On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). This was a bipartisan effort sponsored in Congress by the late Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. In 2018, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History became the official convener of JAHM, responsible for staffing and organizing the month nationwide each year.
Recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month is a commitment to a more inclusive
and respectful society. Jewish Americans continue to enrich every part of American life as educators and entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, scientists and entertainers, public officials and activists, labor and community leaders, diplomats and military service members, public health heroes, and more.
This Jewish American Heritage Month, let us join hands across faiths, races, and backgrounds to make clear that evil, hate, and antisemitism will not prevail. Let us honor the timeless values, contributions, and culture of Jewish Americans, who carry our Nation forward each and every day. And let us rededicate ourselves to the sacred work of creating a more inclusive tomorrow, protecting the diversity that defines who we are as a Nation, and preserving the dignity of every human being — here at home and around the world.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President’s Proclamation
Recently the University of Delaware community received a message from Fatimah Conley, Vice President, Institutional Equity & Chief Diversity Officer. Her message shared that a live zoom speak-out will happen on Thursday, May 18th at noon. “The purpose of this event is to move from conversation to action after the most recent hate-fueled/bias incident that occurred last week. As the details of what happened unfolded and communications were sent out across campus, I heard from many people that the community needs less talk and more concrete actions. The speak-out is a step toward understanding what the campus community, especially those directly affected by bias incidents occurring on campus, deems the necessary actions to be, so that we can work on, implement and/or effectuate those things.”
Additional Resources
To learn more, please consider viewing this online exhibit The First Jewish Americans by the New-York Historical Society.
