In 1654, 23 sephardic jews sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam - TopicsExpress

In 1654, 23 sephardic jews sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam seeking refuge from the Spanish inquisition in Brazil. Stuyvesant immediatly petitioned the bord of directors of the Dutch West India Company to have them turned away, insisting he said that none of the Jewish nation be permitted to infest New Netherland. To his astonishment the petition was overturned. Chiding him for his bigotry, the directors reminded Stuyvesant that he was running a business colony, not a relgious establishment. And that, for the sake of that business, no one should be turned away. Dutch hospitality in a nutshell. As long as we can make a buck. youtu.be/87yVl-w8cY8