​Let My People Go

“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
 
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS
Thoughts & Sermons By – Robert Paul Starbuck MDiv, PhD


WHEN GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN & WOMEN — or people from any faith or spiritual tradition, allow the politicians — the fear mongers — and the demagogues of any society to sow discord —  and to reduce our civility to angry exchanges  — to emotional and physical violence. When we see and hear them weaponize social media — assault us and our neighbors daily with their incessant grievances and victimizations — we may not be as able as we would wish — to serve in love the God of History and the Christ of Faith.
 
When we allow all these distractions to consume us, it is hard to live the abundant life of love God has granted and that we deserve within creation. Christians have been given two commandments always to follow. When we do not follow and practice them, sin abounds.
 
When we abandon these commandments, when we worship other idols, when we dehumanize a people, when we dehumanize one another, when we turn our eyes away from intentional cruelty towards others without protest, then we are guilty of the most grievous of sins.  We have placed our ideologies before God’s love and compassion, and in that process, taken God’s name in vain, for “God is Love, ” and we become enslaved by sin.
 
When all our political ideologies and policies are directed against the most vulnerable among us. When we marginalized and disenfranchised people seeking freedom, equality, fairness, justice, mercy, safety, basic food, and shelter. When these political ideologies become graven images. When we stop following God's two greatest commandments, we abandon our faith and God's gift of compassion and grace and begin to worship idols.
 
We become cult followers of a political faith, which has taken over our one true Christian faith and God's call to love one another. When we deny another person the dignity of their humanity and basic human rights, we cease worshiping God. We stop following the Lord's two greatest commandments.
 
When we stop loving our neighbors, all our neighbors near and far.  When we do these things, we miss the mark by an immeasurable margin and have greatly sinned. Because sin is the ultimate separation of ourselves from the source of all being, between one another, and between ourselves and God. And to live in such a state of separation is to be enslaved by sin.

​
WHEN GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN & WOMEN — or people from any faith or spiritual tradition, allow the politicians — the fear mongers — and the demagogues of any society to sow discord —  and to reduce our civility to angry exchanges  — to emotional and physical violence. When we see and hear them weaponize social media — assault us and our neighbors daily with their incessant grievances and victimizations — we may not be as able as we would wish — to serve in love the God of History and the Christ of Faith.  

When we allow all these distractions to consume us, it is hard to live the abundant life of love God has granted and that we deserve within creation. ​Christians have been given two commandments to always follow. When we do not follow and practice them sin abounds.

When we abandon these commandments, when we worship other idols, when we dehumanize a people, when we dehumanize one another, when we turn our eyes away from intentional cruelty towards others without protest, then we are guilty of the most grievous of sins.  We have placed our ideologies before God’s love and compassion, and in that process taken God’s name in vain, for “God is Love, ” and we become enslaved by sin.

When all our political ideologies and policies are directed against the most vulnerable among us. When we marginalized and disenfranchised people seeking freedom, equality, fairness, justice, mercy, safety, basic food and shelter. When these political ideologies become graven images. When we stop following God's two greatest commandments, we abandon our faith and God's gift of compassion and grace, and begin to worship idols.

We become cult followers of a political faith, which has taken over our one true Christian faith and God's call to love one another. When we deny another person the dignity of their humanity and basic human rights, we cease worshiping God. We stop following the Lord's two greatest commandments.

When we stop loving our neighbors, all our neighbors near and far.  When we do these things, we miss the mark by an immeasurable margin and have greatly sinned.  Because, sin is the ultimate separation of our self from the source of all being, between one another, and between ourselves and God. And to live in such a state of separation is to be enslaved by sin itself.

Let My People Go...

 
“WHEN IN THE COURSE of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
 
We hold these truths to be self–evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
 
THESE WORDS as we know or should know are the opening words found in the Declaration of Independence written over 240 years ago. I immediately perceived a parallel between what was happening in 1776 and the events as recorded in Biblical history when the children of Israel were in bondage to the Egyptians.
 
