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November 2008 
WAS THERE A JEWISH PRESIDENT?
Posted on Jun 29th, 2008
by 
yaffie
yaffie
On the twelfth of February, 1809, nearly 200 years ago - a young, poor illiterate woman from Virginia, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, gave birth to a son in a log cabin built along the banks of the south fork of Nolin Creek, near what is now Hodgenville, Kentucky. That baby, whom she named Abraham, grew to become one of our greatest, and most tragic, national leaders.
Lincoln was a man of great spiritual conviction.
Yet, and I find this fact fascinatingly instructive, Abraham Lincoln was the only American president not to have declared himself a member of any particular religious faith. That fact has given rise to a great deal of interesting speculation. In fact,
there are those who believe that Honest Abe was Jewish.
After all, his name was Abraham. His great-grandfather was named Mordechai. Lincoln was the only President not to have a formal religious affiliation. He was neither
raised in a church nor did he ever belong to a church.
And there's more... the town of Lincoln, in eastern England, whence his ancestors came, has an interesting Jewish history. A Jewish community was established there in 1159. During Crusader riots, the Sheriff of Lincoln saved the Jews by giving them official protection. St. Hugh, the great Bishop of Lincoln, taught love of Jews to his
parishioners. His death was marked by an official period of mourning among Lincoln's Jews.
Rabbi Joseph of Lincoln was a scholar mentioned in the Talmud; Aaron of Lincoln was a financier whose operations extended all over the country. In 1255, Lincoln's Jews were accused of ritual murder. Ninety-one Lincoln Jews were sent to London for
trial and 18 were executed. Notwithstanding, the Lincoln Jewish community flourished until 1290, when they were forcibly expelled by edict.
Most Jewish historians assume that all the Jews of Lincoln left in 1290. But could it be possible that some remained, practicing their Judaism in secret... passing the family secret from generation to generation? The more we learn of the secret life of Spanish Jewry following the Expulsion of 1492, the more we must at least consider the
possibility of the same thing occurring elsewhere.
When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, whole Jewish communities sat shivah. Rabbis all over the country eulogized the fallen President. Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, the man who created Reform Judaism in this country, began his eulogy with the words... "Brethren, the lamented Abraham Lincoln believed himself to be bone from our bone and flesh from our flesh. He supposed himself to be a descendant of Hebrew parentage. He said so in my presence."
Lincoln was often questioned about his religious beliefs. Time and again, he told of a special passage from Scripture that summed up his theology. It was the twentieth chapter of the Book of Exodus he recommended that every American study, learn and follow. In English it is usually referred to as the Ten Commandments.
Lincoln was a man of great spiritual conviction.
Yet, and I find this fact fascinatingly instructive, Abraham Lincoln was the only American president not to have declared himself a member of any particular religious faith. That fact has given rise to a great deal of interesting speculation. In fact,
there are those who believe that Honest Abe was Jewish.
After all, his name was Abraham. His great-grandfather was named Mordechai. Lincoln was the only President not to have a formal religious affiliation. He was neither
raised in a church nor did he ever belong to a church.
And there's more... the town of Lincoln, in eastern England, whence his ancestors came, has an interesting Jewish history. A Jewish community was established there in 1159. During Crusader riots, the Sheriff of Lincoln saved the Jews by giving them official protection. St. Hugh, the great Bishop of Lincoln, taught love of Jews to his
parishioners. His death was marked by an official period of mourning among Lincoln's Jews.
Rabbi Joseph of Lincoln was a scholar mentioned in the Talmud; Aaron of Lincoln was a financier whose operations extended all over the country. In 1255, Lincoln's Jews were accused of ritual murder. Ninety-one Lincoln Jews were sent to London for
trial and 18 were executed. Notwithstanding, the Lincoln Jewish community flourished until 1290, when they were forcibly expelled by edict.
Most Jewish historians assume that all the Jews of Lincoln left in 1290. But could it be possible that some remained, practicing their Judaism in secret... passing the family secret from generation to generation? The more we learn of the secret life of Spanish Jewry following the Expulsion of 1492, the more we must at least consider the
possibility of the same thing occurring elsewhere.
When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, whole Jewish communities sat shivah. Rabbis all over the country eulogized the fallen President. Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, the man who created Reform Judaism in this country, began his eulogy with the words... "Brethren, the lamented Abraham Lincoln believed himself to be bone from our bone and flesh from our flesh. He supposed himself to be a descendant of Hebrew parentage. He said so in my presence."
