As we celebrate America's 250th Birthday, May is also Jewish American Heritage Month and The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History has a new exhibition that tells a little-known, high-stakes story set on a Caribbean island during the Revolutionary War.
"It tells the largely overlooked story of Jewish contribution and involvement in the American Revolution, both here in America and on a small Caribbean island called St. Eustatius," says Dan Tadmor, President and CEO of"What we call 'The First Salute' actually happened by cannons talking to each other," says Dr. Josh Perelman, curator of "The First Salute" and senior advisor for content and strategy at The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
"When a ship called the Andrew Doria sailed into St. Eustatius Harbor. " The Continental Navy ship fired a 13-gun salute and the Dutch island responded with a traditional welcome. "The Jews on St. Eustatius really participated in what was a throughway of gunpowder, munitions and other supplies from European allies," says Perelman. With no promise the Revolution would succeed, he says "these people put their lives and livelihoods at risk.
""The exhibition includes truly remarkable historic documents, three major films," says Perelman. "And this is the first time that this is ever in the U.S.," says Tadmor. There are also objects on view that Perelman says, "tell us stories about Philadelphia that I think most people never knew.
""I hope the visitors will enter the exhibition with curiosity," says Perelman. "And I hope that during their visit they will discover something new about the Revolutionary era. " Perelman says the exhibition is also a reminder that "our nation was created by a diverse community of people, all in service of creating a better world.
" "The First Salute: An Untold Story of the American Revolution" is on view through April of 2027 at The Weitzman, and it doesTeen on e‑scooter hospitalized after collision in Summerdale: Police
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