THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thanks for the warm
welcome. Thanks for the invitation to be here. My only regret is Laura
is not with me -- I left her behind to do some diplomacy in New York
City. (Laughter.)
Bob, I want to thank you for your kind introduction. I'm honored to
accept this medal commemorating three and a half centuries of Jewish
life in America. I consider it a high honor to have been invited to
celebrate with you.
Back in 1790, the Jewish congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, wrote
to congratulate George Washington on his election as the country's first
President. Some say he was the first George W. (Laughter.) In his reply,
President Washington thanked the congregation and pledged to defend
vigorously the principle of religious liberty for all. (Applause.)
Here's what he said. He said, the United States "gives bigotry no
sanction; to persecution, no assistance." And he expressed his hope that
the "stock of Abraham" would thrive in America.
In the centuries that followed, the stock of Abraham has thrived here
like nowhere else. We're better and stronger -- (applause) -- and we're
a better and stronger and freer nation because so many Jews from
countries all over the world have chosen to become American citizens.
(Applause.)
I want to thank Rabbi Gary Zola, who is the Chairman of the
Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. I
want to thank Ken Bialkin, who is the Chairman of the Board of the
American Jewish Historical Society. I want to thank members of Congress
who are here. I want to thank members of the Diplomatic Corps,
especially the Ambassador from Israel, Danny Ayalon. (Applause.)
I want to thank two members of my Cabinet who've joined us --
Secretary Alphonso Jackson, of the Department of Housing and Urban
Affairs, and his wife Marcia -- (applause) -- and Josh Bolten, who is
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (Applause.)
I appreciate the Archivist of the United States who has joined us
today, Allen Weinstein; Dr. Jim Billington, who is the Librarian of
Congress. I can't help but notice and welcome Ed Koch, the former mayor
of New York City. (Applause.) I want to thank my friend, Fred Zeidman,
from Houston, Texas, who's the Chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Council. (Applause.) I want to pay my respects to Lynn Schusterman,
who's the President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family
Foundation. (Applause.) And Sid Lapidus, who's the President of the
American Jewish Historical Society. (Applause.)
This may sound a little odd for a Methodist from Texas saying this,
but I just came from shool. (Applause.) I was just given the grand tour
of the great American landmark, the 6th and I Historic Synagogue. I want
to thank Shelton Zuckerman and Abe Pollin for taking it upon themselves
to restore this important historical -- (applause.) If you haven't been
there, you ought to go. It is a -- there's a wonderfully warm feeling. I
saw the devotion that has gone into restoring this jewel, which was
built nearly a century ago -- a jewel that houses three Torah scrolls
rescued from the Holocaust. We're proud to have this great synagogue in
the heart of our Nation's Capital, and we're glad a new generation is
revitalizing this house of God. (Applause.)
The story of the Jewish people in America is a story of America, itself.
The pilgrims considered this nation a new Israel, a refuge from
persecution in Europe. Early Americans named many of their cities after
places in Hebrew Scripture: Bethel and New Canaan, Shiloh and Salem. And
when the first Jews arrived here, the children of Israel saw America as
the land of promise, a golden land where they could practice their faith
in freedom and live in liberty. (Applause.)
When the first Jewish settlers came to our shores 350 years ago, they
were not immediately welcomed. Yet, from the onset, the Jews who arrived
here demonstrated a deep commitment to their new land. An immigrant
named Asser Levy volunteered to serve in the New Amsterdam Citizens
Guard, which, unfortunately, had a policy of refusing to admit Jews.
That didn't bother Levy. He was determined, like many others who have
followed him, to break down the barriers of discrimination. Within two
years, he took his rightful spot alongside his fellow citizens in the
Guard. He was the first of many Jewish Americans who have proudly worn
the uniform of the United States.
And one of the greatest Jewish soldiers America has ever known is
Tibor Rubin. After surviving the Holocaust and the Nazi death camp, this
young man came to America. He enlisted in the United States Army and
fought in the Korean War. He was severely wounded and was later captured
by the enemy. For two-and-a-half years, he survived in a POW camp. He
risked his life for his fellow soldiers nearly every night by smuggling
extra food for those who were ill -- it was a skill he had learned in
the Nazi camps -- and because of his daring, as many as 40 American
lives were saved.
