Posted on 07/04/2007 8:16:03 AM PDT by wagglebee
In 1975 the United States Postal Service issued a stamp honoring a man named Haym Salomon for his contribution to the cause of the American Revolution. This stamp was uniquely printed on the front and the back. On the glue side of the stamp, the following words were printed in pale, green ink: "Financial Hero – Businessman and broker Haym Salomon was responsible for raising most of the money needed to finance the American Revolution and later to save the new nation from collapse." I personally have one of these stamps. Historians who have studied the story of Salomon all agree that without his "contribution to the cause" there would be no America today.
Haym Salomon bought and sold financial papers to raise money for Robert Morris who was the superintendent of finance for the Continental Congress. He believed that America would be a safe haven for the Jews. But this son of a rabbi also believed that one day in the future, Jerusalem would rise from the dust, the Jews would return to their ancient homeland, and Israel and Jerusalem would once again be the home of the wandering Jew. Salomon determined to do all he could to finance the Revolution so America could survive until that future time when his people would once again fill the streets of Jerusalem.
From one crisis to the next, Robert Morris went to Haym Salomon for help, and Salomon always responded. Salomon gave his entire personal fortune of over $800,000 to the cause of the Revolution. This debt was never repaid. He died sick and penniless at the age of 45, Jan. 6, 1785, leaving behind a young widow, Rachel, and four children all under the age of 7.
Rachel tried for months after Haym's death to collect on personal loans that he had made to Morris, to the Congress and others. She was requested to turn all her securities and certificates over to the state treasurer of Pennsylvania for evaluation. After several months, she made further inquiries and was informed that all of the papers relating to her inheritance had been lost.
Haym Salomon was buried in Mikveh Israel Cemetery in Philadelphia in a grave that is now unmarked. Since we don't know which his grave is, we cannot even pay our respects at his graveside nor erect a marker.
But the story of Haym Salomon doesn't end with an unmarked grave. There is a plaque on a brick wall bordering the cemetery that was placed by Haym's great-grandson, William Salomon, in 1917. It says, "To the Memory of Haym Salomon … interred in this Cemetery the location of the grave being now unknown. …"
Was it just a coincidence that the year this plaque was erected was the same year of the Balfour Declaration issued by the British, which begins, "His majesty's Government views with favor the establishing in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people"?
Was it just a coincidence that in 1975 when the Postal Service issued the stamp honoring Haym Salomon, that same year the Israeli government issued a stamp honoring Harry Truman, the American president who was the first head of state to recognize Israel?
As Salomon believed, America has been that save haven for the Jewish people, and Israel has been reborn. As we celebrate America, may we remember the great debt we owe to Haym Salomon. While we may not be able to repay him personally, we can honor him by standing firm in our support and prayers for a strong and secure Israel and a united Jerusalem under the rule of Haym's Salomon's spiritual descendants, the Jewish people.
Happy Fourth of July!
Little could he have imagined that just over two centuries later, the left would place both at risk.
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Haym Salomon: American Hero
thank you very much for posting this
i have never heard of this
Interesting historical piece, thank you. Just goes to show the strength of the Christian-Judeo tradition in the great American concept of Democracy. Something to which islam is totally alien and can lay no claim.
This is an interesting story. Too bad it’s not more widely known.
Thank You for the very interesting & historic post of information!
Now all we have to do is remind those Americans of present day Jewish Faith of their roots & backrounds- and get them all to STOP supporting those (Demo-Rats) who are TRAITORS to the America of Today!-and maybe then those who are Jewish can Fully Honor too their Jewish ancestors who contributed, fought & died for the Independence of this Great Nations we all live in today by once aagin being true Patriots.
Darth AirBorne
I told a leftist the battle of Gettysburg happened during the Independance Day week. He asked if that was the Revolutionary War or the Civil War.
Happy Independance Day.
“In 1772 there arrived in New York from Lissa, in Poland, an unobtrusive, thoughtful man named Haym Salomon. His throve on Manhattan and build up a quietly solid reputation as a broker whose word was never called in question, whose paper was always good. When Washington evacuated New York in 1776, Salomon stayed on, and people who envied him muttered back of their hands and it was quite in character, that to him money was money and there was an end of it. When Salomon was suddenly arrested by the British on a charge of spying, held in close confinement, and then grudgingly released, it led to talk of a bribery, of money passed in high British circles. The year 1778 again found Salomon in jail, but this time hints of golden keys to jail doors died as a court martial pronounced the death sentence on him, once again for spying for the Americans.
“Somehow Salomon managed to escape, fled to Philadelphia, and quietly resuming his brokerage business, rapidly recouped his fortunes. Many people were surprised when inquiries from members of Congress brought a quick, unstinting response from the Salomon coffers and sound money flowed out in time of great need. Individuals in tight places sought him out and were given relief, and the Salomon ledgers carried the names of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Thomas Randolph. Never showy , Haym built a reputation for deep integrity as well as financial shrewdness. When Dutch and French subsidies began to flow into America, the passed through Salomon’s hands, and he was also formally appointed paymaster to Rochambeau’s French expeditionary force in 1781. “
From the American Heritage History of the American Revolution, page 272
Many do, and are. .....and many of 'em post regularly right here on FR.
I remember teaching this to my daughter when she was around the 3rd grade level (homeschool). It was a rather elderly grade school textbook, Great Names In American History (1965). HS got his own chapter as did Adams, Paine, and other famous patriots.
That was five years ago, I just asked her if she remembers him, and yes she does! :)
[As Salomon believed, America has been that save haven for the Jewish people, and Israel has been reborn.]
Yes indeed, the nation Israel was reborn in a day as the old testament prophets speaking under the movement of the Holy Spirit of God and His Christ foretold. He knew the old testament prophecies of the LORD God of Israel for Israel and the body of Christ and we are in the latter days of the church age as the scriptures teach.
Happy July 4th America and may the good Lord bless us and Israel as we move toward the 1000 year rule of Jesus Christ on the earth.
Ping for an unsung hero...
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Would this be as notable if the person was a Christian? No, of course not, so why is the man’s religion of interest?
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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What is taught today in government schools is that the Revolution was fought so that wealthy, white, Christian landowners and powerful merchants could have more money and power. This demonstrates how this is not the whole truth.
actually, many discussions about the founders discuss the fact that they were “deists,” whatever that means, even when they weren’t, to attempt to downplay the Judeo-Christian heritage of the American founding.
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