shearith-israel.org/

My father was Bar Mitzvah at this shul and participated in his youth at some commemoration of the cemetary's 300th anniversary in approximately 1945.

Shalom,
Thank-you for the link to Sherith-Israel. Such a lovely shul! I am happy to see an active bookstore as well. I collect many different siddurs and prayersbooks of our people. I am happy that I may purchase Shepardic books, and at the same time contribute to the upkeep of Sherith-Isreal with my purchase.
The history is beautiful...Thank-you again.
Shabbat Shalom! Rachel

Dear Mr. Shore,
You are alot smarter than me so if this doesn't go over to hot...I apologize. Here goes.
The way I see it one should not look at the Constitution of The United States of America until they understand the history of both political ,humanatarian,and the industrial truths preceeding its conception and application of The Magna Carta act of 1215 decreed by King John, which was the first humanatarian christian decree.Period.
We have Halakah. Thank-god.
But one can not discount the enconomic history supporting this law from which Jefferson pulled the Constition from. (Although Jefferson himself was prone more to no affliation with any denomination sect or divisional principle adherence.)His vision was great. Basically he was a good man with a great business mind. Jefferson knew that if he "appealed to the masses" in a non-threatening way that industry could thrive and that we could get along while it thrived protecting eachother from the laws of England which the pioneers left because they didnt protect them, and over three hundred years later our "founding fathers" protected through a variance of the Magna Carta act. (Although there were other acts promulagated throughout history in America the Magna Carta had a big influence upon Jefferson.
The reason for this influence from what I have studied is that not only was the freedom of a larger group of people protected (anti slavery protection of women and children didnt come around yet)But in its application that all men are created equal it set up a strong base for balance and scales and what is known as free enterprise today. The chance for one not only to be able to own things but to do so in a humane G-dly safe manner in which man could not remove.
The federal constitution on paper looks like a humanatarian saftey net (which on one level it is)
But, it is a wonderful way to protect the financial securties of a nation as well...Unfortunatly from the lack of support of Bush and the state of Israel...I wont go there it is almost Shabbat...Anyhow I hope you will give me some feed back on my illogic..Shabbat Shalom! Rachel

The bill of rights (which wouldn't pass today according to polls conducted every year)is the first document suggesting freedom of religion in the Christian world. The magna carta didn't deal with it, just that the king is not an absolute power and one should be judged by ones peers. The origin would be with the Quakers and its popularity in the States was due to the fact that it was made up of people who had fled religious persecution, especially from the land of the Magna Carta. It should be pointed out that the US, as far as I know, is the only country which has separation of Church and State. Some countries like Turkey and Mexico have laws against clergy in politics but they still support religous schools.
It is hard to compare the modern state with previous centuries but the Ottoman turks and the Hapsburgs had a good record on religious tolerance. However it wasn't written into a constitution or anything.

Aryeh Shore

Mr. Shore,
The bill of rights was introduced by the Constitution but in order to address the greater humanatarian needs of a society the States seperatly created there own constitutions therefore protecting the residents of those states on a broader level.
What I said about the Magna Carta (or meant to say I dont apply thought well) Is that it addressed that their was a need for compatability in a society and that Jefferson approached this. Basically it was set up to keep the poor folk from uprising in a revolution against the rich folk.
America wasnt built to "Get away from the church" The industrialists owned the people who were laborors.
We didnt want to" be" the slaves we wanted to own them.
When Columbus came to America it was in order to find a diverse environment on which to build industry.As decreed by the queen.
When the industry(Capitalist agriculturists) depended upon slaves for production all was well,but then " Eli Whitley created a way to cut down on human labor...uh oh...the cotton gin, and soil erosion and mismanagement(creating financial strife) of the soil led to a civil war between the north and south.
Henece The northern industrialists made an appeal to the republic of America (the Linclon administration) and Then Linclon and his co-horts figured out a way not only to take over the south through the civil war (They won the black vote through the emancapation Proclamation) which again "looked" like a humatarian endeavor.At the same time winning black soldiers whom fought on behalf of the north.(kind of like media misrepresentaion through compassionate coercing using desensitation and the promise of an easier lifeTo get our children to become soldiers.)Appeal to the poor. Appeal to the masses.
So the States used the principles of the constution to win over a new labor force which decided it didnt really want to work after about ten years into the New Deal...
Hence within the next seventy years we have reversed our mistake through putting our commerece to other nations(out sourcing and all that jazz) and again using their women and children as slaves. G-d forbid Americans shouldnt have their connsumerist needs met.
The peole whom said that they wouldnt "vote for the bill of rights" again probally also shop at globalized centers, name there kids Buffy, and kvetch about the state of their husbands defiencies, as opposed to the UNETHICAL STATE of their exsistance.
The constitution and the laws applying to their humanatarian protections. Are not.
Not bad for a blonde chick,eh?