By Sam Gelman
Communications and Program Officer The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton by Andrew Porwancher
In , published by Princeton University Press, Dr. Andrew Porwancher looks at Hamilton鈥檚 origins and determines that he was in all likelihood born and raised Jewish. Porwancher served as a senior research fellow at the , and traveled to the Caribbean, where Hamilton was born. There he discovered a selection of archives that sent him on a globetrotting journey to discover the true roots of one of America鈥檚 leading Founding Fathers.
鈥淭his research would not have been possible without the support of the Straus Center,鈥 says Dr. Porwancher. 鈥淚 hope that readers can now see with fresh eyes not only Hamilton鈥檚 origin story but also his significant contributions to Jewish life in the early years of the American republic.鈥
The book has been a long time in the making. In 2016, Dr. Porwancher presented some of his early findings with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, Straus Center director ,as part of the Early America and the Jews lecture series. This included evidence that, in all likelihood, Hamilton鈥檚 mother converted to Judaism before he was born. Unlike most scholars and historians, he also does not dismiss the fact that Hamilton attended a Jewish school in the area. 鈥淓ither I鈥檓 crazy, or I鈥檓 a lone voice of sanity,鈥 he told at the time, referring to his digression from historical consensus.
Press for the book so far includes interviews with Justin Fox at and , a story on and an excerpt in the that highlights Hamilton鈥檚 passionate and zealous court defense of the Jewish people. 鈥淥ur friend Hamilton never appeared to have his passions so warmly engaged in any cause,鈥 opposing counsel Robert Troup wrote in a letter describing Hamilton鈥檚 speech.
鈥淭his book is a fascinating and incredibly important work of scholarship,鈥 says Rabbi Soloveichik. 鈥淚t uncovers incredible details about the life of an American founder and the Jewish story in North America, and it eloquently illustrates how the latter impacted the former.鈥
The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton is available wherever books are sold. You can learn more about the Straus Center by signing up for our newsletter . Be sure to also like us on , follow us on and and connect with us on .
The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton by Andrew Porwancher
