On the way to his inauguration, Abraham Lincoln described America in a way that no one else had before—as “an almost chosen people.” Understanding this marvelous phrase allows us to better understand the nature of Lincoln's relationship with the Jews, and his philosophical and religious understanding of America itself.

On the way to his inauguration, Abraham Lincoln described America in a way that no one else had before—as “an almost chosen people.” Understanding this marvelous phrase allows us to better understand the nature of Lincoln's relationship with the Jews, and his philosophical and religious understanding of America itself.