Explore Jewish American Heritage Month, celebrating the culture, traditions, and resilience of Jewish Americans in May.
During this month-long celebration, we honor and celebrate the culture and traditions that Jewish Americans bring to our local communities. Their resilience and faith help us continue our national commitment to upholding the promise of a free America for all Americans.
For centuries, Jewish refugees have fled oppression and traveled to the United States to fight for religious freedom, a key building block for America. The first Jewish settlers arrived in the United States in the mid-1600s in New Amsterdam (modern-day southern tip of Manhattan, New York City). They traveled here for better opportunities and a place to openly practice their faith without any fear of persecution.
Jewish Americans continue to enrich American life in fields such as science, law, politics, medicine, literature, music, mathematics, and art, among others. Their contributions have transformed American society forever.
History of Jewish American Heritage Month
In 2006, President George W. Bush declared May a national month-long celebration. Their brave and triumphant stories are a powerful testament to the adversity they have faced throughout their history, including antisemitism and oppression.
The dark side of celebrating the history of the Jewish people reminds us of historical events marked by genocide and antisemitism. Vicious attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses still occur in many American cities, making May a great time to learn about how to eradicate hate and stand up for change in your community.
Because of these experiences, many American Jews understand the struggles of other minorities like Black Americans and their fight against racial injustice and Jim Crow laws. In fact, Jewish Americans were significant contributors to the Civil Rights Movement in the fight for equality.
Ways to Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month remains an important time to learn about and celebrate Jewish Americans.
Education
Education is always important when deepening our understanding of the significance of the societal contributions of those around us. In addition to Jewish American Heritage Month, take the time to learn about other May Awareness and Heritage Months.
Raise Awareness & Promote Understanding
May is a great time to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Acknowledging and respecting different traditions, like Jewish traditions, helps create a sense of belonging where everyone feels understood, accepted, and heard. It’s a great time to share stories and resources. Cultural sensitivity training is also a great first step for encouraging this acceptance and understanding.
Explore Jewish Holidays
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover are all major holidays in the Jewish Calendar. Learning about the significance of Jewish holy days and religious holidays can provide important insight into all aspects of Jewish heritage.
Connect With Others
Use your influence and platforms to make Jewish voices heard throughout your organization. Post about #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth and share photos of Jewish heritage and traditions on your company’s website or blog in May and all year long. These cultural diversity initiatives create a sense of belonging for all employees.
Discover More With Our Diversity Calendar
May is a celebration of the resilience of Jewish Americans even during hardships. Best of all, it’s also a celebration of humanity. No matter what religion we practice, we are all humans. Creating a safe place for everyone to freely practice their culture and religion is always important in the workplace and the world.
Are you interested in learning more about Jewish heritage and Jewish holidays? Our Diversity Calendar is an essential resource for fostering appreciation across cultures all year long.