Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, “The July 4th Committee and the Biblical Seal of the United States”
While the Declaration of Independence declares that such foundational rights as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident, many scholars argue these “self-evident” truths are not as evident today as they once were. Behind these truths, these scholars argue, lies a biblical worldview, especially the ideas of a single, rational Creator and the inherent dignity of humans as bearers of the imago Dei, the “image of God.”
Join us for The Bible and America 250: These Truths Are Not Self-Evident Lecture Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. This thought-provoking event brings together a host of renowned scholars and historians to explore the profound influence of the Bible on America's founding principles, values, and institutions.
In this lecture, Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik will talk about the American seal and symbol proposed by a committee of Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson in 1776 and its connections to the Bible and America’s founding.
Oct 11, 2026 - Oct 11, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Floor 5R
Free Admission (Event Ticket Required)
In Person Event
Virtual Event
Abstract
On July 4th, 1776, a committee of Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson was appointed by the Continental Congress to suggest a seal and symbol for the new nation. What they suggested was profoundly biblical in nature. This talk will tell the story of the suggested seal and what it teaches us about the meaning of the American founding.
Get Tickets
Schedule
/
1:30 p.m. | Welcome & Check In
1:30–2:00 p.m. | Refreshments
2:00–3:00 p.m. | Lecture
3:00–3:30 p.m. | Panel Q&A
3:30–5:00 p.m. | Self-Guided Tour of the Bible in America Gallery
Lecturer
Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik
Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik is a leading Jewish thinker and senior rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Manhattan, the oldest Jewish congregation in the US. He directs the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University and is widely recognized for his scholarship on Jewish theology, American religious life, and Jewish-Christian relations. A prolific writer and lecturer, he holds a doctorate from Princeton and has contributed to major publications including Commentary, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Explore our Bible & America 250 exhibits, lectures, and more.