This evening, I'm happy to announce that next week, I will bestow
upon this great patriot our nation's highest award for bravery, the
Medal of Honor. (Applause.)
Jewish Americans have made countless contributions to our land. The
prophet, Jeremiah, once called out to this -- to his nation, "...seek
the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to
the Lord on its behalf." For 350 years, American Jews have heeded these
words, and you've prayed and worked for peace and freedom in America.
Freedom to worship is why Jews came to America three-and-a-half
centuries ago; it's why the Jews settled in Israel over five decades
ago.
Our two nations have a lot in common, when you think about it. We
were both founded by immigrants escaping religious persecution in other
lands. We both have built vibrant democracies. Both our countries are
founded on certain basic beliefs, that there is an Almighty God who
watches over the affairs of men and values every life. These ties have
made us natural allies, and these ties will never be broken. (Applause.)
Earlier today, I met in New York with Prime Minister Sharon and the
Ambassador. I admire Prime Minister Sharon. He's a man of courage; he's
a man of peace. (Applause.) Once again, I expressed this nation's
commitment to defending the security and well-being of Israel.
(Applause.) I also assured him that I will not waver when it comes to
spreading freedom around the world. I understand -- (applause) -- I
understand this, that freedom is not America's gift to the world;
freedom is an Almighty God's gift to each man and woman and child in
this world. (Applause.)
Religious freedom is a foundation of fundamental human and civil
rights. And when the United States promotes religious freedom, it is
promoting the spread of democracy. And when we promote the spread of
democracy, we are promoting the cause of peace. (Applause.)
Religious freedom is more than the freedom to practice one's faith.
It is also the obligation to respect the faith of others. (Applause.) So
to stand for religious freedom, we must expose and confront the ancient
hatred of anti-Semitism, wherever it is found. (Applause.) When we find
anti-Semitism at home, we will confront it. When we find anti-Semitism
abroad, we will condemn it. (Applause.) And we condemn the desecration
of synagogues in Gaza that followed Israel's withdrawal. (Applause.)
Under America's system of religious freedom, church and state are
separate. (Applause.) Still, we have learned that faith is not solely a
private matter. Men and women throughout our history have acted on the
words of Scripture and they have made America a better, more hopeful
place. When Rabbi Abraham Heschel marched with Martin Luther King, we
saw modern-day prophets calling on America to honor its promises. We
must allow people of faith to act on their convictions without facing
discrimination.
And that's why my administration has started a faith-based and
community initiative, to call on the armies of compassion to help heal
broken hearts. A few years ago in New York, the Metropolitan Council on
Jewish Poverty was discouraged from even applying for federal funds
because it had the word "Jewish" in its name. We must end this kind of
discrimination if we want America to be a hopeful place. (Applause.)
At this moment, volunteers from all walks of life, across our great
land, are helping the good folks of Alabama and Mississippi and
Louisiana recover from one of the worst natural disasters in our
nation's history. The outpouring of compassion is phenomenal. American
Jewish organizations have already raised over $10 million, plus the
$50,000 tonight, for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. (Applause.)
About half of the 10,000 Jewish Americans who call New Orleans home
found refuge in Houston. Rabbi Barry Gelman. of the United Orthodox
Synagogues of Houston, immediately helped organize a task force to aid
the evacuees. Five major Israeli universities with study abroad programs
are opening their doors to college students whose schools have been shut
down by the storm.
These are the good works of good people relying on the wisdom of the
Good Book, a book that tells us how God rescued life from the flood
waters. And like Noah and his family, we have faith that as the waters
recede, we will see life begin again.
I want to thank you for your patriotism. I want to thank you for
compassion. I want to thank you for your love for the United States of
America. All of America is grateful to the Jewish people for the
treasures you have given us over the past 350 years. May God bless you,
and may God continue to bless our country. (Applause.)