In order to best celebrate this month, we've curated a number of resources from around the web by and about Jewish Americans. This site has something for everyone! If you have questions or want to share a resource, please email Ms. Lehr, Ms. Hartman, or Ms. Lallinger.
Jewish American Heritage Month in May recognizes Jewish contributions to American culture, history, military, science, government, and more.
In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month.
Jews have lived in the United States since 1654 — before the states were even united — when twenty-three Sephardic settlers fled to New Amsterdam.
Overcoming brutal sweatshop conditions, assimilationist pressure, antisemitic regulations and even lynchings, American Jews have helped positively shift the country’s politics and economics.
Though they weren’t always welcomed with open arms, and despite the challenges they have faced over time, American Jews have flourished in what is now home to the world’s second largest community of Jews.
Jewish life in early 20th century America meant a constant question of identity. At a time when being an immigrant was far from celebrated, young Jews worked to free themselves from the “old country” traditions of their immigrant parents.
This all came to a head when the world witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust. Suddenly, progressive American Jews needed to decide what was more important: their American values or the suffering of fellow Jews across the world.
As Jews learned to balance the American dream with traditional Jewish values, a rich cultural diversity began to develop which has led to the great impact Jews have had on the United States until today.
Jewish identity doesn’t fit neatly into modern categories. Religion, ethnicity, nation—none fully capture what it means to be Jewish.
For millennia, Jews have passed down a shared history, culture, and unbroken lineage, blurring the lines between faith and peoplehood. But if Judaism doesn’t fit into any one box, what is it?
Black Jews have been a part of American history since before the colonial era, likely originating from Jews of Africa who were sold as slaves in the New World, and some slaves who converted to the Jewish faith of their slaveowners.
Jews of color stemming from Roman-African or Afro-Caribbean descent, of diverse lineage, or who convert to Judaism, continue to contribute to the rich and multi-faceted history of the Jewish people.
Many famous black Jews, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Charles Mc Dew, Daveed Diggs, Tiffany Haddish, Rashida Jones, Drake, Yitz Jordan (Y-Love), Shyne, Lenny Kravitz, Nissim Black, Eric Andre, and more have helped create awareness about this community.
Judaism has a very close relationship with food. Most holidays have one or more specific foods associated to it. There are many Jews that observe Jewish dietary laws, like keeping kosher and not cooking on Shabbat.
But what's the history of why some foods are Jewish and some are not? How did Matzo Ball Soup get its name? This video will give you a glimpse into the history of some iconic Jewish foods.
More Facts About Jewish American Heritage
Jewish Heritage Month (https://jewishamericanheritage.org/)
The US government page (https://www.jewishheritagemonth.gov/)
US National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/jewish-american-heritage)
The US National Park Service has a list of historic places related to Jewish American Heritage Month (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/jewish-american-heritage-month.htm)
The ALA/AASL has a list of sources they use for Jewish American Heritage Month (https://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/promo/jahm)
Programming Librarian ALA, American Library Association (https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/jewish-american-heritage-month)
Jewish Women/s Archive looks to have some sources and links to exhibits as well (https://jwa.org/discover/throughtheyear/may/jahm)
Learning to "Speak for Yourself" (Poem) by Jay Schwartz
Read poems, essays, and more poetry-related works from Poets.org on one of the internet's best poetry websites!
Click here to access our Jewish American Collection!! We will continue to add to this collection, so bookmark it!
To sign in, use your email name (everything before the @) and your PowerSchool/lunch number as your password.
Movies that represent and celebrate Jewish Heritage. This list from Common Sense Media has titles for ALL ages!