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Jewish American Heritage Month

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Jewish American Heritage Month
Image
Guests at 2010 White House reception for JAHM, including baseball star Sandy Koufax (center left), and entertainer/activist Theodore Bikel (center right)
Observed byUnited States
SignificanceAnnual recognition of Jewish American achievements and contributions to the United States.
BeginsMay 1
EndsMay 31
DateMay
Duration1 month
Frequencyannual

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews' achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May.[1]

History

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JAHM traces its origins to federal initiatives that started in 1980, when Congress enacted Public Law 96–237 requesting the President to proclaim April 21–28, 1980 as Jewish Heritage Week.[2] This specific week in April was chosen because it coincides with some noteworthy dates in Jewish history, such as the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry, Israeli Independence Day, and commemoration days for the Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust. Subsequently, President Jimmy Carter issued Proclamation No. 4752,[3] formally establishing the event.[4]

Between 1981 and 1990, Congress passed annual public laws asking each the President in office to proclaim Jewish Heritage Week. Presidents indeed issued the requested proclamations.[4]

In 1998, President Bill Clinton issued Proclamation No. 7087, marking both Jewish Heritage Week and Israel's 50th anniversary.[5] Jewish Heritage Week in 2004[6] was also the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in North America[7][8] as Jewish refugees first arrived in North America (to New Amsterdam, now New York City) in 1654.[9] This led to congressional and executive discussion regarding the expansion of Jewish Heritage Week into a month, which happened two years later.[4][10]

In April 2006, President George W. Bush announced that May 2006 would be considered Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement followed cooperation with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish Community for a celebration of Jewish Americans and Jewish American Heritage.[11] Since then, annual proclamations have been made by Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.[10]

Purpose

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On February 14, 2006, Congress issued House Concurrent Resolution 315 which stated:

"Resolved ... that Congress urges the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on State and local governments and the people of the United States to observe an American Jewish History Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."

The concurrent resolution (i.e., a non-binding legislative measure that lacks the force of law, appropriate when a law is not necessary—such as awards or recognitions) was passed unanimously, first in the United States House of Representatives in December 2005 and later in the United States Senate in February 2006.[12]

The Jewish American Heritage Month Coalition states that, "JAHM also enables the exploration of the meaning of religious pluralism, cultural diversity, and participation in American civic culture."[13]

According to Library of Congress hosted website, JewishHeritageMonth.gov, May was chosen as the month of Jewish American Heritage Month because of the successful 350th Anniversary Celebration of Jews in America marking the Jewish arrival in New Amsterdam.[14]

In 2020, the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia successfully pivoted Jewish American Heritage Month to online programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It launched a special website with the support of more than 50 organizations nationwide, allowing the commemoration to continue despite COVID-19 restrictions. The initiative also meant to educate diverse public audiences about Jewish culture, and foster conversations about the American Jewish present and future.[15][16]

Celebration and recognition

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JAHM has been recognized in Madison Square Garden in New York City and in some Jewish museums. Some institutions, including the Library of Congress, have included shorter periods within the month for special lectures, programs, or displays, such as the Library of Congress "Jewish Heritage Week" lecture series.

A similar month exists in Florida as Florida Jewish History Month but it occurs in January.[17]

2010 White House reception

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On May 10, 2010, the White House issued a press release[18] noting that:

The month serves as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the range and depth of Jewish American heritage and contributions to American culture, with guests representing the many walks of life that have helped weave the fabric of American history. Invitees include a range of community leaders and prominent Jewish Americans from Olympians and professional athletes to members of Congress, business leaders, scholars, military veterans, and astronauts.

At the May 27, 2010 reception, President Obama welcomed the invited guests, which included "members of the House and Senate, two justices of the Supreme Court, Olympic athletes, entrepreneurs, Rabbinical scholars", and he made special mention of Sandy Koufax, famous in the Jewish community for refusing to play baseball on Yom Kippur. He praised "the diversity of talents and accomplishments" that the Jewish community had brought to the United States since pre-Revolutionary times, saying that, "Even before we were a nation, we were a sanctuary for Jews seeking to live without the specter of violence or exile," from the time "a band of 23 Jewish refugees to a place called New Amsterdam more than 350 years ago."[19][20]

2011 White House reception

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Image
President Obama welcomes Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel at the May 17, 2011 White House reception in honor of JAHM.

