Sandwiched In with Ron Brown - Rabbi Seixas - First American Born Rabbi

Rabbi Gershom Mendes Seixas was born in New York  City in 1745 of old Sephardic Jewish stock. Like many of the founding fathers of the United States he was convinced that this new nation was a virtual utopia where the prejudices, hatreds, intolerance and rule by monarchs would be left behind. In association with President Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson he was instrumental in establishing freedom of religion and the separation of church and state in the new nation. He stood on the balcony of New York's City Hall when Washington took the oath of office, preached in churches, was a trustee of Columbia University, and was rabbi of Shearith Israel Synagogue. Out of the ghettos and into American civic, cultural, political, and religious life was his motto. He is considered the first modern American rabbi.  Join Professor Ron Brown as he continues his series about famous New Yorkers with a special program celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. 

(Sponsored by the Friends of the Library)

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