[Jewish True Tales] Haym Salomon
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Lawrence J. Epstein
Jan 27, 2011, 12:59:01 PM1/27/11
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Haym Salomon (1740-1785). The American Revolution was saved on Yom Kippur. It was 1780 and Haym Salomon was dutifully sitting in synagogue. Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia was filled that day with American Jews praying.
Salomon had started his patriotic efforts early, first joining the Sons of Liberty in New York. He was arrested as a spy in 1776 and served 18 months before the British pardoned him and forced him to serve as an interpreter for them. Instead he helped British prisoners escape. He was again arrested in 1778 and sentenced to death, but he escaped to Philadelphia. He became the principal financier of the Continental Army.
Suddenly there was a knock on the synagogue door. There was a young man who desperately needed to see Salomon. The man had a message from Robert Morris, the minister of finance for the colonies. Salomon unfolded and read the emergency message. Morris wrote that the finance office couldn't raise money to cover two notes. Morris noted he had begged for personal aid from people, but no one had the $20,000 needed immediately.
Unsure what to do on this holiest day of the Jewish year, Salomon made a decision. He approached the rabbi and explained the situation. Everyone knew that the fate of the Revolution depended in large part on its financial solvency. The rabbi was outraged, but Salomon would not stop. He began to speak and started by asking for God's forgiveness.
Angry congregants disrupted him. This was a holy day. Salomon listened, but he patiently continued. He talked about the soldiers dying of starvation, and he spoke openly about the threat of mutiny against General Washington. He told of Morris' urgent plea. Morris' young aide came forward to record pledges given. Salomon started by pledging $3,000. A man named Samuel Lynn also begged God's forgiveness and pledged $1,000. It took fifteen minutes for the $20,000 to be pledged. The aide left, and the congregation resumed the service.
It is estimated that Haym Salomon eventually was responsible for raising $800,000 for the American Revolution. That amount in 1785 dollars is today equivalent to about $40 billion.
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Posted By Lawrence J. Epstein to Jewish True Tales at 1/27/2011 12:59:00 PM
Salomon had started his patriotic efforts early, first joining the Sons of Liberty in New York. He was arrested as a spy in 1776 and served 18 months before the British pardoned him and forced him to serve as an interpreter for them. Instead he helped British prisoners escape. He was again arrested in 1778 and sentenced to death, but he escaped to Philadelphia. He became the principal financier of the Continental Army.
Suddenly there was a knock on the synagogue door. There was a young man who desperately needed to see Salomon. The man had a message from Robert Morris, the minister of finance for the colonies. Salomon unfolded and read the emergency message. Morris wrote that the finance office couldn't raise money to cover two notes. Morris noted he had begged for personal aid from people, but no one had the $20,000 needed immediately.
Unsure what to do on this holiest day of the Jewish year, Salomon made a decision. He approached the rabbi and explained the situation. Everyone knew that the fate of the Revolution depended in large part on its financial solvency. The rabbi was outraged, but Salomon would not stop. He began to speak and started by asking for God's forgiveness.
Angry congregants disrupted him. This was a holy day. Salomon listened, but he patiently continued. He talked about the soldiers dying of starvation, and he spoke openly about the threat of mutiny against General Washington. He told of Morris' urgent plea. Morris' young aide came forward to record pledges given. Salomon started by pledging $3,000. A man named Samuel Lynn also begged God's forgiveness and pledged $1,000. It took fifteen minutes for the $20,000 to be pledged. The aide left, and the congregation resumed the service.
It is estimated that Haym Salomon eventually was responsible for raising $800,000 for the American Revolution. That amount in 1785 dollars is today equivalent to about $40 billion.
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Posted By Lawrence J. Epstein to Jewish True Tales at 1/27/2011 12:59:00 PM
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