President Obama scheduled a second White House reception in honor of JAHM for May 17, 2011.[21] The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported that it was "less formal than the inaugural one last year, with brief remarks and a small Marine Corps band playing klezmer music."[22] The President noted the presence, among others, of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel, and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, newly appointed as Chair of the Democratic National Committee.[22]

President Obama noted that Jewish Americans "persevered despite unspeakable discrimination and adversity at times."[23] Despite the challenges they faced, the President noted their achievements in "the arts, science, the military, business and industry, and in public and community service."[23] In his remarks, he said:

This month is a chance for Americans of every faith to appreciate the contributions of the Jewish people throughout our history –- often in the face of unspeakable discrimination and adversity. For hundreds of years, Jewish Americans have fought heroically in battle and inspired us to pursue peace. They've built our cities, cured our sick. They've paved the way in the sciences and the law, in our politics and in the arts. They remain our leaders, our teachers, our neighbors and our friends. Not bad for a band of believers who have been tested from the moment that they came together and professed their faith. The Jewish people have always persevered. And that's why today is about celebrating the people in this room, the thousands who came before, the generations who will shape the future of our country and the future of the world.[24]

A Marine Corps band playing klezmer music, and the "Maccabeats," a Yeshiva University a cappella group, provided entertainment.[22]

2015 Presidential synagogue visit

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In addition to signing the proclamation[25] marking May 2015 as the annual Jewish American Heritage Month, the White House shared plans for an address by President Obama on May 22, 2015, at Adas Israel Congregation, a large Washington, D.C. synagogue.[26] The date of the visit coincided with "Solidarity Sabbath," a Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice initiative asking world leaders to show support for the fight against anti-semitism.[26]

JAHM Coalition

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Since 2006, JAHM programs have taken place across the country, but in March 2007 the JAHM Coalition was formed and convened by United Jewish Communities (now The Jewish Federations of North America), The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA), (AJA) and the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), to encourage and support future programs. The JAHM Coalition is composed of the directors of major national Jewish historical and cultural organizations including the AJA, AJHS, JWA, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM), Jewish Museum of Florida, and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington. In 2009, the Coalition named a national coordinator.[27]

JAHM Today

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Image
Colorful mural made by a Jewish elementary school in the United States and displayed during a May 2010 Jewish American Heritage Month celebration. Photo removed online by Trump administration in 2025.

Jewish American Heritage Month is organized annually by the National Museum of American Jewish History as a nationwide celebration.

As of 2025, the UJA-Federation of New York has provided major new funding for JAHM, the coalition of groups involved has grown to encompass the UJA-Federation of New York, Artists Against Antisemitism, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the Conference of Presidents of many other American Jewish Organizations, among others. The UJA's support has allowed JAHM to focus on educational programming for schools, library grants, and signature events to reach a broader audience.[28][29]

On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration's Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions eliminated federal recognition of the month.[30] Nonetheless, on May 16, 2025, the proclamation was issued after all.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "US Jews, Asian Americans learn to make merry in May together | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  2. ↑ "Heritage and Awareness Months- Jewish Heritage Month". The Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice, and Freedom. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  3. ↑ "Proclamation 4752—Jewish Heritage Week | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  4. 1 2 3 Bavis, Barbara. "Research Guides: Jewish American Heritage Month: A Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide: History and Overview". guides.loc.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  5. ↑ "3 CFR 7087 - Proclamation 7087 of April 24, 1998". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Jewish Heritage Week, 2004". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  7. ↑ "The Jewish Experience, 350 Years of American Jewish Life" (PDF). Center of Jewish History. Center for Jewish History. 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "350 Years of Jews in North America". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  9. ↑ Librarians, Dorot Jewish Division Reference. "Research Guides: Jewish NYC: Immigration". libguides.nypl.org. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  10. 1 2 "Why Do We Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month? | ADL". www.adl.org. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  11. ↑ Reinhard, Beth (April 20, 2006). "Role of Jewish Americans to be recognized in May: Thanks to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, President Bush is expected to make May Jewish American Heritage Month". Miami Herald (Miami, Florida). Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  12. ↑ "May designated Jewish American Heritage Month, April 20, 2006". Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Jewish American Heritage Month home page". Archived from the original on June 29, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Jewish American Heritage Month". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  15. ↑ "NMAJH Leads Jewish American Heritage Month". Jewish Exponent. May 5, 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2020". The Weitzman. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  17. ↑ Sec. 683.195 Fla. Stat (2013). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0683/0683.html
  18. ↑ "President and First Lady to Host White House Jewish American Heritage Month Reception". whitehouse.gov. 10 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2010-05-13 – via National Archives.
  19. ↑ Knoller, Mark (May 27, 2010). "Obama Honors Jewish Americans at White House Reception – Political Hotsheet". CBS News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  20. ↑ Rubin, Debra (June 1, 2010). "Koufax wows White House reception". Washington Jewish Week. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  21. ↑ whitehouse.gov, retrieved May 12, 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 www.jta.org, retrieved May 17, 2011.
  23. 1 2 www.washingtonpost.com[dead link], retrieved May 17, 2011.
  24. ↑ www.whitehouse.gov, retrieved May 17, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Presidential Proclamation --Jewish American Heritage Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov. 30 April 2015 – via National Archives.
  26. 1 2 JTA newsbrief (May 15, 2015) "Obama to Address Washington Area Synagogue to Mark Jewish Heritage Month", retrieved May 19, 2015.
  27. ↑ "May is Jewish American Heritage Month". Archived from the original on 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  28. ↑ "Press Release".
  29. ↑ "Jewish American Heritage Month Starts May 1" (Press release).
  30. ↑ Exec. Order No. 14148 (January 20, 2025). Retrieved on May 1, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Jewish American Heritage Month, 2025". The White House. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
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Official website

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