https://imgur.com/a/pJ2cFjB

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746549&forum_id=2)#49075088)

so having him be on jew street is actually perfect. and it's also why jews created the broadway show Hamilton to glorify him, btw

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746549&forum_id=2)#49075093)

While their mother was living, Alexander and James Jr. received individual tutoring[2] and classes in a private school led by a Jewish headmistress.[19]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746549&forum_id=2)#49075105)

The question of whether Alexander Hamilton was Jewish has been debated by historians, with Andrew Porwancher’s 2021 book, *The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton*, presenting the most prominent argument in favor. Below is a summary of the key evidence cited by Porwancher and others, alongside counterarguments and context, based on available sources.

### Evidence Supporting Hamilton’s Possible Jewish Identity

1. **Mother’s Marriage to Johann Michael Lavien**:

- Hamilton’s mother, Rachel Faucette, married Johann Michael Lavien (or Levine) in 1745 on St. Croix. Porwancher argues that Lavien was likely Jewish, as his surname (a variant of Levine) was common among Jews of Levitic descent at the time. Hamilton’s grandson referred to Lavien as a “rich Danish Jew,” which Porwancher cites as supporting evidence.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://www.yu.edu/straus/hamilton-jewish)[](https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/exploring-alexander-hamiltons-possible-jewish-roots-as-hamilton-returns-to-the-fox/)

- Danish law in the 1740s prohibited interfaith marriages between Jews and Christians without conversion. Porwancher suggests Rachel likely converted to Judaism to marry Lavien, which would make her Jewish by Jewish law (halakhically), and thus Alexander, born later, would be considered Jewish.[](https://www.yu.edu/straus/hamilton-jewish)[](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/was-alexander-hamilton-jewish-historian-explores-founding-fathers-early-life-in-new-book-676998)

2. **Attendance at a Jewish School**:

- Hamilton attended a Jewish day school in Nevis, where he learned to recite the Ten Commandments in Hebrew, as recalled by his son John. Porwancher argues that Jewish schools at the time typically educated only Jewish children due to religious and social norms, suggesting Hamilton was raised Jewish.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://thelehrhaus.com/culture/alexander-hamilton-the-jewish-founding-father/)[](https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/18/alexander-hamilton-was-raised-jewish-by-convert-mother-historian-claims/)

- The presence of a significant Jewish community in Nevis (about 25% of the free white population in Charlestown) supports the possibility of Hamilton’s exposure to Jewish education and culture.[](https://aish.com/alexander-hamilton-and-the-jews/)[](https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/exploring-alexander-hamiltons-possible-jewish-roots-as-hamilton-returns-to-the-fox/)

3. **Lack of Baptismal Records**:

- There are no records of Hamilton being baptized as a child in Nevis, despite baptism being common for Christian children, even those born out of wedlock. Porwancher notes that parish records show other illegitimate children were baptized, undermining the claim that Hamilton’s illegitimacy prevented baptism. This absence supports the idea that he was not raised Christian.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://www.yu.edu/straus/hamilton-jewish)[](https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/exploring-alexander-hamiltons-possible-jewish-roots-as-hamilton-returns-to-the-fox/)

4. **Rachel’s Burial and Continued Jewish Identity**:

- When Rachel died in 1768, she was not buried in a Christian cemetery but on her sister’s property, as there was no Jewish cemetery in St. Croix. Porwancher argues this suggests she maintained a Jewish identity after leaving Lavien.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)

- Rachel retained the surname Lavien (or Levine) until her death, which Porwancher interprets as a possible sign of her continued connection to Judaism.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/new-book-offers-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)

5. **Hamilton’s Advocacy for Jews**:

- As an adult, Hamilton had closer ties to the Jewish community than other Founding Fathers. He represented prominent Jewish clients in New York, defended Jewish witnesses in court against antisemitic attacks, and helped appoint Gershom Mendes Seixas as the first Jewish trustee of Columbia University. Porwancher argues these actions reflect a personal affinity possibly rooted in his childhood.[](https://www.jewishboston.com/read/does-alexander-hamilton-have-jewish-roots/)[](https://www.thejewishnews.com/culture/arts/alexander-hamilton-and-the-jews/article_6cbb8d0f-fa0c-5897-9367-9fca61d505de.html)[](https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/alexander-hamilton-and-his-jewish-witnesses)

- In a notable court case, Hamilton passionately defended Jewish witnesses against opposing counsel Gouverneur Morris, who claimed “Jews are not to be believed upon oath.” Hamilton’s response, decrying antisemitism and referencing Jewish history, is described as the most significant defense of Jews by any Founder.[](https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/10/how-jewish-was-alexander-hamilton-and-how-anti-semitic-were-his-contemporaries/)[](https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/alexander-hamilton-and-his-jewish-witnesses)

6. **Hamilton’s Views on Jewish Resilience**:

- Hamilton wrote about the “progress of the Jews,” noting their survival “against all odds” as evidence of a “great providential plan.” This reverence, unusual for the time, suggests a deep respect possibly influenced by early exposure to Judaism.[](https://aish.com/alexander-hamilton-and-the-jews/)[](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/alexander-hamiltons-jewish-connection)

### Counterarguments and Skepticism

1. **Lack of Definitive Records**:

