One of America’s most beloved patriotic songs, “God Bless America,” was written by a Jewish immigrant named Israel Beilin—better known as Irving Berlin. (A printing error he adopted professionally.) Born into a Jewish family in the Russian Empire, Berlin came to the United States as a young boy after his family fled anti-Jewish persecution and violence. Grateful for the freedom and opportunity they found in America, he wrote God Bless America in 1918, later revising and releasing it in 1938 as the world stood on the brink of another war. Perhaps even more remarkable, Berlin didn’t keep the profits. He donated all future royalties from the song to the God Bless America Fund, which has supported organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other charitable causes for decades. As we celebrate Independence Day, it’s a powerful reminder that some of the deepest expressions of love for America have come from those who knew firsthand what it meant to flee oppression and find refuge here. “God Bless America” wasn’t just a song—it was a heartfelt prayer of gratitude from an immigrant who cherished the nation that gave his family a new beginning. 🇺🇸