American presidents have long appreciated Jews and the Jewish state. Here are some inspiring quotes from presidents expressing their appreciation for their Jewish citizens and for the Land of Israel
1. Pres. George Washington, Letter to Touro Synagogue, Aug. 18, 1790:
For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protections should demean themselves as good citizens… May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
2. Pres. John Adams, Letter to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, Feb. 18, 1809:
I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing nations. If I were an atheist of the other sect, who believe, or pretend to believe, that all is ordered by chance, I should believe that chance had ordered the Jews to preserve and propagate to all mankind the doctrine of a supreme, intelligent, wise, Almighty Sovereign of the universe, which I believe to be the great essential principle of all morality, and consequently of all civilization.
3. Pres. Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Mordecai Manuel Noah, May 28, 1818:
[The Jewish people] by its sufferings has furnished a remarkable proof of the universal spirit of religious intolerance inherent in every sect, disclaimed by all while feeble, and practiced by all when in power. Our laws have applied the only antidote to this vice, protecting our religious, as they do our civil rights, by putting all on an equal footing.
4. Pres. John Tyler, in one of the first speeches he made after taking office, 1841:
The Hebrews, persecuted and downtrodden in other regions, takes up his abode among us with none to make him afraid. He may boast...of his descent from the patriarchs of old - of his wise men in council and strong men in battle. He may even turn his eye to Judea, resting with strong confidence on the promise that is made him of the restoration to the Holy Land, and he may worship the God of his fathers after the manner that worship was conducted by Aaron and his successors in the priesthood, and the aegis of the Government is over him to defend and protect him.
5. Letter sent by Pres. Abraham Lincoln to Sec. of War Edwin M. Stanton, Nov. 4, 1862, breaking with tradition by appointing Jewish quartermasters to the US Army:
I believe we have not yet appointed a Hebrew...
6. Pres. Abraham Lincoln, responding to a visitor who proposed restoring a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel, 1863:
I myself have a regard for the Jews… My chiropodist is a Jew, and he has so many times ‘put me on my feet’ that I would have no objection to giving his countrymen ‘a leg up’.
7. Pres. Grover Cleveland (after he’d left office) responding to the 1903 aftermath of the Kishinev Pogroms:
Every American human sentiment has been shocked by a late attack on the Jews of Russia - an attack murderous, atrocious and in every way revolting. As members of the family of mankind, and as citizens of a free nation, we are here to give voice to the feeling that should stir...every American worthy of the name. There is something intensely horrible in the wholesale murder of unoffending, defense-less men, women and children…
8. Pres. Benjamin Harrison, Annual Message to Congress, December 9, 1891:
The Hebrew is never a beggar; he always kept the law - lives by toil - often under severe and oppressive civil restrictions, is also true that no race, sect or class has more fully cared for its own.
9. Pres. William McKinley, letter to Simon Wolf, 1897:
No better class of citizens than the Jewish exists in our country, many of whom have been and are my personal friends
10. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, quoted in his autobiography (1913):
While I was Police Commissioner (in New York City), an anti-Semitic preacher from Berlin...came over to New York to preach a crusade against the Jews. Many of the New York Jews were much excited and asked me to prevent him from speaking and not to give him police protection. This, I told them was impossible; and if possible would have been undesirable because it would have made him a martyr. The proper thing to do was to make him ridiculous. Accordingly I detailed or his protection a Jew sergeant and a score or two of Jew policemen. He made his harangue against the Jews under the active protection of some forty policemen, every one of them a Jew.
11. Pres. Woodrow Wilson appointed the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis. When a friend remarked to Pres. Wilson “Isn’t it a shame, Mr. President, that a man as great as Mr. Justice Brandeis should be a Jew?” Pres. Wilson replied, “But he would not be Mr. Brandeis if he were not a Jew!"
12. Pres. Woodrow Wilson, 1917, after the Balfour Declaration affirming the Jewish people’s right to a homeland in the Land of Israel, which Pres. Wilson vigorously supported:
How proud I am that because of the teachings instilled in me by my father, it has been my privilege to restore the Holy Land to its rightful owners.
13. Pres. Warren G. Harding, in a letter to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 1923:
One of the marvels of humanity’s story has been the strength and persistence of the Jewish faith and its continuing influence and power of the Jewish people. I cannot but feel that these things are in large measure owing to the Hebrew conception of a personal God and of the individual accountability of men and women.
14. Pres. Herbert Hoover, 1932, on the 15th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration:
I have watched with genuine admiration the steady and unmistakable progress made in the rehabilitation of Palestine which, desolate for centuries, is now renewing its youth and vitality through the enthusiasm, hard work, and self-sacrifice of the Jewish pioneers who toil there in a spirit of peace and social justice.
