Was Hamilton actually Jewish? | Unpacked

Was Alexander Hamilton a member of the tribe? Even though it’s not easy finding hard, cold evidence that Hamilton was one of the Chosen People, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a very real possibility.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:41 Alexander Hamilton's mother Rachel Faucette
01:20 Clues indicating Lavian was Jewish
02:20 History of Levitic names
02:32 Marriage of Rachel and Johann Lavian
02:51 Relationship of Rachel and James Hamilton
03:18 Why did Alexander Hamilton go to a Jewish school?
04:06 Jewish-Christian relations in the Colonial Period
04:34 Hamilton's Christian and Jewish identities
06:10 Was Alexander Hamilton Jewish?
06:52 Outro

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About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion.

Understand Jewish holidays, Israeli politics, Jewish diasporic communities, and more. Learn about Judaism in pop culture, debunking myths about Jews, and explore obscure Israeli landmarks. We’re asking questions as basic as “What is the Talmud?”, and as obscure as “How did hip-hop boost Kosher wine sales?”, and everything in between.

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#Hamilton #Jewish #Explainers

[kennethtarlow]

It seems to me it is more important to live as a Jew, rather than to be thought of as a Jew

[mauricecohen]

I don't understand why Haim Solomon is not given a greater place in American history. He arranged the financing of the American revolution. The revolution would never have succeeded without his great skills. He died penniless.

[asd]

It is disappointing that you did mention the behavior of Hamilton’s brother, who traveled back to the Caribbean from the North American mainland to be baptized. He evidently did so to hide his conversion to Christianity.

[felixbuchiokonkwo]

the more i read about Jews, their persecution, their resilience, state of Israel and Jewish successes, i feel pains for the the suffering they went through due to ignorance, happy for the success they have achieved. what reason has the world to hate Jews?

[JosesRants]

Hayim Solomon funded the Revolutionary war was never paid back and died poor. There is a plaque to him in Philadelphia.

[stephenmoch]

Sorry to dispute one fact. St. Croix does have an old Jewish Cemetery going back the the 1780's.

[LlyleHunter]

WC Fields was a notorious atheist for his entire adult life. He was visited on his deathbed by his good friend actor Ed Wynn who saw that WC Fields was reading a Bible. He questioned why he of all people would be reading the Bible to which WC Fields responded “I was looking for loopholes!”

[jessicafournerat]

Alexander Hamilton. Hey George I am actually Jewish. My mom converted to Judaism before I was born. George Washington. It is perfectly fine if you continue to follow your Jewish beliefs. You are a revolutionary Patriot just like the rest of us and it does not matter whether you are Jewish or not. Alexander Hamilton. Thank you George. George Washington. You are welcome Alexander.

[gerberjoanne]

Actually, then, Hamilton was not of Jewish descent or even partial Jewish descent. His actual father was a Christian, and his mother a convert. If her conversion for the sake of marriage was not considered valid under Jewish law, then she really wasn't a Jew, either; and it is unlikely that she was a practicing Jew while having a relationship with James Hamilton. So Alexander Hamilton's Jewish identity is thin, at best, even though he did go to a Jewish school for a while.

[ddburrows]

I’ve heard that Elvis Presley’s mother’s lineage was Jewish. Also, Isaac Newton is thought to have studied Judaism and followed the Noachide Laws. Just sayin”.

[rareword]

As a child, Hamilton fell off a roof where he was fiddling with the shingles.

[nateherman]

The one I want to know about is Ben Franklin.

[MrBoazhorribilis]

He was definitely more inclined to relate to Judaism than to other religions. Does not make him a Jew but it does say a lot about his character and who he was as a human being. He is my favorite founding father.

[lightorluzlightorluz]

WE NEED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PLACED EVERYWHERE TO REMIND EVERYBODY HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS, HOW BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEINGS ARE!

[bmurkoff]

Jewish law strictly forbids conversion for the purpose of marriage, and any such conversion would be deemed invalid, just to add complications to this subject

[JaredKaiser]

you should do a video about the roots of Benjamin Disraeli

[alanle]

Never knew that Alexander Hamilton perhaps the most academically gifted of the very great forefather's, attended a Talmudic school! Attending a Talmudic school is rare today for most Jews. Anyone who has attended one and mastered the basics of Talmud would likely be greatly influenced for the remainder of his life.

[IdkJustCookingDude]

The strongest supporter of a central bank of all our nation's forefathers? Yeah, that sounds about right

[YonieZukowsky]

I understand that he had a Jewish teacher who taught him Hebrew and that he knew the Ten Commandments by heart in Hebrew.

[FutureofGoodnessKindness]

Jews came to America for freedom of religion, something the founding fathers related to very much.
I think it's important though not to get carried away, because the real problem of definitively claiming Hamilton's Judaism, has the most to do with the credibility of his mothers conversion.
Now conversion papers are usually found at the local rabbinical council.
Good luck finding those records.