Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture The Jewish Roots of American Liberty (with Stuart Halpern)
Mar 31, 2026
Stuart Halpern, senior adviser at Yeshiva University and author on the Hebrew Bible’s impact on America, explores how biblical ideas shaped U.S. liberty. He discusses Hebrew law echoes in constitutional clauses. He traces covenant, Exodus, and Israelite figures as recurring American political symbols. He explains how early legal changes and religious freedom grew from these influences.
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Creator Endows Human Dignity
- The American idea that individuals have God-given rights traces to Genesis emphasizing human dignity from creation.
- Stuart W. Halpern ties the Declaration's “all men are created equal” to the Hebrew Bible’s premise that the Creator endows humans with inherent dignity.
Early Jewish Contributions To Religious Liberty
- Early American Jews actively supported the Revolution and then pushed for religious liberty reforms like ending Christian test oaths.
- Examples include Hart Jacobs' Sabbath exemption, Haim Solomon funding the war, and Jewish elections to office by 1795.
Founders Consulted Hebrew Law
- Founders explicitly referenced Hebrew law when designing U.S. institutions, borrowing both spirit and specifics.
- Roger Sherman urged consulting Mosaic civil polity; the Constitution echoes Sabbath, weights and measures, and two-witness rules.