- Most historians, including Ron Chernow, author of the seminal biography *Alexander Hamilton*, argue there is no conclusive evidence that Lavien was Jewish or that Rachel converted. The absence of explicit records of Rachel’s conversion or Hamilton’s Jewish practices (e.g., a bris or bar mitzvah) weakens the case.[](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/alexander-hamilton)[](https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/18/alexander-hamilton-was-raised-jewish-by-convert-mother-historian-claims/)

- Danish records do not identify Lavien as Jewish, and while Porwancher notes that Jews were rarely identified as such in these records, this lack of documentation leaves room for doubt.[](https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/18/alexander-hamilton-was-raised-jewish-by-convert-mother-historian-claims/)[](https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/exploring-alexander-hamiltons-possible-jewish-roots-as-hamilton-returns-to-the-fox/)

2. **Hamilton’s Christian Identity in Adulthood**:

- By age 17, when Hamilton arrived in New York, he identified as Christian and married Elizabeth Schuyler, a devout Christian. He received communion on his deathbed and was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery, indicating a Christian affiliation in adulthood. This suggests he either abandoned any Jewish identity or never had one.[](https://www.jewishboston.com/read/does-alexander-hamilton-have-jewish-roots/)[](https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/18/alexander-hamilton-was-raised-jewish-by-convert-mother-historian-claims/)

- Hamilton’s “lifetime of silence” about his childhood and lack of explicit references to a Jewish identity in his writings cast doubt on claims of Jewish upbringing.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)

3. **Alternative Explanations for Jewish School Attendance**:

- Some historians argue Hamilton attended a Jewish school because his illegitimacy barred him from the local Anglican school, not because he was Jewish. While Porwancher counters that Jewish schools were unlikely to admit Christian children due to religious prohibitions, this remains a point of contention.[](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/alexander-hamilton)[](https://www.thejewishnews.com/culture/arts/alexander-hamilton-and-the-jews/article_6cbb8d0f-fa0c-5897-9367-9fca61d505de.html)

4. **Speculative Nature of Evidence**:

- Much of Porwancher’s evidence is circumstantial, relying on probabilities rather than definitive proof. For example, the assumption that Rachel converted is based on Danish marriage laws and Lavien’s possible Jewish identity, but no direct record confirms this. Critics argue this creates a “probabilistic” rather than certain case.[](https://jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/339730/was-alexander-hamilton-jewish-lets-weigh-the-evidence/)[](https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/18/alexander-hamilton-was-raised-jewish-by-convert-mother-historian-claims/)

- The claim has been controversial, with some scholars rejecting it outright and others noting polarized reactions, including hate mail from those opposed to the idea of a Jewish Founding Father.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/new-book-offers-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/339730/was-alexander-hamilton-jewish-lets-weigh-the-evidence/)

5. **Historical Context of Antisemitism**:

- Some argue that applying the term “antisemitism” to Hamilton’s era is anachronistic, as prejudice against Jews was often rooted in religious or philosophical ideas rather than modern ideological hatred. This complicates interpretations of Hamilton’s defense of Jews as evidence of personal connection.[](https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/10/how-jewish-was-alexander-hamilton-and-how-anti-semitic-were-his-contemporaries/)

### Context and Broader Implications

- **Jewish Community in the Caribbean**: Nevis had a significant Jewish population (about 25% of Charlestown’s white population in the 1720s), with a synagogue and cemetery, providing a plausible environment for Hamilton’s exposure to Judaism.[](https://aish.com/alexander-hamilton-and-the-jews/)[](https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/exploring-alexander-hamiltons-possible-jewish-roots-as-hamilton-returns-to-the-fox/)

- **Hamilton’s Silence**: Hamilton’s reticence about his childhood may reflect a desire to avoid the stigma of illegitimacy or a Jewish background, which could have hindered his social and political advancement in a predominantly Christian society.[](https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/theres-evidence-that-alexander-hamilton-was-jewish/)[](https://www.yu.edu/straus/hamilton-jewish)

- **Cultural Impact**: The idea of Hamilton as Jewish has gained traction partly due to the popularity of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical *Hamilton*, which portrays him as an outsider. However, the musical does not explore Jewish connections, and some claims about Hamilton’s Jewishness have been exaggerated by non-scholarly sources, including neo-Nazi conspiracies linking him to Jewish bankers.[](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/alexander-hamiltons-jewish-connection)[](https://www.jewishberkshires.org/community-events/berkshire-jewish-voice/berkshire-jewish-voice-highlights/knosh-knowledge-returns-with)

### Conclusion

The evidence for Alexander Hamilton’s Jewish identity relies heavily on Andrew Porwancher’s interpretation of circumstantial clues: Lavien’s likely Jewish background, Rachel’s possible conversion, Hamilton’s Jewish schooling, lack of baptism, and his mother’s non-Christian burial. These points create a compelling case that Hamilton was likely born and raised Jewish until at least age 13, when his mother died. However, the lack of definitive records, his Christian identity in adulthood, and alternative explanations for his Jewish school attendance mean the claim remains speculative. Porwancher himself acknowledges the evidence is probabilistic, not certain.[](https://jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/339730/was-alexander-hamilton-jewish-lets-weigh-the-evidence/)

Hamilton’s documented advocacy for Jews and his unique ties to the Jewish community, regardless of his personal religious identity, are undisputed and set him apart from other Founding Fathers. For further reading, see Porwancher’s *The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton* (Princeton University Press, 2021). If you’d like me to dig deeper into any specific aspect or source, let me know

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746549&forum_id=2)#49075306)