Friends, 

American Jews have long held a deep appreciation for the Fourth of July. In the 1850s, one New York Jew described it as the commemoration of a “sacred vow” taken by the Founding Fathers. Concurrently, Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise sermonized in Cincinnati about the “glorious anniversary of our republic.” He reflected that “heaven serenely smiles on the patriotic sons of liberty” on the “birthday of liberty.” In Philadelphia, Rebecca Gratz swelled with “patriotic feelings,” even if her neighbors never quite seemed to live up to her expectations for the national holiday. 

Those feelings did not falter. Antebellum Jews wondered aloud what the Sesquicentennial might bring. “Could we but live to see the Fourth of July 1926,” one writer imagined, “we should find the United States of America to be the Arbitress of the Destinies of the World!” 

Today, I am heartened that our community remains committed to Independence Day and its enduring messages. For many months, Americans of all backgrounds have been revisiting their long histories in the United States. For America’s Jews, Gratz College represents a critical historical milestone. As the first independent Jewish college in the United States, Gratz has remained resolutely committed to the finest forms of higher education. 

New degree programs and a new campus will ensure that our College continues to serve as a standard bearer. Gratz’s rise is a testament to the possibilities of the American promise. It is part of the American Dream that we sacredly observe on Independence Day. 

With best wishes for a meaningful and joyous Fourth of July, 

Zev Eleff