Dr. Melvin I. Urofsky recounts the unique history of Jewish settlers in Rhode Island - the first colony to grant its citizens freedom to worship in the manner of their choosing. Drawn to the promise that in Roger Williams' Rhode Island colony "none shall be disturbed in their worship," Newport's Sephardic Jewish settlers were innovators, helping lead the town into its economic "Golden Age." I
t was to the Newport Jewish community that George Washington wrote his powerful "Letter to the Hebrew Congregation" in 1790, promising that the U. S. government would give "to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." Newport's religious tolerance enabled this community to thrive and, in 1763, to dedicate a synagogue -America's oldest standing synagogue and a National Historic Site.
Written for a general audience of all ages, in a captivating and easy-to-read format, Urofsky explores the richness of this ethnic community in a cosmopolitan New England seaport. Full-color illustrations illuminate participation in political, social, economic and civil life. The book provides readers of all religions with insights into an often overlooked, important and inspiring aspect of American history.
Dr. Urofsky is Professor Emeritus of History at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of Louis D. Brandeis: A Life (2009) and Supreme Decisions, Combined Volume: Great Constitutional Cases and Their Impact (2012). A Genesis of Religious Freedom is the fifty-fourth book he has either written or edited, several of which have won prestigious awards.