15. Pres. Harry Truman, in speech two days after becoming president, April 14, 1945:
This is the time for action. No one can any longer doubt the horrible intention of the Nazi beasts. We know that they plan the systematic slaughter throughout all of Europe, not only of the Jews but of vast numbers of other innocent peoples...This is not a Jewish problem, it is an American problem - and we must and we will face it squarely and honorably. (cited in Truman and Israel by Michael J. Cohen. University of California Press: 1991.)
16. Pres. Harry Truman, May 14, 1948:
This government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional government thereof. The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.
17. Pres. Harry Truman, 1948 (cited in The Presidents of the United States and the Jews by David G. Dalin and Alfred J. Kolatch. Jonathan David Publishers: 2000.):
One of the proudest days in my life occurred at 6:12pm on Friday May 14 (1948) when I was able to announce recognition of the new state of Israel by the government of the United States. In view of the long friendship of the American people for the Zionist ideal, it was particularly appropriate that our government should be the first to recognize the new state.
18. Pres. John F. Kennedy, Speech to Zionists of America Convention, August 26, 1960:
Israel was not created in order to disappear - Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy and it honors the sword of freedom.
19. Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, June 1, 1964:
The USA and Israel “share many common objectives - chief of which is the building of a better world in which every nation can develop its resources and develop them in freedom and peace.”
20. Pres. Ronald Reagan, September 1, 1982:
Israel exists: it has a right to exist in peace behind secure and defensible borders, and it has a right to demand of its neighbors that they recognize those facts. I have personally followed and supported Israel’s heroic struggle for survival, ever since the founding of the State of Israel 34 years ago. In the pre-1967 borders Israel was barely 10 miles wide at its narrowest point. The bulk of Israel’s population lived within artillery range of hostile Arab armies. I am not about to ask Israel to live that way again.
21. Pres. Bill Clinton, April 30, 1996:
The United States stands with Israel through good times and bad because our countries share the same ideals: freedom, tolerance, democracy. We know that whenever those ideals are under siege in one country, they are threatened everywhere.
22. George W. Bush, April 19, 2001:
Through centuries of struggle, Jews across the world have been witnesses not only against the crimes of men, but for faith in God, and God alone. Theirs is a story of defiance in oppression and patience in tribulation - reaching back to the Exodus and their exile into the Diaspora. That story continued in the founding of the State of Israel. The story continues in the defense of the State of Israel.
23. Pres. Barack Obama, May 21, 2015:
...Make no mistake – those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting Israel’s right to exist, they might as well reject the earth beneath them or the sky above, because Israel is not going anywhere. And today, I want to tell you – particularly the young people – so that there's no mistake here, so long as there is a United States of America – Atem lo levad. You are not alone.
24. Pres Donald J. Trump, December 7, 2019
The story of Israel is a tale of triumph in the face of centuries oppression and persecution. The Jewish people endured, persevered, and flourished beyond measure, building a thriving, proud, beautiful, and mighty nation in the Holy Land. The friendship between our countries is essential to achieving a more safe, just and peaceful world. That is why every single day since I took the Oath of Office, I have stood firmly, strongly, and proudly with the people of Israel.
(13) Yaffa Licari, April 22, 2020 4:21 PM
reprint this wonderful article, generations to inhale!
Our presidents were aligned with the Israeli spirit of democratic justice which lights up the soul of all mankind! Yaffa Friedman Licari
(12) Nancy Valla, February 22, 2020 12:37 AM
FDR?
So nothing positive about Jews from FDR? Oops, almost forgot that he turned the Jews away from the United States when they needed this country most.....shame on him.
(11) Barbara, February 17, 2020 10:47 AM
Rhetoric vs. Action
Some of the quotes are backed up by the actions of the speakers; others are just words, easily said, PC, etc,. but nevertheless utterly deceptive.
The only way to tell the difference is according to what the presidents and other politicians DO, not what they say!
Even Carter had a few pretty words for Israel when he was in office, but his virulent anti-Israel and antisemitic stance has choked his peanuts by now.
(10) GINETTE COHEN, February 17, 2020 2:30 AM
ISRAEL AND THEIR LAND FOREVER
ISRAEL is a long story or errancy, suffering, rejections of the Jewish identity and existence. It was a long exodus from all part of the world for the Jews to go back to their ancestors' land. It was a story of tremendous courage, abnegation, even annihilations but always persistence and strength to fight for their life keeping their beliefs and faith of God Almighty. They prevailed and achieved their dream of the State of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital.
