The purpose of this guide celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month on the month of April and recognizes the contributions Jewish Americans have made to America since they first arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.
Jewish American Heritage Month History
Jewish American Heritage Month had its origins in 1980 when Congress passed Pub. L. No. 96-237, which authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating April 21 - 28, 1980 as Jewish Heritage Week. On April 24, 1980, President Carter issued this first proclamation, Proclamation No. 4752 External, for Jewish Heritage Week. In this proclamation President Carter spoke about the bountiful contributions made by the Jewish people to the culture and history of the United States. He also spoke of the significance of April 1980 in the Jewish calendar, which was the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry, Israeli Independence Day, and the Days of Remembrance of Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust. (Library of Congress )
Between 1981 and 1990, Congress annually passed public laws proclaiming a week in April or May as Jewish Heritage Week, and Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush issued annual proclamations detailing important events in the history of the Jews. In 1991, Congress passed Pub. L. No. 102-30, which requested that the President designate the weeks of April 14-21, 1991 and May 3-10, 1992 as Jewish Heritage Week. In 1993, Congress passed Pub. L. No. 103-27, which requested that the President designate the weeks of April 25-May 2, 1993 and April 10-17, 1994 as Jewish Heritage Week. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton then issued three presidential proclamations between 1991 and 1994 for Jewish Heritage Week. (Library of Congress )
Between 1995 and 2006, Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush issued a series of annual presidential proclamations designating a week in April or May of each year as Jewish Heritage Week. On April 24, 1998, President Clinton issued Proclamation No. 7087, which celebrates the many contributions of Jewish Americans along with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. (Library of Congress )
Pursuant to this resolution, on April 20, 2006 President Bush issued the first proclamation designating May 2006 as Jewish American Heritage Month. Since 2007 Presidents George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden have issued proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month. These proclamations celebrate the contributions of Jewish Americans and urge the people of the United States to learn more about Jewish Americans. (Library of Congress )
Jewish Americans History
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Jewish Americans by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9780787675509Publication Date: 2014-04-11Jewish Americans share a common heritage and identity as passed down from generation to generation. For many Jews the binding force is Judaism, a term usually referring to the Jewish religion but sometimes used to refer to Jewish culture as well. One does not have to be religious to be Jewish; indeed, there are atheists who nonetheless consider themselves Jewish. In general, people in the United States who view themselves as Jewish by birth, conversion, or affiliation are Jewish. Over the years Jews have had a disproportionately large representation in American government, business, academia, and entertainment, despite facing significant discrimination. On the whole, however, Jews have found greater acceptance in the United States than in any other country.