Constitution Day 2025

The Shepherd of American Courage: How King David Shaped the United States

The Hebrew Scriptures were an essential part of American political culture throughout the founding era. From pulpit to pamphlet, stories and images from the Old Testament were commonly used as the grounding arguments for the Revolution. Playing a prominent role in these discussions and debates was one of Scripture's better-known figures: King David. Specifically, David's image as a courageous fighter for freedom was regularly referenced by the founding generation of Americans.

In our 2025 Constitution Day Lecture, we welcome back Yeshiva University's Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern, to explore in detail how widely understood David was as a significant inspiration for millions of Americans. What does it mean for how we understand America today?

Lunch will be provided. 

Free copy of Stuart's new book,  Jewish Roots of American Liberty, to the first 25 registrants!

Speaker: Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern

Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern serves as the senior advisor to the provost as well as the deputy director and chief strategy officer of the Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. He has edited nineteen books, including the newly released Jewish Roots of American Liberty, Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States, Esther in America and The Promise of Liberty: A Passover Haggada. He has lectured across the US, Europe, Israel and Australia, and his writings on the Hebrew Bible’s impact on the United States have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, Newsweek, Tablet, Jewish Review of Books, First Things, and The Jerusalem Post.

Thank you to the Jack Miller Center for their generous support for Constitution Day.