I ask you to look with me this morning at this parallel. Allow your eyes to open but mostly your heart. Do you not see Moses and Aaron, standing before Pharaoh — crying out to him, “Let my people go!”  Then let your mind move forward to the third quarter of the 18th century.
 
Our founding fathers tried in vain to negotiate with Great Britain, but their efforts were for naught. Great Britain was such a powerful nation during this time in history. America became just another opportunity for them to gain more power and more wealth. Over the years, America grew into thirteen colonies.
 
The straw that broke the camel's back so to speak was the continuous increase in taxes. Finally, the cry from these thirteen colonies to the British Empire was taxation without representation. On June 7,1776, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, where Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution urging them to declare independence. This led to the drafting by Thomas Jefferson of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776 on what was described as a bright sunny, but cool Philadelphia day.
 
Great Britain refused to grant such independence, which led to the Revolutionary War, which ended in 1783. We tend to forget about those years and focus only on July 4th. We tend to forget the suffering and the loss of lives. This is so true for every war. We forget the hardships, the pain, the anguish and distress that go with every war.
 
In many ways, the picture was no different when Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh — crying out to him “Let my people go.” Pharaoh was just as mean and stubborn as was Great Britain, for he said to them: “Who is the Lord, that I should heed his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover; I will not let Israel go.”
 
We know the rest of the story – so many stories – so much suffering before they reached the Promised Land. Their history is insurmountable — their faithfulness to the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. Israel grew into a monarch form of government: the three great kings — Saul, David, and Solomon. Later in history, the nation was divided, and finally the downfall of Samaria in 721 BC and Jerusalem in 587 BC.
 
Let my people go! We can still hear the cry. We hear it in every generation, in every nation, in every country. We do believe all men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
 
Yesterday we celebrated our nation's birthday, and we continue it this morning. It has become a tradition for Sunset to set aside this Sunday each year, to recognize and participate in our nation's birth.
 
Our patriotism overflows, our cup runneth over. There are many of us who have served in the armed forces of our country. I doubt if there is one family present this morning whose immediate or extended family has not suffered the loss of a member over these past two-hundred plus years.
 
As I have drawn a parallel between the time when Moses and Aaron stood between Pharaoh and our founding father stood before Great Britain, so there is a parallel between our religious faith and the role it played in forming the constitution of this United States of America.
 
During the next few moments let us examine life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in light of our own faith. Jesus used the word “life” throughout his ministry.
 
“I have come that you might have life and have
 it more abundantly.”
“He who finds his life will lose it”
“It is the spirit that gives life.”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
 
Jesus looked down at the man who had been lying by the pool for 38 years. Do you want to be healed? Then “Take up your pallet (life) and walk.” Jesus is not talking about life in its literal sense. He is not talking about our mere existence. When someone asks me how I am doing and I give them that flipped answer — ‘Well, I'm still above-ground’ — that's not what Jesus is talking about. We can be above-ground, get up every morning, go to work, do our daily chores and still — not experience the life Jesus was talking about.
 
He said, “It is the spirit that gives life.” It is the grace within you – the inner being and spirit who dwell deep within you. It is that unique “YOU,” that no one else has because there is only one of you. Jesus is saying to each of us “You are special!” So if you find that “YOU” — that grace within you will immediately lose it. Jesus said to us, “He who finds his life will lose it?”
 
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! The word Liberty — what does it mean? You're right! It means freedom. It means being able to do as one pleases. It means freedom from physical restraint. It also means one has permission to go freely within limited  boundaries. In other words, I do not have the right to come on your property or cross the boundaries of your existence unless you give me that right.
 
Theologically speaking, it has even a deeper mean. Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 
 
You will no longer be thirsty if you drink the water that I give. You will no longer be hungry if you eat the bread which I give. Jesus used so many parables in setting us free. He often found it difficult to get through to those around him and once said that sheep hear my voice, “why can't you understand.”
 
