The Aaron and Rita Slom Scholarship Fund For Freedom and Diversity
The Aaron and Rita Slom Scholarship Fund For Freedom and Diversity was created in March of 2003 in honor of Aaron and Rita Slom’s 50th wedding anniversary by their friends and family. Both key participants in the ongoing vitalization of Touro Synagogue, Aaron was a president in the 1960s and Rita became the first woman president in 1999. The scholarship fund honors Aaron's memory and Rita Slom's continued vision for educating future generations.
The fund will provide a minimum of two college scholarships for high school seniors. Those interested in applying must submit an interpretive written work focusing on the George Washington Letter in context with the present time. When George Washington visited Touro Synagogue in August 1790, he wrote "To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport Rhode Island" that "happily the Government of the United States…gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance…." These words have made Touro Synagogue an international symbol of religious freedom.
The presentation of the awards will take place at Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI, during the annual reading of the George Washington Letter on Sunday, August 15, 2021. Scholarship award recipients are encouraged to attend. (Subject to change with COVID-19 restrictions.)
SLOM SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS/MATERIALS ARE DUE ON APRIL 23, 2021.
Guidelines:
1. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to enroll in an institute of higher learning for a minimum of 6 credits. The institution can be public and has no geographic limitations. (You do not need to be a Rhode Island resident to apply.)
2. Entries must consist of an interpretive work focusing on the George Washington Letter in context with the present time. Written submissions such as essays, stories, or poems should be no less than 500 words and no more than 1000 words.
3. Entries will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for a presentation of ideas that is clear, articulate, and logically organized.
4. Entries must be the sole work of the entrant. This is a one-time scholarship and is non- renewable.
5. Scholarship awards will be provided directly to the award recipients upon evidence of enrollment.
6. No entrant can be a relative of a Slom Scholarship Committee member.
7. Only complete applications will be considered.
8. The Touro Synagogue Foundation must receive application materials and submitted works no later than April 23, 2021. Return completed applications and submitted work to:
Touro Synagogue Foundation
Attention: Slom Scholarship
85 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
9. Demonstration of financial need is not a factor in selecting this award. Applicants are free to apply for other financial aid. Receiving aid from other sources does not influence the award process. Awards will be made without regard to the applicant’s race, color, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, marital status, or physical disability.
10. All entries become the property of the Touro Synagogue Foundation and may be used wholly or in part as promotional material, in public relations material, or in any other manner and will not be returned.
11. Questions regarding the scholarship program can be directed online to tours@tourosynagogue.org or to the Touro Synagogue Foundation office at (401) 847-4794 x207.
Moses Seixas' Letter
from Congregation Yeshuat Israel
Sir:
Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits -- and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to Newport.
With pleasure we reflect on those days -- those days of difficulty, and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword -- shielded Your head in the day of battle: and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit, who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States.
Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People -- a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance -- but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine:
This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, doing whatever seemeth him good.
For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men beseeching him, that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised Land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life: And, when, like Joshua full of days and full of honour, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality.
Done and Signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in NewPort, Rhode Island August 17th 1790.
Moses Seixas, Warden
George Washington's Letter
to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport
Gentlemen:
While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.
The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.
If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.
The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.
May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.
G. Washington
