It’s Jewish American Heritage Month, here’s your #FWDBrief

Established by the Presidential proclamation in 2006
May is ‘Jewish American Heritage Month’ #JAHM
Jewish American Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Americans to honor and draw inspiration from the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to the fabric of our nation’s history and culture.
And...a time to celebrate the vibrant Jewish culture in America today!

“This is the story of a people which was scattered over all the world and yet remained a single family, a nation which time and again was doomed to destruction and yet, out of the ruins, rose to new life.”

— Abba Kovner

History of Jewish American Heritage Month:

“May is Jewish American Heritage Month – On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement was the crowning achievement in an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders that resulted in resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania urging the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005 and later in the Senate in February 2006.

The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. This coalition was composed of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.” (www.jewishheritagemonth.gov )

Other notable milestones from https://jewishamericanheritage.org/:

The formation of a national advisory committee in 2007 to drive the effort forward.
NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman, a New Jersey native and University of Pennsylvania graduate, carrying the original JAHM proclamation into space in 2010.
President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama hosting the first-ever White House reception in honor of JAHM in 2010.
In 2018, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History became the home of JAHM and now leads the nationwide effort, continuing to focus on coalition-building with partners around the country.

Ways to celebrate:

We’re coming together during Jewish American Heritage Month in solidarity to #spreadlove. Here's how YOU can take action and be a part of this important movement:

📚 Educate yourself: Dive into Jewish history, traditions, and culture. Let's break down barriers and challenge stereotypes together! See below for resources.
🗣️ Speak out: Use your voice to condemn anti-Semitism and promote understanding. Share messages of unity, kindness, and respect. Together, we can make our voices heard!
🤝 Foster dialogue: Engage in open conversations with your friends, family, and community.
💙 Support Jewish organizations: Show your support by shopping at Jewish American stores and donating to organizations that uplift the Jewish community.
✨ Spread awareness: Share resources about #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth and the #🟦 #StandUpToJewishHate campaign. Together we can use social media as a force for good and inspire others to take action too! Need some inspo? Click here for more info and a posting toolkit from JewishAmericanHeritage.org by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Remember, it's the small steps that add up to big change. It’s up to all of us toLet's create a world where hate has no home, and where love and acceptance shine bright.

Did You Know? Jewish Americans in Shaping America

The poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus," was written in 1883 by a 34-year-old Sephardic Jewish American poet named Emma Lazarus. 🗽🍎
In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the first Jewish American woman appointed to the US Supreme Court. 👩🏻‍⚖️
Today, 7.6 million Jewish Americans make up roughly 2.4% of the U.S. population, with researchers estimating that Jews of Color represent at least 12-15% of American Jews.
In 1999, Time magazine named Jewish American mathematician and physicist Albert Einstein "Person of the Century."
Jewish immigrant Irving Berlin wrote the iconic anthem "God Bless America" in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. 🎶 🇺🇸
German refugee, theologian, and activist Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel joined his friend Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in late March, 1965 for the famous march from Selma to Montgomery and devoted his life in service of social justice.
More than 500,000 Jewish Americans served in the armed forces during World War Il.
In 1881, Jewish American businessman Adolphus Simeon Solomons joined Clara Barton and others to form the American Red Cross. 🚑

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Want to share these images? Head to the JAHM tool page here for these and more downloadable resources!

Additional Resources:

American Jewish Committee (www.ajc.org) (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. We work to shape a brighter future by taking on the toughest challenges and pursuing the most transformative opportunities.
JewishAmericanHeritage.org a.k.a. JAHM, is organized by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and co-produced with jMUSE.

In 2018, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History became the home of JAHM and now leads the nationwide effort, continuing to focus on coalition-building with partners around the country.

“We believe that the antidote to antisemitism is to teach Jewish history and heritage, and to create tangible touch points with Jewish people and culture,” shared Dr. Misha Galperin, the Weitzman’s President and CEO. “May is the perfect moment on the calendar for all Americans to experience the full spectrum of American Jewish life and get a better sense of who American Jews are—contributions, hardships, immigration stories, culinary and musical traditions, varied beliefs and lifestyles, and so much more. By learning about real people, we seek to build community, inspire Jews and non-Jews alike, and challenge antisemitic beliefs.”

Confronting antisemitism fact sheet: https://jewishamericanheritage.org/toolkit/
StandUpToJewishHate.org is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about antisemitism and hatred against Jews and to encourage all people to post and share the Blue Square #🟦 to stand up against intolerance.
The White House: “A Proclamation on Jewish American Heritage Month, 2023” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/28/a-proclamation-on-jewish-american-heritage-month-2023/

Any other resources we should include? Click here to send us an email and let us know!

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