Buffman

I happened across this info and found it to be quite fascinating. I think it fits in this forum because it shows what happens when government controls the level of religious tolerance. I do not recall learning much about any of this when I was in school or until just a few minutes ago. (I also found some very interesting Maryland history concerning the battles between the Protestants and Catholics in that colony back in the 1649-1780 period.) This list deals only with those "non-Christians" in early America...and only with entries I felt might be of interest here.

<a href="http://www.jewishhistory.org.il/1650.htm" target="_blank">http://www.jewishhistory.org.il/1650.htm</a>

1636 RHODE ISLAND (North American Colonies)
Granted religious liberty to Jews.

1650-1726 NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES
First wave of immigration. The Jewish population rose to ten thousand.

1657 April 20, ASSER LEVY (New Amsterdam, North American Colonies)
After a battle of almost two years Asser Levy, one of the original 23 settlers, was allowed to serve on guard duty ("watch and ward"). Levy, who was the ritual slaughterer of the town, opened his slaughterhouse on what is now Wall Street. He also petitioned to be allowed the rights as a Burgher or freeperson of the town, which he received (albeit reluctantly and as a "second class" Burgher) from the burgomasters of New Amsterdam.

1658 February 23, MARYLAND (North American Colonies)
Jacob Lumbrozo, the first Jew known to have settled in the colony, was arrested under the Toleration Act of 1649 (act concerning religion). This act imposed the death penalty for anyone denying the basic tenants of Christianity. Though Lumbrozo was saved by a general amnesty, it was not until the "Jew Bill" passed in 1826 that Jews could hold public office without submitting to a Christian oath.

1658 NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND (North American Colonies)
Fifteen Jewish families from Holland were accepted in what was then the most important port on the northeast Atlantic coast.

1664 September, NEW AMSTERDAM (North American Colonies)
Was conquered by the British and its name changed to New York. The rights won by the Jews under Dutch rule were preserved, although they were still not allowed to join a guild or engage in retail trade. Each colony was free to decide which rights to grant the Jews. In many cases they were even less then those granted in England.

1669 CAROLINAS (North American Colonies)
"Jews, heathens and dissenters" were granted liberty of conscience.

1685 ENGLAND
After a number of minor persecutions the crown confirmed freedom of worship for the Jews.[Obviously many colonies did not follow suit.]

1689-1697 NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES
Fighting erupted between the English and French along the northern border of New York. One of the first Jews known to have fought under the British flag was Joseph Isacks. Isacks, a butcher from New York, was an active member of the synagogue until his death at age 78.

1727 NEW YORK (North American Colonies)
General Assembly took out the phrase "upon the true faith of a Christian" from the oath of allegiance for naturalization.

1740 NATURALIZATION ACT (North American Colonies)
Passed, making it possible for a Jew in any of Britain's American colonies to become naturalized. However, it was not always implemented (i.e. in Rhode Island).

1740-1785 HAYIM SALOMON (Poland-America)
As a member of the Sons of Liberty, he was arrested and condemned to die. He escaped and joined the American Revolution as a patriot and financier. Salomon later died penniless and friendless

1743-1816 ABRAHAM ALEXANDER (United States)
Revolutionary officer and the first secretary general of the Masonic supreme council in Charleston. He married Ann Sarah Huguenin Irby, one of the first Jewish converts in the United States. Alexander served as a Hazzan in the local congregation and even hand-wrote a high holiday prayer book. He also worked as an auditor for the United States customs service.

1745-1816 GERSHON MENDES SEIXAS (New York, United States)
Son of a Portuguese immigrant, he was the first native Jew to become a rabbi; first in New York and then founder of the Mikve Israel congregation in Philadelphia. Seixas was a renowned patriot who left New York as the British approached rather than be under British rule. He participated in George Washington's inauguration.

1762 March 11, RHODE ISLAND (North American Colonies)
Although considered more liberal than other states, and despite the fact that a few Jews had been previously granted citizenship, the court refuses to grant it to Aaron Lopez and Isaac Eliezer, stating that "no person who is not of the Christian religion can be admitted free to this colony". Lopez was granted citizenship by Massachusetts and the sentence "upon the true faith of a Christian" was excluded. Lopez was probably the first Jew to be granted citizenship in Massachusetts.

1776 July 4, DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
This document provided the basis for religious tolerance in most other countries. During the Revolutionary War there were less than 2,500 Jews within the colonies. More than 600 fought throughout the war, including the great-grandfather of Supreme Court Justice Cordozo. One company in South Carolina had so many Jews that it was called the "Jews Company".

1781 March 6 Georgia (North American Colonies)
Governor James Wright ordered the Jews of the Georgia to leave, accusing them of being disloyal to his majesty by supporting the revolution. The order was never carried out.

1786 AARON LEVY (1742-1815) (United States)
A land speculator, who had made many loans to the continental congress, announces plans for a new town, Aaronsburg, to be built in the Penn valley. This was the first town to be founded and named after a Jew. Unfortunately, it did not succeed and left him in difficult financial straits.

(Not to forget our Canadian friends

1808 January 29, CANADA
Ezekiel Hart (1767-1843), though elected to the Canadian parliament, was prevented from taking his seat because, as a Jew, he could not take the oath "on the true faith of a Christian." Though re-elected in May 1808 and in April 1809, he was prevented from being seated each time. Only in 1832 did legislation pass allowing Jews to hold public office and giving them full civil rights.

(And for our "Rebel" friends

1811-1884 JUDAH BENJAMIN (USA)
"Brains of the Confederacy". He served as senator in the United States Senate from 1852 until the Civil War. Jefferson Davis appointed him Secretary of State of the Confederacy. After the war, he fled to England where he joined the English Bar.

theyeti

Charleston has always had a sizable Jewish minority, though I don't know if there has ever been any strife because of it. These days however, the religious intolerance come largely from the upstate, in particular the Greenville area where BJU is located.

theyeti