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George Washington
A miniature bible dedicated to George Washington, acquired by the National Library of Israel and published online on February 18, 2018. (From the National Library of Israel Collections)
February 19, 2018, 8:55 am
Now in Jerusalem, rare George Washington thumb Bible goes online
National Library acquires 200-year-old miniature sacred writ dedicated to first US president, makes it accessible to the public for first time
By Michael Bachner
Joseph H. Prouser
August 4, 2017, 3:37 pm
Joseph H. Prouser
To bigotry no sanction
Trump knocked 30K Boy Scouts, implying they lack the diversity, openness, and mutual respect that are their inheritance
Erica Brown
June 1, 2017, 3:28 pm
Erica Brown
An assault on language
Curse words pepper common speech and writing nowadays in ways that undermine nuance and cheapen language
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, February 5, 2016. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
May 20, 2017, 5:25 am
Assange claims victory after Sweden drops rape probe
US prosecutors examine possible charges against WikiLeaks founder that could include conspiracy and violations of Espionage Act
By AFP
The title page of the 1516 Genoese Polyglot Psalter (courtesy of Kestenbaum & Co.)
March 10, 2017, 10:41 am
Unread copy of 16th-century multilingual Psalms, loathed by Columbus’s son, up for auction
Also on the block at NY sale next week, first printing of a George Washington speech to Congress with a shout-out to the Rhode Island Jewish community
By Ilan Ben Zion
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for vice president, visiting the historic Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, Aug. 17, 2016. (Facebook via JTA)
August 18, 2016, 8:37 pm
Kaine visits Touro Synagogue, takes aim at Trump
Democratic VP candidate tours oldest shul in US, 226 years to the day after Washington pledged support for religious freedom there
By JTA
US President Barack Obama speaks during the United State of Women Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, June 14, 2016. (AFP/Saul Loeb)
June 18, 2016, 10:27 am
Syria memo shakes up Washington but unlikely to shift policy
State Department document expresses frustration with White House-driven response to conflict that has killed nearly half-million people
By Bradley Klapper
The historic Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, 2005 (AP/Joe Giblin)
May 16, 2016, 9:45 pm
Oldest US synagogue to remain in hands of congregants
Judge awards Rhode Island’s Congregation Jeshuat Israel control of Touro, rejecting ownership claims by NY Congregation Shearith Israel
By Michelle R. Smith
The Myers rimonim at the center of the Touro synagogue dispute. (Courtesy: Boston Museum of Fine Arts)
September 19, 2015, 6:58 am
Trial over US’s oldest synagogue, $7.4m Torah bells, draws to close
Judge says there is ‘no smoking gun’ in battle over Touro Synagogue’s ‘rimonim,’ hasn’t specified date for decision
By Michelle R. Smith
Illustrative: A dreidel balloon is paraded down Central Park South as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, November 28, 2013. (AP/Tina Fineberg)
November 28, 2013, 11:49 pm
In Manhattan, ‘Thanksgivukkah’ is as American as apple pie
At Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Yorkers revel in a Jewish holiday — and ‘the most Jewish of American holidays’
By Elhanan Miller
US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. (YouTube)
August 20, 2013, 1:42 am
Kagan: US ‘political liberty’ led to Supreme Court
Jewish justice invokes Yiddish-speaking grandparents during reading of George Washington’s famed letter on religious liberty
By JTA
April 24, 2013, 12:08 pm
$10m. gift for slave quarters at Jefferson estate
Philanthropist David Rubenstein has also made ‘transformational’ gifts to Mount Vernon, Washington Monument
Oil painting of George Washington by John Trumbull. In May 2012, a letter written by Washington in 1790 and addressed to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, RI was released from the B’nai B’rith archives (CC BY, by Joye, Flickr)
June 4, 2012, 6:05 am
B’nai B’rith archives moving to Cincinnati from Washington, DC
Important documents chronicle more than 150 years of Jewish history
May 11, 2012, 10:07 am
George Washington letter to go back on display
Missive decries bigotry against a synagogue in Rhode Island
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