Announcing an exclusive screening of "To Bigotry No Sanction"

To Bigotry No Sanction is based on George Washington’s 1790 Letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island. This historic musical event includes a performance of the cantata featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and a multicultural choir representing 17 languages, a reading by “George Washington,” and a conversation following the performance.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI) will present a free, virtual performance of To Bigotry No Sanction, a new cantata by composer Jonathan Comisar, on June 2, 2021, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The program includes an exclusive screening of the cantata, featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and a multicultural choir representing 17 languages, conducted by Kensho Watanabe, former assistant conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The performance was previously recorded in the magnificent setting of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. All are welcome to watch on Vimeo.com at: bit.ly/ki-tbns. Learn more about the cantata and see the list of national partners at https://www.kenesethisrael.org/event/cantata/.

Commissioned by KI Cantor Amy Levy and produced by KI Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, PhD, an eminent professor of American Jewish history, this important new musical work is based on George Washington’s historic Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, sent on August 21, 1790. Reiterating the famous words that the congregational leader, Moses Seixas, had previously written to Washington, the President declared, “For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance…”

Comisar’s stunning cantata embodies touchstones of Jewish and American music in an orchestral/choral setting. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer Ron Chernow, author of Washington: A Life, wrote to Comisar:

“I love the way that the music starts out by evoking ancient Jewish sadness only to erupt into the excitement of fife and drums in the new American setting brought about by the Constitution. You save your most momentous music for Washington's most profound words---to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance---and you invest them with all the weight and majesty they deserve.”

The June 2 program includes an introduction to the performance that includes “George Washington”—as portrayed by Cheltenham Township resident and interpretive actor Dean Malissa—reading excerpts of the historic letter that is considered to be the foundation of the American Jewish experience. In his letter, Washington also quotes the Hebrew Bible, writing, “every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid”—a phrase interpreted beautifully by Comisar in To Bigotry No Sanction. Washington’s original letter is periodically on display at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Recognizing the dichotomy of Washington’s words and deeds towards colonial Jews and his own slaves, the performance is followed by a conversation with Jonathan Comisar and Rabbi Sussman, moderated by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Sam Katz of History Making Productions, who produced the recording of the music and the Washington segments.

Rabbi Sussman observed, “Washington’s letter is the most important document in American Jewish history. At this pivotal point in American history, our hope is that Jonathan Comisar’s compelling musical work will inspire people to revisit Washington’s words to the Jews of Newport. Our first President, though flawed and human, planted the seed of hope that the new nation would (eventually) grant all of its citizens respect and equality, without regard to their beliefs and backgrounds.”

ABOUT JONATHAN COMISAR

Jonathan Comisar's eclectic music background includes Eastman School of Music (pre-college), Oberlin Conservatory (piano) and composition with Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Del Tredici. He completed his Masters in classical composition at the Manhattan School of Music under the mentorship of composers Richard Danielpour and Reiko Feuting. Comisar is an ordained Cantor with a Master’s in Sacred Music from the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music and served the Community Synagogue in Rye, NY with distinction from 2000-08. He has received numerous commissions and artist residencies from synagogues and Jewish organizations, including Temple Emanu-El of NYC, Central Synagogue (NYC), Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco), and Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (Philadelphia). The American Conference of Cantors commissioned Comisar to write a choral work for their 60th Anniversary, premiering it at the URJ Biennial in 2013. Learn more at jonathancomisar.net.

ABOUT REFORM CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI) is the sixth oldest Reform Jewish synagogue in the United States. Founded in Philadelphia in 1847, it built its first large synagogue on North Broad Street in 1891 and by 1900 was one of the nation’s largest Reform congregations. In 1956 KI built its present structure in suburban Elkins Park, due north of the city. Under the leadership of only its eighth rabbi in its 174-year history, Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, PhD, KI is a vibrant, inclusive, and caring synagogue community that offers a liberal interpretation of the Jewish tradition while remaining respectful of the tradition. KI seeks to understand and meet the unique needs and interests of every person and each family with meaningful worship experiences, transformational life-long Jewish learning, enduring ties to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide, enriching first-class cultural opportunities, and significant paths to “repair the world” through deeds of social justice. Learn more at kenesethisrael.org.