Following the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations, newly surfaced letters and photographs drawn from American presidential archives have brought to light a largely overlooked diplomatic chapter: for nearly seven decades, Israel's Chief Rabbis maintained direct channels of engagement with successive US presidents. The materials, presented publicly for the first time, reveal how religious leadership and statecraft intertwined at critical junctures in the history of both nations.
Among the most significant items is a brief 1947 letter dispatched from the office of then-Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog – the grandfather of Israeli President Isaac Herzog – to President Harry S. Truman. The document records that "a telegram expressing appreciation for the President's efforts on behalf of the Jewish people has been forwarded to the State Department," offering a rare window into the fraught diplomatic atmosphere surrounding the November 29, 1947, UN vote and Israel's march toward international recognition.
A second handwritten letter, dated 1941, sheds light on Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog's earlier bid to enlist President Franklin D. Roosevelt in efforts to aid European Jews during the Holocaust. In the letter that predated their meeting, Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog wrote: "I have been here on a religious mission since the end of January… Before returning to the Holy Land, I would very much wish to convey the 'Blessing of Zion' to the supreme leader of this great and noble nation, on behalf of the Jewish community in the land of the Patriarchs and Prophets and on behalf of the Jewish people as a whole."
The bulk of the materials was assembled from US presidential libraries in Washington through an extensive research initiative carried out by the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP). It identified a near-continuous and previously undocumented record of the Chief Rabbinate's engagement with US presidents, spanning from 1924 to 1992.
On display are a rare 1924 photograph from Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's visit to Philadelphia, featuring both the American and Israeli flags, the 1947 letter of appreciation from President Truman, and exclusive Oval Office photographs from the 1992 meeting between Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira and President George H.W. Bush.
The exhibition, inaugurated at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, is slated to travel to additional venues in both Jerusalem and Washington. "As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we felt it was the perfect moment to also recognize a century of visits by Israel's Chief Rabbis to the White House – a remarkable tradition that reflects the enduring friendship between our two nations," Chaim Silberstein, founder of JCAP, said. "Our mission is to advance the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Jerusalem, and that includes preserving and highlighting the history of faith-based diplomacy that originated in Jerusalem and has helped strengthen the bond between Israel and its first and closest ally, the United States. This exhibit is a celebration of the shared values, common vision, and enduring spirit that have united our countries for generations.
"The materials reveal that the partnership between Israel and the United States is not a recent phenomenon," Silberstein emphasized. "The US has long been a partner in pivotal moments in the history of Zionism. The contribution of Israel's Chief Rabbis – who understood their role at critical junctures, particularly in shaping relations with US Presidents – is clearly reflected between the lines and in the images."
Standing in for the ambassador, who had returned urgently to Washington, Acting US Ambassador David Brownstein told attendees: "It was an honor to share the day with President Isaac Herzog, the Chief Rabbi, JCAP leadership, and other distinguished guests, celebrating the deep spiritual and historic ties between our two countries – ties that have made this more than an alliance, but an unprecedented friendship. We look forward to building the promise of the next 100 years on the foundation of the past 100 years."
President Isaac Herzog concluded: "I believe that both peoples – in Israel and in the United States – draw from the same wellsprings: the wellsprings of the Bible. These shared values have been passed down through generations, fostering a deep connection to Israel among people of faith and leaders of faith alike."