Lincoln was often questioned about his religious beliefs. Time and again, he told of a special passage from Scripture that summed up his theology. It was the twentieth chapter of the Book of Exodus he recommended that every American study, learn and follow. In English it is usually referred to as the Ten Commandments.
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This is most fascinating…! Lincoln always has been one of my favs to study and oftentimes wish I culd have met him…
In 6th grade, I was teased because I said one day I hoped to meet Lincoln. Everyone thought me an idiot, since he was long dead…but I was thinking about the afterlife…and at that time “shut down” my visions since everyone thought me a weirdo.
This actually makes much sense….discimination would have kept him closeted perhaps…
I am pleased you posted this..it is soemthing to really ponder.
Yes, aley, thanks for reading it and someone like you would of course find this most interesting…weirdo? yes children think everyone brilliant is weird, don't they, or is that just a cover up for jealousy??
I wonder if Lincoln wasn't our greatest president, i haven't seen true honesty or greatness since..
Thanks for this histoical possibility Yaffa.
Your considerations remind me of a time in 1989 when a history professor of mine had a major fit… showing up as lengthy comments on my research paper which was then dignfied by the lowest mark I received in my work for the whole course - plus she gave a class lecture referencing my paper and how important it was not to “project our values” onto historical materials. I had proposed the possibility that Hildegard of Bingen may have been a lesbian based on her writings and in particular a letter to a favorite nun Richardis van Stade. Now several historians seem to propose this as a viable theory for consideration (and of course others argue against)…
I think it is often the case, that we can only see what our frame of reference is open to seeing which doesn't mean other information and interpretations are not reasonable - we just seem to need to be open to being able to see what has always been right in front of us. I therefore commend your voicing the possibility of a Jewish President - And give you an “A+” for opening our minds to possibilities.
The US is built on these principles of the ten commandments…so it doesn't surprise me, terrill if he was jewish at all..we have a judeo-christian US..and that is why the US has been so blessed. We have beleived in the principles that God, the bible, the Torah has laid before us…now we have deviated and look at the problems we have with morality, with the earths resources, with devastation all over the world..I do beleive that God is speaking…
Gevalt! (right word usage?) thats awsome. Avraham Lincoln, I could definately see it. Liberating the slaves from persecution, reminds me of another Jew who had to hide his identity because he was in a high position of power (Moshe). That is amazing. I agree with you, if we were to listen to G-d and do what He says more, the Rebbe says that just a little more goodness and kindness will surely bring Meshiach. Hopefully speedily in our days!
p.s. im about to start reading more of your stuff, its good
Well thank you Eitan!! Yes abe lincoln delivered the slaves from persecution and from all the data we have, it looks like he really was jewish and incognito..which would explain many, many things…like our preamble and our building on the judeo - christian, (well there was no christianity before the torah, as we know)…ethics and morals…Thank God we have a country that was at least originally built on them, otherwise God only knows what condition the US would be in now and the rest of the world as a side effect..
This totally makes sense! Thanks so much. I have always loved and admired Abe Lincoln, how different the presidents were back then.
Yes, and as we look at what has happened to this country over the last 60 or more years, we see that the degradation of integrity, the powers that have reigned subsequently have had thier own agenda and do not take positions of power for the common good of all people any longer…it is all about building their own empires…at our expense..
these people have zero integrity..they are selfish, self centered politicans who are only feeding on us and exploiting us..raping humanity and its resources like animals..the beaver doesn't look at the consequences when he builds his dam, what the manifestations will be upstream or downstream….neither do these, our so called, 'leaders..care about the conseqences of their greed..the tiger will not look to see if he eats a gazelle, if its the last one on earth and it will become extinct.
they are like animals..
yaffa, i have heard some say that a big part of the problem is the phenomenon of career politicians. the first politicians had full time jobs or trades and did the politics on the side. this shaped their thinking tremendously. now we have people who are even second or third generation politicians… very warped
yes, people have learned how to make politics their empire…they are exploiting us, and not caring for us at all, they are raping us and soon it will only be them….if something doesn't change, they will destroy us…unfortunately it has become a venue for greed and power…not for human interests..
wonder what we can do?
Lady, I haven't a clue as to how to get the greedy to stop theiving or the molesters to stop raping..us or our land…
sigh… nor i