To the editor:

As we approach the July 4th celebration please let us also celebrate freedom of religion brought about to the USA by the enormous efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish immigrants of the 17th century in Newport. With several families forming a close-knit congregation, this group followed closely on the heels of the founder of this colony, Protestant Roger Williams who believed adamantly in this same fundamental idea.

The Jewish seafarers escaping from religious persecution in Europe built Touro Synagogue in Newport, the first Jewish synagogue in North America, in 1763. This same small immigrant community helped build the independent colony locally, and contributed heavily to George Washington’s war campaign, resulting in the Washington letter now enshrined in the US Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom for all.

Today anti-semitism is again rampant in this land. Our temples require armed guards, civilian Jewish diplomats are murdered in the streets, our kids are taunted and bullied in the schools, and our elderly are attacked and firebombed.

This is very poor compensation for the gift of religious freedom bought dearly with our blood and treasure by our forefathers several centuries ago. Let us hope that sanity and brotherly love will prevail again soon in America.

George Burman
Bristol