Lincoln & the Jews

February 27, 2009
Rabbi Seymour Rossel

      Though it may seem unfair, leaders must be held to a higher standard. A little mistake for an average person is not little when made by a leader. When leaders make small mistakes, the results can be disastrous.

      Very early in the Civil War, Lincoln mistakenly believed that the people of the South had no heart for prolonged conflict. He pressed General McDowell to attack before the South was ready for a real fight. The general protested that his own troops were not yet ready, but Lincoln insisted. The result was the battle of First Bull Run: 460 Northern troops killed, nearly 1,500 wounded. Lincoln knew he was responsible. He ached with his responsibility.

      The higher standard came into play twice between Lincoln and the Jews. At the very beginning of his presidency, he cited "Intelligence, patriotism, [and] Christianity" as the best way to cope with the national crisis. Jews responded in editorials and protests against the word "Christianity" which excluded them. It was a minor slip, but the kind of thing Jews recognize as problematic.

      Again, in 1862, Lincoln issued a "General Order Respecting the Observation of the Sabbath Day in the Army and Navy," announcing that

The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiments of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine will demand that Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity.

      The Jewish community was again quick to react. One Jewish father whose son was serving wrote that "thousands in the army who celebrate another day as Sunday should be allowed to celebrate that day which they think is the right day according to their own consciences."

      Generally, Lincoln was sensitive to all Americans. But the issue of Jewish civil rights for Jewish Americans arose twice in more major ways.

      In 1861, Simon Cameron, the Secretary of War, refused to appoint Rabbi Arnold Fischel as Chaplain of a New York regiment mainly comprised of Jewish soldiers. Cameron said the rabbi was ineligible since the Act of Congress approved by the President provided that "chaplains must be regular ordained ministers of some Christian denomination."

      There was immediate reaction from the Jewish community. Among the most outspoken was Lewis N. Dembitz of Louisville, Kentucky, uncle of the later-famous Louis Brandeis. Dembitz had supported Lincoln's nomination for President in 1860. Now he and dozens of other influential Jewish figures demanded that Congress amend the Act to respect the constitutional rights of Jews, even as "the bones of many of our brethren in faith are now moldering on the banks of the Potomac."

      Congress was petitioned by the Board of Delegates of American Israelites who pointed out that the existing Act was "prejudicial discrimination against a patriotic class of citizens on account of their religious belief." Rabbi Fischel himself was unable to get an appointment to see Lincoln, but he received a letter from the President. Lincoln promised to recommend to Congress the drafting of "a new law broad enough to cover what is desired by you in behalf of the Israelites."

      In the end, Congress amended the Act instructing the army to employ chaplains, "one or more of which shall be of the Catholic, Protestant or Jewish religion!" Lincoln almost immediately responded by appointing several rabbis as army chaplains.

      But nothing compared to what happened in 1862 when General Grant's army controlled the territory south of Jackson, Tennessee. Grant first ordered his generals that no passes be issued for passage into his army's territory, adding "the Israelites especially should be kept out." He then issued orders referring to the Jews as "an intolerable nuisance" and sent a report to the War Department stating that "the Jews roam through the country contrary to the government regulations."

      On December 17, he issued General Order #11 expelling all Jews "from his Department within 24 hours." The immediate reaction was centered in Paducah and Cincinnati, both close by Grant's field of operations. From Cincinnati, Rabbi Isaac Meyer Wise, founder of the Reform movement, wrote an open letter saying that Lincoln must repeal Grant's order since "the President had an oath registered in Heaven to enforce the laws." In Paducah the Jews wrote a letter directly to Lincoln citing their long-standing loyalty and deploring Grant's action against the Jewish people. Voices were soon raised by Jews throughout the North.

      The Jews of Paducah sent Caesar Kaskel to Washington where he was joined by Representative Gurley of Ohio. Together they reached the White House at dusk. They announced their presence with an apology for calling at such an hour, but the President sent word that he was "always glad to see his friends."

      Lincoln listened to their complaint, then responded in his way, saying, "And so the children of Israel were driven from the happy land of Canaan?"

      Kaskel answered, "Yes. That is why we have come unto Father Abraham's bosom, asking protection."

      Lincoln responded: "And this protection they shall have at once."

      The President immediately penned a note to General Halleck and handed it to Kaskel.

      Kaskel carried it to General Halleck, who read it and said, "You may leave for home at once if you wish, and before you reach there, Grant's order will have been revoked."

      It actually took two weeks before Halleck wrote to Grant, saying, "The President has no objection to your expelling traitors and Jew peddlers which I suppose was the object of your order, but as it in terms proscribed an entire religious class, some of whom are fighting in our ranks, the President deems it necessary to revoke it."

      In the meanwhile, Wise and a few others reached Washington, where they learned that Lincoln had already revoked Grant's order. They decided to meet with the president to express appreciation for his quick action. Lincoln told them that when he learned of the order, he was surprised that it had ever been issued. Thus, Rabbi Wise later wrote, "the President fully convinced us that he knows of no distinction between Jews and Gentiles...." Wise also noted that Lincoln "spoke like a simple, plain citizen."

      General Order #11 remained a blotch on Grant's reputation for many years. Grant never again mentioned this mistake. He left it out of his autobiography and his son, when asked what Grant thought of the outcry against General Order #11, said his father had chosen never to speak of the matter and that was good enough for him.

      Leaders need to take special caution in their words and in their actions. But being human, they make mistakes. Thank God, the system is always larger than its leaders. Thank God, leaders often rise above their prejudices and grasp the meaning of equality under law. And, thank God, we live in this country in this day and age when the possibility of respect is most often respected. And let us say, Amen.