"The First Salute" with Professor Laura Leibman and Dan Tadmor

Join the Weitzman National Museum for a landmark virtual series as theycommemorate 250 years of the Jewish experience in America, exploring the profound ways Jewish identity and the American story have shaped one another. Through a series of monthly conversations over the course of this year with the nation's leading historians, we will journey from the arrival of the first colonial settlers to the vibrant, diverse communities of the modern era.

On May 7, during Jewish American Heritage Month, we explore the little-known story of a small group of Jewish merchants in the Caribbean whose outsized contributions to the cause of American liberty helped tip the scales in the fight for independence.

On the lush, windswept island of St. Eustatius, Jewish merchants supplied George Washington’s army with critical contraband and became part of the first international entity to recognize the United States. Their allegiance to the American cause came at great personal cost: targeted by the British, they were stripped of their homes and wealth, torn from their families, driven into exile, and even saw their graves plundered. It is ultimately a story of how these Jews helped win the war—and helped found America.

This webinar features Professor Laura Leibman, historian and author, alongside Dan Tadmor, President and CEO of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Leibman served as a historical advisor on the Weitzman’s new exhibition, The First Salute, which brings this remarkable and often overlooked story to life for visitors at the museum on historic Independence Mall.

This is an online only event. After registering, you will receive the Zoom link via email to join the discussion on May 7. The event will be recorded and sent out to all registrants 24-48 hours after the event. Please note that by registering you will also begin to receive a weekly events email from our 70 Faces Media brands and you consent to receive emails from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Questions can be sent to events@70facesmedia.org.

To register, click here.