Parashat Chayei Sarah: Jewish Identity and & America

In the Parashat Chayei Sarah, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik explores the profound duality of Jewish identity through the lens of historical and biblical narratives. The story of Jonas Phillips, a Jewish patriot in 1787, who boldly addressed George Washington with a letter dated in both the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars, exemplifies the complex identity of Jews as both strangers and citizens. This duality is mirrored in the biblical account of Abraham, who, after Sarah's death, insists on purchasing a burial plot in Canaan, asserting his identity as both a "stranger and resident." This act symbolizes the Jewish commitment to maintaining a distinct covenantal identity while engaging with the broader society.