The Exodus in the Eyes Of America

The ancient Jewish Exodus from Egypt began the formative nation-building epoch of the Jewish people. The experience is so renowned that it continues to reverberate in freedom struggles across the globe. Long before the colonies united to form the United States of America, and ever since, the Exodus story has been a touchstone for American intellectual, religious and social thought, influencing everything from the White House to best-selling books, the fight for the abolition of slavery to the filming of Hollywood mega-hits.

Big Ideas

• Reflecting on the Jewish journey from slavery to freedom has impacted life in America from the days of Christopher Columbus forward.
• Diverse leaders for different causes – such as Thomas Jefferson and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., saw the Torah’s seminal journey as analogous to their own national struggles.
• The central ideas of the ancient Exodus continue to resonate in American culture, politics and entertainment.

Essential Questions

• What inspirational role did the Exodus play in the founding and evolution of the United States?
• Why did the Exodus story resonate so strongly with American leaders at critical points in the nation’s history?
• How might Americans and their leaders continue to see the Exodus narrative as a guiding spirit for their journey?