Anonymous, February 17, 2020 2:45 AM
The Truth So Magnificently Expressed
Wow. Of course I agree with every word you said, but what impresses me almost as much as the content of what you said, is how you said it. You really do have a way with words. I can tell that you are in love with our Jewish State of Israel, and rightly so.
(9) Chaya, February 16, 2020 8:40 PM
Fantastic article !!
Thank you for putting this all in one place, it is excellent ! Anti-semitism is at its highest rate since the Shoah, and Israel's bipartisan steadfast support is challenged... these words need to be remembered and cherished, every one ! Thank you, again.
(8) Rabbi Pinchas Kantrowitz, February 16, 2020 8:00 PM
Interesting! Informative! Thanks!
(7) Anonymous, February 16, 2020 6:27 PM
question
Is there a film or picture of the Roosevelt situation? That Roosevelt a smart cookie, funny guy.
(6) Sydne, February 16, 2020 4:59 PM
Presidential Quotes
This article was incredibly uplifting.
Thankyou.
(5) Anonymous, February 16, 2020 4:47 PM
Obama's quote
It is sad he didn't practice what he said about Israel not being alone. He hated Bibi and Israel during his time as President and he still does. He lied.
Raymond, February 17, 2020 3:01 AM
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Dvirah, February 17, 2020 8:09 AM
Nice Words Don't Feed the Bulldog
Thank you for writing what many are thinking.
(4) Steve, February 16, 2020 4:10 PM
Thank you President Hoover
To all those who claim Jews "stole" land from some mythical Palestinian country, please note President Hoover's words, spoken at the time Jews were literally bringing the desert back to life.
(3) Ilbert Phillips, February 16, 2020 3:45 PM
Presidents' Comments on Israel
I find it disturbing that our Democratic controlled House of Representatives is undoing this bond centuries old bond between the United States, the people Israel and the State of Israel. The House's refusal to condemn the clearly anti-Semitic statements of Ilhan Omar is a perfect example of how the Democratic Party and House is slowly immersing with anti-Semites of the world.
Raymond, February 17, 2020 2:40 AM
Iran Deal
Plus every one of the Democratic candidates for President, have supported the Iran Deal, which would have essentially handed nuclear weapons to Iran, with the full financial blessings of America. In this and so many other ways, the Democratic Party is no longer a friend to our Jewish State of Israel.
(2) Nancy Intermill, February 16, 2020 3:39 PM
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Ra'anan, February 16, 2020 4:49 PM
really??? but...
How come he's set records in lowering unemployment & raising wages among nonwhites?
How come he's thwarted the existential Iranian threat against the 6,000,000 Jews of ISRAEL?
How come his grandchildren are Jewish?
Raymond, February 17, 2020 7:37 PM
Trump Derangement Syncrome
Those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome are too blinded by hate to see anything good about our very great President. If he found a cure for cancer, they would react by calling him a racist.
Dvirah, February 18, 2020 6:16 AM
Complicated President
To be honest, I find Pres. Trump to be vulgar and often careless in his expression, which can easily offend; he certainly does not promote the "dignity of his office". That said, in his actions he does much good and is a strong supporter of Israel. Not an easy man to judge.
Raymond, February 19, 2020 7:17 AM
Proper Role Models
I guess it has to do with expectations. I do not look to my politicians to be my moral role models. After all, they are politicians, not Priests. All I want from them is to protect us from physical harm. Building roads and bridges would be helpful, too. And when I need moral role models, I look to my religious leaders, as well as to people having such noble professions as teachers and doctors. I fully acknowledge that President Trump will never win any awards in diplomacy, but he is sure doing a darn good job in strengthening our country against our foreign enemies, in getting out of way enough to make this the strongest economy we ever had, and of course what is probably the most pro-Israel record of any President, ever. Is he crude? Yes, but you know what? Jimmy Carter is very well-spoken, but he was a truly lousy President, not to mention extremely hostile to Israel. I will take crude Donald Trump over the likes of Jimmy Carter or smooth-talking Barak Obama any day of the week.
(1) Raymond, February 16, 2020 2:43 PM
G-d Bless America
These quotes by many of our Presidents provide confirmation for my contention that the two most moral countries on our planet are Israel and the United States. I have little to add to their words, other than to remark that it is no accident that the man who wrote the lyrics to G-d Bless America was a Jew. I so much feel like he did. I think it was no less of a Torah giant than Rabbi Moshe Feinstein who called this nation a compassionate nation. So did Robert Kennedy, who literally gave his life for the cause of the Jewish State of Israel. G-d Bless America, land that I love.