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Lesson 1 of 8·Jewish Ideas and the American Founders

The Yiddish Letter and the Declaration: The Incredible Story of Jonas Phillips, the First Truly American Jew

Rabbi Soloveichik traces the life of Jonas Phillips, a German Jew who came to America in 1756 as an indentured servant and became a dedicated patriot who fathered of one of America’s most important Jewish families.

Taught By

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Meir Soloveichik is the rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel and the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. His website, containing all of his media appearances, podcasts, and writing, can be found at meirsoloveichik.com.

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1 of 8 The Yiddish Letter and the Declaration: The Incredible Story of Jonas Phillips, the First Truly American Jew

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2 of 8 America’s Passover: Franklin, Jefferson, and the Seal of the United States

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3 of 8 From the Talmud to Thomas Paine: Political Hebraism and the American Revolution

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The Yiddish Letter and the Declaration: The Incredible Story of Jonas Phillips, the First Truly American Jew

Taught By

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik

1 of 8 The Yiddish Letter and the Declaration: The Incredible Story of Jonas Phillips, the First Truly American Jew

2 of 8 America’s Passover: Franklin, Jefferson, and the Seal of the United States

3 of 8 From the Talmud to Thomas Paine: Political Hebraism and the American Revolution

4 of 8 The Founding Father and the Huppah

5 of 8 Washington, Seixas, and Giving Thanks

6 of 8 Continue to Water them with the Dews of Heaven

7 of 8 Adams, Jefferson, and the Jews

8 of 8 The Home We Build Together