Two hundred and fifty years ago, 56 remarkable patriots assembled in Philadelphia to achieve what no one had witnessed before. They put their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor at risk to proclaim that freedom comes not from government but as a birthright granted by God.

In the timeless Declaration of Independence, our founders advanced the bold notion that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Those words ignited not only a nation but a worldwide awakening of the human spirit that continues to echo today. As President Donald Trump noted, a single sheet of parchment with 56 signatures set America on the greatest political journey in human history.

Here in Israel, I am reminded daily that America's founding principles and the Jewish people's timeless values are not separate paths but deeply connected. America's ideals did not arise in isolation. They draw their strength from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as conveyed through the Hebrew Bible and the moral framework of the Jewish people.

The founders immersed themselves in Scripture. They looked to the Exodus narrative as a blueprint for breaking free from oppression. They adopted the Hebrew understanding of justice found in the Laws of Moses, the belief that law must rest on a higher moral foundation.

In George Washington's well-known 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, he pledged that the United States would offer to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance, a commitment grounded in the same Judeo-Christian tradition that informed the Declaration of Independence.

As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, I reflect on what it means to serve as the United States representative in Israel, a country that grasps more deeply than most the price of freedom and the necessity of fighting for survival. The American and Israeli narratives differ in certain respects, yet they share an enduring bond: the firm belief that liberty deserves protection and that a people anchored in faith and purpose can achieve the extraordinary.

From founding ideals to a new era of power

This anniversary also underscores that the American experiment, our ongoing effort toward a more perfect union, remains a living narrative continually shaped by the dedication of successive generations of Americans both at home and overseas. It is molded by diplomats and soldiers, teachers and entrepreneurs, and hardworking individuals who crossed oceans seeking greater opportunity. America's story is never complete. That is its strength.

Under President Trump's leadership, we are building fresh alliances, advancing innovation, and shaping a renewed period of American strength that will sustain us for the coming 250 years. The United States continues to serve as it always has: a reliable and energetic partner prepared to lead with fresh assurance and direction rather than mere remembrance.

These 250 years tell the tale of our nation, its distinguished past and its promising future. The principles set forth in our declaration hold the same urgency now as they did in 1776. We therefore encourage you to join the celebration, not simply as witnesses to history but as active contributors. Take part in a US Embassy event nearby, express what freedom signifies to you, and unite with Americans worldwide in renewing the ideals that have directed us for two and a half centuries. If the past offers any indication, the next 250 years will bring accomplishments beyond our current vision.

Happy 250th Birthday, America. The best is yet to come.

The writer is the US ambassador to Israel.