Two Nations Under God

“Halpern reveals a shared moral inheritance that too often goes unnoticed or, worse, is covered up by modern political actors.” —Scott Jennings, senior political commentator at CNN The story of America cannot be fully understood without the story of Israel. From the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic in search of a Promised Land to presidents, abolitionists, civil rights leaders, and countless ordinary Americans, generations have looked to the Hebrew Bible to understand their nation’s purpose. They saw their own journey reflected in the story of God’s covenantal people. They drew courage from Israel’s trials, hope from its promises, and inspiration from its faith. Yet today, as antisemitic narratives and historical revisionism seek to diminish both the Jewish contribution to America and the enduring bond between the United States and the modern State of Israel, the Hebraic foundations of the American experiment are increasingly forgotten. In Two Nations Under God: How (Biblical) Israel Inspires the United States, Stuart Halpern demonstrates that America’s identity has been profoundly shaped by the people, principles, and promises of the Jewish national project. Spanning every era of American history and reaching across political and denominational lines, this compelling work reveals how the Hebrew Scriptures have influenced America’s vision of liberty, justice, covenant, and civic purpose.