Why Do We Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month?

Jewish American Heritage Month began in 2006 when in April of that year, President George W. Bush first proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The commemorative month was the result of a strong effort by U.S. Jewish leaders to introduce resolutions in both the U.S. Senate and the House. They urged the President to proclaim a month specifically recognizing Jewish people and their contributions to the U.S. 

President Bush’s proclamation stated, in part:

When the first Jewish settlers came to this land, they sought a place of promise where they could practice their faith in freedom and live in liberty. During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history of the Jewish people in America and honor the great contributions they have made to our country.

Similar resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005 and later in the Senate in February 2006. Since then, annual proclamations have been made by all the subsequent U.S. Presidents. 

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.  

Here are some important things to know about what it means to be Jewish:

• Being Jewish typically means being connected in some way to the religion of Judaism, as well as shared Jewish traditions, family history, values, history and culture. 

• While Judaism is a religion and many Jewish people practice Judaism, there are also Jewish people who may not engage in religious observance or they may identify as secular (not religious), or atheist (do not believe in the existence of God). 

• Some Jewish people may practice other religions in addition to Judaism. Jewish people are diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, language and national origin.

• Some Jewish people feel more connected to the cultural aspects of being Jewish, some feel more connected to the religious aspects, and some Jewish people feel connected to both or neither.   

Some may wonder why a dedicated month is needed to commemorate a group of people, in this case Jewish people. 

Cultural commemorative months, such as Jewish American Heritage Month and others like Black History Month, Women’s History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, etc. provide opportunities for our schools, communities and society to acknowledge the history, culture, achievements and contributions of groups of people who have been historically marginalized or discriminated against. These months can also be an opening to identify and learn about the ways that those groups have worked to overcome the injustices they faced historically and in current times. 

The reason a month is dedicated to acknowledging Jewish American heritage is because oftentimes, Jewish people, the Jewish experience, Jewish stories and Jewish history is excluded, overlooked or portrayed in stereotypical or biased ways-- from what we learn in school, what narratives we read, whose accomplishments we admire and acknowledge and who we celebrate and commemorate.

Because Jewish people are only 2.4% of the U.S. adult population, many people do not know someone who is Jewish. Jewish American Heritage Month highlights the important contributions that Jewish people have made to U.S. history and the American experience.  Without the focus on the month, we may not hear these histories, stories and perspectives.   In addition, sharing this information can help to challenge and dispel stereotypes, misinformation and misconceptions about Jewish people and can inspire the study of accurate, nuanced and complex understanding of Jewish people in the U.S. Reflecting on antisemitism and how Jewish people and others have struggled to overcome it is also part of how we honor the month.

While it’s important to honor Jewish American Heritage Month, learning about Jewish people and history should not be isolated to one month during the year. In schools and communities, the stories of Jewish people and the Jewish experience should be integrated into the curriculum and into community events throughout the year. 

Jewish American Heritage Month is an opportunity to learn, celebrate (to observe in a special or festive way) and commemorate (to call to remembrance, remember with a ceremony) Jewish people and the Jewish experience in the U.S. There are a variety of ways to honor Jewish American Heritage Month in classrooms, schools, communities and online.

• Visit (either online or in person) a Jewish history museum or a museum that features Jewish artwork.

• Read literature (novels, short stories, poetry, plays, etc.) by and about Jewish American people or read Jewish children’s books.

• Watch a movie or television series that centers the Jewish experience.

• Learn about notable, famous, accomplished or important Jewish Americans from a variety of fields.

• Learn about and partake in Jewish food and cuisine and reflect on what the food reflects about Jewish history, ethnicity, religious observance and holiday celebrations.

• Listen to Jewish music. 

• Explore Jewish holidays and observances and reflect on what they mean about Jewish people, culture and identity. 

• Learn about the history of Jewish immigration to the U.S. 

• Explore the diversity of Jewish peoplehood—including the ethnic, cultural, racial, language and religious diversity.

• Share articles, thoughts and insights on social media using the hashtag #JAHM. 

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