John Adams the Zionist

As a historian I like to clarify some posts I have seen. Regarding President John Adams 

John Adams held a complex and generally respectful view of the Hebrews, as evident in his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson. 

While he, like many "enlightened" Christians of his era, saw Judaism as anachronistic and hoped for the conversion of Jews to Christianity, he also deeply venerated the ancient Hebrews and acknowledged their profound historical contributions.

Here are some key points from his letters to Jefferson regarding the Jews -"Hebrews" whom he labelled:

     "The most glorious nation that ever inhabited this Earth".

In an 1808 letter (not directly to Jefferson, but referenced in resources about their correspondence), Adams expressed strong admiration, stating:

"How is it possible [that Voltaire] should represent the Hebrews in such a contemptible light? They are the most glorious nation that ever inhabited this Earth. The Romans and their Empire were but a Bauble in comparison of the Jews. They have given religion to three quarters of the Globe and have influenced the affairs of Mankind more, and more happily, than any other Nation ancient or modern." 

This quote of his highlights his profound respect for the historical impact of the Jews (Hebrews) , particularly in the realm of religion.

Adams viewed the Jews-"Hebrews" as having laid the foundation for Christianity: by enunciating monotheism. 

He saw Abraham as having given religion not only to the Hebrews but also to Christians and Muslims.

In a letter from February-March 1814, Adams mentions reading  Joseph Priestley's, "A Comparison of the Institutions of Moses with those of the Hindoos and other Ancient Nations"  published in 1799. He notes that Priestley: 

"proved the superiority of the Hebrews to the Hindoos, as they appear in the Gentoo Laws and Institutes of Menu." 

This suggests Adams agreed with the idea of the Jews (Hebrews) possessing a more advanced or significant institutional framework.

Adams believed that Jews deserved rights and protection under the law, seeing them as worthy of respect by virtue of their historic contributions and citizenship.

Remarkably, Adams later in life even expressed pro-Zionist views in later correspondence (after his presidency), stating in a letter (acknowledging a gift from Mordecai Manuel Noah) in 1819, 

"I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation." 

The two most powerful active and enterprizing Nations that ever existed are now contending with Us. 

The two Nations to whom Mankind are under more obligations for the Progress of Science and Civilization, than to any others except that of the Jews / Hebrews. 

This consideration affects me more than the danger from either Bolingbroke's religious skepticism or that of Voltaire's.

I excepted the Jews "Hebrews",  I strongly disagreed with Bolingbroke's religious skepticism and his disparagement of the Bible and the Hebrews "in Spight of Bolingbroke,". Which is a direct reference to Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751), a prominent English politician, statesman, and philosopher of the Enlightenment era who was a leading figure among the English Deists. Deism, broadly speaking, believed in a God who created the universe but does not intervene in its daily workings (a "watchmaker God").

In his quote Adams believed Voltaire presented the Hebrews in a sordid "contemptible light".

Voltaire was vehemently against organized religion, especially what he saw as the irrationality and superstition of Christianity. Since Christianity was founded upon Judaism, he often attacked Judaism as a way to undermine Christianity:

“The Jews are an ignorant and barbarous people, who have long united the most sordid avarice with the most detestable superstition and the most invincible hatred for every people by whom they are tolerated and enriched.”  

Voltaire frequently employed common European antisemitic stereotypes of his time, particularly concerning avarice and usury, projecting negative aspects of emerging commercial society onto Jews.

Voltaire often expressed a deep-seated contempt beyond religious criticism, for the Jewish people as a distinct "race" or culture, believing them to be inherently flawed and unchangeable.

John Adams directly challenged the negative views propagated by Voltaire; 

"I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize Men than any other Nation. If I were an Atheist and believed in blind eternal Fate, I should Still believe that Fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential Instrument for civilizing the Nations." 

If I were an Atheist of the other Sect, who believe or pretend to believe that all is ordered by Chance, I Should believe that Chance had ordered the Jews to preserve and propagate, to all Mankind the Doctrine of a Supreme intelligent wise, almighty Sovereign of the Universe, which I believe to be the great essential..."

His rationale, however, was partly driven by a hope that "once restored to an independent government and no longer persecuted they [the Jews] would soon wear away some of the asperities and peculiarities of their character and possibly in time become liberal Unitarian christians."

In summary, John Adams held the ancient Jews "Hebrews" in high esteem for their historical and religious contributions, considering them a foundational people for monotheistic traditions. While his views on contemporary Judaism were tinged with the common prejudices of his time (hoping for conversion), his admiration for their past achievements and his belief in their fundamental rights were notable.