The American Museum, or, Universal Magazine.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

June

Philadelphia

1791

In Appendix II (Public Papers), p. 40: "Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode-Island, to the President of the United States of America, August 17, 1790." * Also in this issue: Appendix III (The Gazette), pp. 11-12, an editorial datelined "Hartford, Feb. 1," inveighing against the "Jewish law" of primogeniture.

The Address to President George Wasington by Moses Seixas, Warden of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, was written upon the occasion of Washington's visit to Newport, as an expression of welcome, but also to voice the concerns of America's Jewish citizenry that their rights be safeguarded. The pivotal phrase in this address–"A government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance"–was later reiterated by Washington himself in his reply to the Congregation. See JE, Vol. XI, p. 161; T. Lewis, History of Touro Synagogue, Bulletin of the Newport Historical Society, No. 159 (Summer 1975), Vol. 48, Part 3, pp. 288, 292-94. As for the item concerning primogeniture (double portion of inheritance for firstborn), the editorialist notes that that law was already abolished by the Assembly of Massachusetts, and hopes that Connecticut will follow suit. In a rhetorical flourish, he writes: "To those who plead the levitical law…it may be observed that the Jewish law was made for the Jews. But what have we, as legislators, to do with the types and ceremonies of their religion? If the sticklers for the right of primogeniture hold themselves bound to obey the Jewish laws, let them be circumcised, and abstain from eating pork." The American Museum, a monthly published by Matthew Carey (1760-1839), ran from January 1787 through December 1792.