"...for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye." Zechariah 2:8
"On August 2, 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella issued an expulsion order aimed at the Jewish conversos--those who had converted to Christianity under duress. It read in part:
"Whereas, having been informed that in these kingdoms, there were some bad Christians who Judaized and apostatized from our holy Catholic faith, the chief cause of which was the communication of Jews with Christians...we ordered the said Jews in all, cities, towns, and places in our kingdoms and dominions to separate into Jewries [ghettos] and place apart...hoping by their separation alone to remedy this evil...But we are informed that neither that, nor the execution of some of the said Jews...has been sufficient for a complete remedy...Therefore we...resolve to order all the said Jews and Jewesses to quit our kingdoms and never return...by the end of the month of July next, of the present year 1492...if they do not perform and execute the same, and are found to reside in out kingdoms...they incur the penalty of death.
"The following day, August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus, who is thought to have been of Jewish descent, set sail on a voyage of discovery. Contrary to popular belief, his voyage was not funded by the sale of royal jewels, but by two Jewish conversos, both businessmen and members of the royal court. the major financiers were two court envoys, Louis de Santangel, chancellor of the royal household, and Gabriel Sanchez, treasurer of Aragon.
"Can you not see God's hand at work in this enterprise? Just as the Jews of Spain were being expunged from the country, God planted a seed in the heart of an explorer who yearned to find new lands. The voyage eventually led to the shores of the North American continent and the place that would become a refuge for millions of Jews over the centuries--the United States of America. God was preparing a sanctuary for His Chosen People.
"...Within a century of having expelled the Jews from Spain, the country was bankrupt...
"Can you not see God's hand at work in this enterprise? Just as the Jews of Spain were being expunged from the country, God planted a seed in the heart of an explorer who yearned to find new lands. The voyage eventually led to the shores of the North American continent and the place that would become a refuge for millions of Jews over the centuries--the United States of America. God was preparing a sanctuary for His Chosen People.
"...Within a century of having expelled the Jews from Spain, the country was bankrupt...
We read on regarding the American Revolution...
"Coolidge also recounted the story of Haym Salomon, Polish Jew financier of the Revolution:
"Born in Poland, he was made prisoner by the British forces in New York, and when he escaped set up business in Philadelphia. He negotiated for Robert Morris [the superintendent for finance in the Thirteen Colonies] all the loans raised in France and Holland, pledged his personal faith and fortune for enormous amounts, and personally advanced large sums to such men as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Baron Steuben, General St. Clair and many other patriot leaders, who testified that without his aid they could not have carried on in the cause.
"Near the beginning of the Revolution, when colonial soldiers were poorly armed, starving to death, and on the verge of defeat, Salomon went to other Jews in America and Europe and gathered a gift of one million dollars (an incredible amount at that time). He sent the funds to General George Washington, who used them to buy clothes and arms to outfit the American troops, an act that ultimately helped the Colonies win the war. Salomon pledged his personal fortune. It is said that altogether, Salomon gifted the Continental Army with $25 million dollars and later died a pauper. Neither he nor his heirs ever collected a dime of what was due from the Government. He never even received a medal for his services...
"In addition to his gifts, Salomon loaned the US government at least another $800,000. It has been calculated that were his loan to be repaid today at 7 percent interest, the amount owed the Salomon family would equal at least $2.5 trillion.
"To show his appreciation, Washington instructed the engravers of the US one-dollar bill to include a memorial to the Jewish people over the head of the American eagle. It is still there today. If you look closely at the reverse side of a one-dollar bill, you will see thirteen stars over the eagle's head that form the six-pointed Star of David. Surrounding that is a cloudburst representing the glory in the tabernacle in Jerusalem. President Washington specified that this was to be a lasting memorial to he Jewish people for their help in winning the war for independence."
"In addition to his gifts, Salomon loaned the US government at least another $800,000. It has been calculated that were his loan to be repaid today at 7 percent interest, the amount owed the Salomon family would equal at least $2.5 trillion.
"To show his appreciation, Washington instructed the engravers of the US one-dollar bill to include a memorial to the Jewish people over the head of the American eagle. It is still there today. If you look closely at the reverse side of a one-dollar bill, you will see thirteen stars over the eagle's head that form the six-pointed Star of David. Surrounding that is a cloudburst representing the glory in the tabernacle in Jerusalem. President Washington specified that this was to be a lasting memorial to he Jewish people for their help in winning the war for independence."
Stand With Israel: Friends of Zion by Mike Evans, Copyright 2014 by Time Worthy Books. Quote from pages 97-102.
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