I give you eternal life — take it — it's yours. Jesus wasn't talking about life after death. He was talking about life right now, in this very moment, in this very place. If you accept this eternal life you will be free. The shackles that bind you will be removed. The wall which you have built around you to protect yourself from being hurt again because of what someone has said or done to you will just crumble away. 
 
Once again, you will stand naked but free. Vulnerable, yes – but free. The person who is free is always vulnerable — subject to be hurt again, subject to fall from grace again; but, also subject to be loved again.
 
Do you want to be loved again? Do you truly want to reach out and love other? If you say “yes” to either one or both of those questions, then you know something of what it means to be free.

“Let my people go!” 
 
There is a voice within you — deep within, but it is there. Be still and listen — you will hear its voice. It is a power greater than yourself — that power you may call God or Lord or Yahweh or Christ. It is your salvation, your saving grace.
 
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Our pursuit for happiness always follows our pursuit for life and liberty. This is the eternal life that Jesus talks about. It is the truth that sets us free. It is never ours to keep. It is only ours to share. A still small voice – quietly saying but with a thunderous overtone — “Let my people go!”

This is the voice of the Indwelling Holy Spirit who acts as comforter and counselor, who directs us towards God's mercy and justice. A justice that is always tempered by God's loving compassion. So, I say to you once again, as did the Prophets of the Old Testament, when good men and women of any faith allow the fear mongers and demagogues of society to assault us and our neighbors daily, we are not serving the God of History or the Christ of Faith.
 
I close this sermon by sharing with you a poem recently written by someone I have known for a long time. Don't ask for his name now. You may receive it later if you ask. He first writes a prologue which provides us with the background and setting of the poem.
 
The Harris County Courts District is at the northeastern edge of downtown Houston, Texas, quite close to Minute Maid Park.  Within the district are several social services organizations, various county agencies and courts, the Harris County Jail, as well as Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), and Annunciation Catholic Church.  The district includes a diversity of people.  It is quite common to encounter the immigrant, the undocumented, the stranger, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, and the imprisoned.
 
THE JESUS PRAYER FLAG
 
this morning, quite early
in fact,
an hour or so after dawn
while walking to my office
 
I saw a parking garage attendant
in the courthouse district
of downtown Houston
waiving a red–orange
traffic flag
back and forth
back and forth
with the word
JESUS
written there
 
there he was
waving Jesus around
for all the world to see
he was waving Jesus
like a
Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag
flying in the wind
stirring up the Holy Spirit
 
he was waving Jesus as a message
as a hope
as a charity
as a blessing
as a reminder
in remembrance
so that we might
wake up and 
remember too
 
if you listened
carefully
clearly
you can hear
the voices
of the stranger
the immigrant
the undocumented 
the homeless
the poor
the imprisoned, on parole
the weary
like voices from heaven
as they too passed
by
 
saying ...
 
Come, Lord Jesus
Come, Lord Jesus
Come, Lord Jesus
 
uttering his name without pause
as a prayer, as a song, as a thought
 
in the back of my mind I can hear them singing
 
“Jesus loves me this I know
so the Bible tells me so”
I’m sure it was a prayer
a cry from heaven even,
it must have been
for I heard the voices too,
the voices of angels
appearing and arising
as unexpected messengers
as strangers
and
 
I think I saw Jesus smiling,
I’m sure I did,
in the smiles on their faces
 
as I passed by looking, seeing
but staying quiet all the same
not a whisper crossing my lips
not even a small hello
 
but certainly a smile, and a hint of some
blessing unasked for
grace given freely
freely accepted
 
a witness to
God's compassion
at work
in the world
the Kingdom
of God
coming closer
and closer
each day
 
 
Amen
 
Poem by Ron Starbuck
 
 
Book of Common Prayer
According to the use of
The Episcopal Church — Church Publishing Incorporated, New York
The Holy Eucharist: Rite One
 
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires
known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the
thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy
holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.
 
