History As It Happens

The Rabbis Who Prayed For Democracy


Listen Later

Did you know that since 1860 more than 400 rabbis have delivered the opening prayer or blessing that starts each day of Congress? In a nation founded upon religious toleration, articulated in George Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport in 1790, some remarkable rabbis have prayed at the very center of American democracy. We now know more about this overlooked slice of history because of Howard Mortman, the communications director at C-SPAN. His first book, "When Rabbis Bless Congress," documents the life and times of Jewish leaders who left their mark on the U.S. Capitol.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

History As It HappensBy Martin Di Caro

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

62 ratings


More shows like History As It Happens

View all
Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Political Gabfest

8,474 Listeners

We the People by National Constitution Center

We the People

1,110 Listeners

Lectures in History by C-SPAN

Lectures in History

743 Listeners

The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

The Lawfare Podcast

6,304 Listeners

The President’s Inbox by Council on Foreign Relations

The President’s Inbox

724 Listeners

The Good Fight by Yascha Mounk

The Good Fight

907 Listeners

The Atlantic Interview by The Atlantic

The Atlantic Interview

14 Listeners

Uncommon Knowledge by Hoover Institution

Uncommon Knowledge

2,039 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

7,244 Listeners

What Next | Daily News and Analysis by Slate Podcasts

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

2,405 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,525 Listeners

Booknotes+ by C-SPAN

Booknotes+

208 Listeners

For the Ages: A History Podcast by The New York Historical

For the Ages: A History Podcast

385 Listeners

Shield of the Republic by The Bulwark

Shield of the Republic

500 Listeners

The Foreign Affairs Interview by Foreign Affairs Magazine

The Foreign Affairs Interview

496 Listeners