Hebrew Religious Spirit Reborn in American Colonies, Neumann Says

There might never have been an American Revolution had not the Puritans sought to re-establish here the Biblical Commonwealth of the Hebrews, Prof. Abraham A. Neumann of Dropsie College declared last night at the Jewish Theological Seminary Institute of Bible Study.

Speaking on “The Relation of the Hebrew Scriptures to American Institutions,” Dr. Neumann said that the Puritans “identified themselves with the Chosen People of the Book,” christening their children with Biblical names and relating events of their life in Bible episodes.

“The heroes of the Old Testament were the models of heroism to be emulated,” he said. “Tyrants were Pharaohs. Tyranny was Egyptian bondage. Revolutionary leaders were likened to Moses and Joshua.”