Lord, have mercy upon us.               Kyrie eleison.
Christ, have mercy upon us.            Christe eleison.
Lord, have mercy upon us.               Kyrie eleison.
 
 
 
Sermon is from:  
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS
Thoughts & Sermons By
Robert Paul Starbuck MDiv, PhD
 
Published by
SAINT JULIAN PRESS, Inc. 
www.saintjulianpress.com

COPYRIGHT © 2018
TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHTEEN
© Saint Julian Press, Inc.

EDITED BY RON STARBUCK
ISBN-13: 978-1-7320542-2-6
ISBN: 1-7320542-2-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911041
Cover Art: St. John Lutheran Church – Easton, Kansas 
Original Photograph by Kelly Mailen

Cover Design: Ron Starbuck
Author’s Photo Credit: Family Archives
 
Sermon originally delivered at Sunset United Methodist Church in July 2009, with this version edited in August 2019 and October 2020.
 

SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT 
than dividing a church or a nation into conservatives and liberals.
 
 
AND BEHOLD, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so they might accuse him. He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand,” And the man stretched it out and it was restored, whole like the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him. ~ Matthew 12:10-14
 
SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT! On Sunday morning, June 28th, I woke up to the sounds of birds singing in the trees; the brightness of the morning sun already found its way across the foot of my bed. It was a restful night — no fans, no Air-condition; only the cool breeze of a summer night 800 miles north of Houston. I woke knowing this was to be a very special day.
 
There was still hay in the field that had been cut the day before. It needed to be baled and put into the barn. We were at Edna's folks, and I'm sure her father of 75 years thought about the hay that morning and in his own way — wished that it was all baled and stored safely away for the winter. Even so, if the thought ever passed his mind, it was soon forgotten that day —because something more important was about to happen. On the day's agenda was a forthcoming celebration; fifty years of married life.
 
Edna' s brother and wife arrived at the farm shortly after 7:30 a.m. All of us were in the process of dressing for Morning Worship. Church service began at 8:30. By the time everyone was ready (which was about 8:15) Edna's dad was pacing the floor. I was helping him. He was not used to waiting, I could tell he was impatient, but he didn't say anything. After all, this was a special day —something' more important.
 
Soon we were in the cars, —driving north over a hill or two until we reached one of the main arteries running east and west. We turned right, and half a mile took us to St. John Lutheran Church where Edna and I were married; and where Dad and Mom Meinert were united in a service of holy matrimony one–half century ago. As a large family, we took up one whole pew. Everyone knew why we were there because in every small rural setting, everyone knows about everyone else. The celebration of worship seemed so appropriate in setting the climate for the day ahead.
 
Young and old, rich, and poor relatives and friends gathered that afternoon in the parish hall across the road. They came to celebrate –– to offer congratulations and add their blessings. The best man and the maid of honor –– the two people who stood up with them 50 years ago were present. The fields were silent that afternoon; untouched by man or machinery. There was something more important taking place.
 
It is wonderful that every now and then we can stop moving in this busy world of ours and join with others in a great event or celebration.
 
It reminds us that we too are but mortal creatures and while we belong to the infinite, we are still finite in nature. Sometimes death interrupts our lives —the death of someone we love. Sometimes sickness interrupts our lives or an emergency operation or a routine tonsillectomy. 
 
The other night I scheduled two appointments and a meeting at 8 O’clock. At approximately 5:40 PM, the telephone rang; our oldest daughter needed help. She was running a high fever; complications from her tonsillectomy of two weeks ago. We discovered later that she had a severe inner ear infection. I had to cancel my appointment because of something more important.
 
