Meeting the President at the Kosel

The first U.S. president to visit Yerushalayim was Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885). His visit took place in 1878. During his visit, an elderly Jew greeted him by kissing his hand. Years earlier, this man had written a letter in Yiddish asking Grant if the “king of the United States” would like the merit of contributing to his daughter’s dowry. Grant sent twenty-five dollars, which was a very large sum at the time. When Grant later visited the Kosel, the man met him there and expressed his profound thanks to the former president.