Independence Day 2025 is here! We are almost 250 years into the Great Experiment that is American democracy.

For the past couple weeks, my son, Zev, and I have been on what I call our New England/Iceland/Old England Adventure. As I write, I am packing to fly back to Houston later today. 

In Boston, we visited the Boston Tea Party Museum — at Zev’s request. He took my picture throwing “tea” into Boston Harbor (see photo below), and I was appropriately reminded of the struggle to establish a new democracy in North America over two centuries ago. 


 

In “Old” England, we saw Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, and thought about the origins of democracy like the Magna Carta. 

In Iceland, we learned about the historical assemblies of free citizens that served as the foundation of the country's early government and legal system. These assemblies, known as "things," were where people would gather to legislate, settle legal disputes, and influence democratic practices. The most prominent of these was the Althing, which is considered one of the oldest national parliaments in the world. 

Back in the USA, Independence day is indeed a joyous celebration of the bravery, vision, and struggle of our forebears to create a robust democratic republic, enshrining the right of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness into our national DNA.

The USA became a shining example of democracy in the world, and we continue to inspire, support, and encourage other democracies to form and continue to thrive, including the modern State of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.
The United States of America has been the safest place for Jews to live in history. The freedom and protection for Jews and our acceptance into general society is relatively new however. Only 50-60 years ago, there were restricted neighborhoods, hotels, country clubs and the like, as well as quotas limiting the number of Jews to be admitted to universities and professional schools. And of course quotas for immigration. 

Since the first and second exiles of the 3rd century BCE and the attendant flood of Jews into the diaspora, we have been “strangers” in other lands. Sometimes accepted, sometimes tolerated, sometimes looked upon as suspicious of divided loyalty, sometimes persecuted, sometimes exiled, and sometimes threatened with extinction. Rarely if ever have we been thought of as full citizens of whatever country we inhabited. 

The Golden Age of Spain under Muslim rule saw Jews integrated prominently into Spanish society, until Spain devolved into the Reconquest and terror of the Inquisition several centuries later. In the 18th century, European Enlightenment made way for more freedom and acceptance for Jews in some European countries, some of which were also fomenting rebellion against monarchies, and we know where history lead after that.

Many if not most of us have grandparents or great grandparents who emigrated here seeking religious freedom, freedom of movement, a better chance to earn enough to support family both here and back home. Rarely will you find a Jewish person who can trace their (Jewish) roots back more than a couple generations in this country. 

Over the last century and a half, Jews in the Old World historically idealized and worshiped America as the Land of Freedom and Di Goldene Medina, the Golden Land. Immigration meant safety from pogroms and freedom -- even  protection! -- to practice our Judaism.

Despite the mix of acceptance, suspicion, and grudging tolerance we have sometimes faced, Jews have always championed American Democracy. Consider these examples: Wealthy Jews provided funds for the fight for American democracy in the 18th century. Irving Berlin, a Jewish immigrant, penned “Gd Bless America”, an anthem close to the hearts of every American. Today, representation of Jews in government far exceeds our proportion of the population. 

Patriotism is a Jewish value -- Healthy patriotism is maintaining loyalty to our country and at the same time continually evaluating, questioning and challenging our leadership and our National direction. The sentiment “My country right or wrong” is contrary to Jewish values.  Rodeph tzedek, pursuing justice requires us to speak out against injustices, even — or maybe especially — when speaking out in dusagreement with our government—of the people, by the people, for the people.  Being a full and active participant in our democracy is a beloved right and a civic obligation. Love for the USA demands that we pay attention and make our voices heard -- as the saying goes, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. 
Jewish law dictates a key component of democracy--equality under the law. The Torah teaches there shall be one law for the citizen and the non-citizen resident alike. We read many times that we are to be kind to the “stranger”, for we were strangers in the Land of Egypt. 

Jewish values encourage--perhaps even require--constructive criticism of our civil authorities, as well as questioning and struggling with Divine ones as well. Yisrael means wrestle with Gd after all. This Independence Day, let us give thanks for our freedom and relative protection in this still-young democracy. May we dedicate ourselves to safeguarding this freedom for ourselves and everyone around us. May we pray for the day when all on earth shall recognize the goodness, rightness, and nobility of regarding everyone as equal--when the world becomes full of democracies.

Shabbat shalom umevorach, Wishing you a peaceful and blessed Shabbat,
Cantor Waghalter