Take the story of one of the senior pastors in a large Methodist Church in Houston; I was talking to him only last Monday. He was sharing some of his problems with three other ministers, including myself. A letter went out from his study at the end of May asking his people to continue their church pledge through December of this year. The Conference decided to go on a fiscal year beginning January 1st. If you recall, I talked about this last fall, so we got the jump on a lot of other churches, the wisdom of a fool.
 
He went ahead to tell us that he received a letter from one layperson canceling his pledge because the church was too liberal. The very next day he received a letter from another layperson canceling his pledge because the church was too conservative. In a moment of deep frustration, he cried out, “What am I to do!” The question may seem trivial to you but to this pastor, it was very important. It concerned him ultimately; “What am I to do?”
 
I wished that I could have given him the answer, but I don't have the answer. Oh, I have an answer but not, the answer. My answer would be to him and to you and to myself that there is something more important.
 
There is something more important than dividing a church or a nation into conservatives and liberals. The two words have really come to bother me for I think they are over used, and we are obsessed with them. I do not think that a Christian can be one or the other. We must be both. We must conserve and liberate at the same time. We can never severe our ties from that part of history, which belongs to us.
 
The teachings of the Bible —the rule and guide of faith —our faith, is just as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago. Just because we live in a new day and must continually interpret the importance of God's word for our day does not mean that we throw the baby out with the bath water. You simply do not cut off the past to get to the problems of the future or even to the problems of this day —here and now.
 
There is a danger in a closed mind. We must always look in both directions. Therefore, we conserve and liberate at the same time.
 
Something More Important! Jesus was both conservative and liberal. He was open to the future, but he did not destroy the past. He came not to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill them.
 
Again, and again, he referred to the teachings as found in the law and the prophets. They served as the very basis of his sermon —even his Sermon on the Mount. And yet at the same time he offered something new.
 
“A new commandment I give you; that you love one another even as I have loved you.”
 
You have heard that it was said of old, but I say of you...
 
Jesus conserved and liberated at the same time. He did not destroy the past, but he always moved out in such a way as to give life to others and to set them free.
 
Something More Important! Let us enlarge our Text this morning and examine the contents, which appears in the early part of the 12th chapter of Matthew, the Pharisees, caught up in their own way of life and thinking, were threatened by Jesus. – 1. (reference footnote below). 
 
They were very legalistic in their interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, which can still be seen today between different Christian denominations and people within the church and how we judge one another. We must remember and consider that Jesus was adding a new light and thought to an established interpretation and authority. His teachings were a compassionate and radical transformation that embraced all people, especially the poor and marginalized people of his time.

The Pharisees of Jesus's time, did not know how to cope with his message of compassion, hope, and acceptance, so they moved out to dismiss and discount his teachings. Eventually they were successful and caught their game. Humanity can be successful in dismissing other human beings; but it is something else to be so free, and at peace with yourself that you can give this same feeling of freedom and peace to others.
 
Something More Important! Speaking to the parents and members of a graduating class of Pasadena Independent School District a week ago Friday night, I asked them to imagine that they were at a Rock Festival or in a high school auditorium or sitting in a chair viewing their television. I then asked them to listen to the following words as sung by a Rock group known as Traffic.

 
“Crying' to Be Heard” — Written by Dave Mason
Traffic – Studio Album Released October 1968 – “Cryin' To Be Heard” — Recorded Olympic Studios, London, Record Plant, NYC, January–May 1968 
Mason – lead vocal, Winwood – bass, Hammond – organ, harpsichord, backing vocal; Wood – soprano saxophone; Capaldi – drums, backing vocal.

 
Somebody's cryin' to be heard
And there's also someone who hears every word
 
Sail across the ocean with your back against the wind
Listening to nothing save the calling of a bird
And when the rain begins to fall, don't you start to curse
It may be just the tears of someone that you never heard
 
Somebody's cryin' to be heard
And there's also someone who hears every word
 
Reflected in the water is a face that you don't know
And isn't it surprising when you findin' out it's your own?
And so, you try to find out whether it is friend or foe
And what it is it wants from you and what it wants to know?
 
