New York - Today we celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence, an event of great magnitude in the history of mans’ struggle for freedom. At a time like this we should be humble and realize that we are the beneficiaries of the dedication and sacrifice of countless others who came before us and built up and defended America.

I wake up each day and give thanks to the Creator for all the blessings He has bestowed on me – chief among them the privilege of living in the greatest country on earth. I am aware, however, that not everybody feels the way I do.

It’s sad but true that we live in a time of unprecedented hatred of America, here at home and around the world. Nevertheless, it is our duty to foster an appreciation of the inner essence of America and transmit it to our children. The founders of this country took their inspiration from the Bible. They believed the dignity of man stems from the Creator of the universe Who fashioned man in His Image and endowed him with inalienable rights.

No nation has been a greater crusader for the freedom and wellbeing of mankind than the United States of America. The 20th century’s evil empires of Fascism, Nazism and Communism were defeated because of America’s leadership of the free world.

Let those who disparage America, especially in Europe, ask where the world would be today if not for the generosity and freedom-loving spirit of the American people and the steely determination of the American soldier.

It’s fashionable to ridicule our country and its leaders, and even some members of the clergy say terrible things about America from the pulpit. Sometimes, as a corrective to this cynicism, it’s important to view America from the standpoint of others who came here after experiencing oppression in their native lands.

One of the greatest rabbis of the past generation, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, ruled that it is a religious obligation to display loyalty to America and absolutely forbidden to engage in any speech or behavior that would offend the honor of this nation.

Rav Feinstein grew up in communist Russia where he was subjected to all manner of religious oppression. When he managed to reach America he breathed its holy air of freedom and devoted his life to religious service. He established a world-renowned seminary in Manhattan, trained thousands of leaders, wrote volumes of classical works; and became a towering religious leader to millions of Jews around the world.