00„ Buy 1 pound of Our Famous Of course, local records still denominat- ed Levy as "a Jew," ensuring that this char- acteristic would define him. Nevertheless, he enjoyed considerable success as a butcher — 'excused from killing hogs, as his religion does not allow him to do it" — merchant and real estate entrepreneur. Among the Jews who HAN D. SARNA immigrated to New Amsterdam in 1654, In his new book, Levy was the only one `American Judaism," who stayed, maintain- author Jonathan Sarna ing a home in the city chronicles the 350-year until his death in 1682. history of the Jewish For long, lonely religion in America. stretches as Dutch rule waned and the rest of just prior the Jews departed for colonies with - to the refugees from Recife, to seek his more sun and promise, Levy's was the fortune. In 1656, Pietersen became only Jewish family in town. The the first known Jew on American soil inventory of his estate suggests that he to marry a Christian. resolutely observed at least the princi- While it's not clear that he personally pal rituals of his faith, including the converted, the daughter that resulted Sabbath and Jewish dietary laws, with- from the marriage, named Anna, was in the precincts of his home. baptized in childhood. Like the descen- Levy's life epitomized both the hard- dants of many subsequent Jewish immi- ships entailed in being a Jew in early grants to America's shores-, she vanished colonial America and the possibilities into the Protestant mainstream. of surmounting them. Asser Levy stood at the opposite end Over the next 3 1/2 centuries, mil- of the spectrum. An Ashkenazi Jew lions more Jews crossed the ocean to from Vilnius who briefly had sojourned America. Like New Amsterdam's first in Amsterdam and perhaps Brazil, he Jews, a large number came as refugees arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654 seeking a new home. totally impoverished but deeply com- They also faced the same central chal- mitted to maintaining his Jewish faith. lenge that New Amsterdam's Jews did: In 1655, he protested when to preserve Judaism in the face of pres- Stuyvesant and local officials required sures to assimilate. Even religious liberty Jewish males ages 16 to 60 to pay a was not something that they could ever special tax in lieu of guard duty. take for granted. They remained ever Stuyvesant had cited "the disinclina- vigilant, perennially concerned lest their tion and unwillingness" of local resi- hard-won freedoms be lost. dents to serve as "fellow-soldiers" with To look back upon this history in the Jewish "nation," and "to be on this anniversary year is to recall the guard with them in the same guard- theme of human potential, the ability house." Levy insisted, however, that as of American Jews — young and old, a manual laborer he should be able to men and women alike — to change stand guard like everybody else. the course of history and transform a Initially thwarted, Levy succeeded piece of the world. within two years in standing "watch American Jewish history, properly and ward like other Burghers." studied, is not just a record of events; Thereupon he promptly petitioned for it is the story of how people shaped burgher rights, or citizenship. Again he events — establishing and maintaining was thwarted, but backed by wealthier Jewish merchants who had emigrated communities, responding to chal- lenges, working for change. months before from Amsterdam and That, perhaps, is the greatest lesson recalled the promises made to them that 350 years of American Jewish life by "the Worshipful Lords" of the teaches, the lesson that we too can Dutch West India Company, the make a difference, that the future is decision was reversed and Jews' rights ours to create. to "burghership" were guaranteed. AME RICAN JUDAISM ❑ Corned Beef itt Get All This For FREE! 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