Somebody's cryin' to be heard
And there's also someone who hears every word
 
Well, you're wrapped up in your little world and no one can get in
You sit and think of everything then, then you wonder where you've been
You put the blame on someone that you've hardly ever known
And then you realize too late the blame was all your own
 
Somebody's cryin' to be heard
And there's also someone who hears every word
 
Sail across the ocean with your back against the wind
Listening to nothing save the calling of a bird
And when the rain begins to fall, don't you start to curse
It may be just the tears of someone that you never heard
 
Somebody's cryin' to be heard
And there's also someone who hears every word
 
 
Songwriter ~ MASON, DAVE
 
 
There is – Something More Important, than blaming others —than dividing a church or a nation into conservatives or liberals. Something more important: "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another even as I have loved you." – John 13:34
  
Sermon delivered at Asbury United Methodist Church, Pasadena, Texas on August 9, 1970.

Robert P. Starbuck received his BA in philosophy from Baker University, in Baldwin City, Kansas; his M.Div. from St. Paul's School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri; and his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Counseling from Texas Women's University Institute of Health Sciences – Texas Medical Center/Houston, Texas. He served as an ordained United Methodist Minister in both the UMC Great Plains - Kansas and UMC Texas Conferences.  

He also served as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) TEC-4 Combat Medical Technician in WWII and during the occupation of Germany after the surrender of German forces.  Upon his return to America in 1946 he attended the University of Kansas in Lawerence for two years. From there he served on medical teams at both the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center, and prison hospital at the United States Penitentiary Leavenworth, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice.  In 1958 answered a higher calling and became a pastor of the United Methodist Church, and went on to complete his undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

​

On the front cover of In My Father’s House Are Many Mansions, is an impressionistic art image of St. John Lutheran Church near the town of Easton, Kansas. A special acknowledgement and thanksgiving must be given to the church as a Christian community of faith and believers. And as family too, since our family's connection to the community goes back several generations.

This is where my mother, Edna K. Meinert–Starbuck was baptized and confirmed, and married in 1948. It is where her parents in 1920, and her grandparents in 1883 were married too. St. John Lutheran Church was originally founded in 1880 by German Lutheran immigrants to America.

My mother’s great grandfather Heinrich Friedrich Weilhelm (Henry) Meinert served as one of the original trustees. St. John Lutheran Church is a place where extended family still gathers on Sunday mornings and special occasions to worship.  They are an intimate and vital part of the community in the twenty-first century.

The cover image was created from an original photograph taken by Kelly Mailen, on a winter's day when it snowed. Kelly’s family has a long history with the church, and is the granddaughter of Austin and LaVerne“Kruse” Potter. She now lives with her husband Russell, in Auburn, Alabama, and works for Auburn University and with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

 
 
 

1. It must be noted that like most human faiths, Judaism evolved and progressed over time; transforming, and becoming what we know today as Rabbinic Judaism. The Pharisees described in the New Testament were a movement and a school of thought in the Holy Land during the Second Temple. After its destruction in 70 CE, the Pharisaic tradition became the foundational, liturgical, and ritualistic basis for Rabbinic Judaism. Today, there are different Jewish denominations, as there are Christian denominations. Both faiths have evolved deeply over the last 2,000 years of human history, and it is important for us to understand and to value these differences in time and place. Christians must always guard against and prevent the rise of anti-Semitism and hate in any form. The Judeo-Christian values shared in common by both faiths today, are a reflection of how each one has matured and grown across the course of human history.  Both faiths, were instrumental in the founding of America. There is archival evidence that Alexander Hamilton was born and raised in the Jewish faith before coming to America, in a new book by Oklahoma University Law Professor, Andrew Porwancher, titled; The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton, forthcoming from Princeton University Press in 2021.