The Bell of Freedom

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From the Lampert Library

library 5 libertybell5“Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” is inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. This passage from the Bible (Leviticus 25:10) is part of the description of the jubilee year when land returns to owners and slaves are freed. What an apt reference for what has become a symbol of freedom.

library 2 libertybell2The Liberty Bell was commissioned from a British foundry and originally was hung on March 10, 1753 in the Pennsylvania Statehouse (now Independence Hall) to mark the 50th anniversary of Penn’s Charter, one of the most liberal in the colonies

From its beginnings, the bell was flawed. library 3 libertybell3(1)Consequently it was melted down and recast at least twice. Ultimately a new bell was commissioned from the British foundry. That too was flawed.

Tradition says that the bell was rung on July 8, 1776 at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. However, historians are skeptical as the steeple was in disrepair. The last time the bell sounded was in celebration of George Washington’s birthday in 1846.

library 6 libertybell1Originally called the State House Bell, we all know it as the Liberty Bell and throughout American history the bell has been associated with issues of freedom. It was a adopted by the abolitionists and later the suffragists.

The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of the United States and while it may no longer be physically capable of being rung for freedom, it has a powerful connection. Perhaps that crack is a reminder that we are always perfecting our freedom; that we must not take it for granted and that not everyone is free.

In the words of Pete Seeger:

If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning
I’d ring it in the evening, all over this land
I’d ring it in danger, I’d ring out a warning
I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land

library liberty bell1We do have a bell….visit it sometime in Philadelphia and combine that visit with one to the National Museum of American Jewish History where you will learn of the connection between Jews and the origins of the United States.

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