Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month
Lorenley Báez, Associate Provost for Equity & Belonging; Office of Equity & Belonging
Dear Students,
In 1980, the United States Congress passed a joint resolution to honor the Jewish American community by authorizing and requesting President Jimmy Carter to issue a proclamation designating April 21-28, 1980, as Jewish Heritage Week. On April 24 of that same year, President Carter issued Proclamation No. 4752, recognizing the significance of that week.
In his proclamation, President Carter noted that April 1980 in the Jewish calendar aligned with several important observances: 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 (also known as Holocaust Day of Remembrance).
In February 2006, Congress issued H.R. Con. Res. 315, urging the President to establish a national observance of American Jewish History Month. Later that April, President George W. Bush issued the first proclamation designating May 2006 as Jewish American Heritage Month.
This month, we honor and celebrate the Jewish American community while also recognizing ongoing realities of antisemitism, discrimination, and the complex political turmoil transpiring regionally, nationally, and globally. During this time, we must lead with a desire to increase empathy for each other and center our shared humanity. We must commit to healing within and bridging to belong to a collective community that is dedicated toward liberation for all people. It is only then that we can experience the joys of peace and freedom together.
I encourage you to visit Narwhal Nation for a more comprehensive listing of on-campus student-led clubs/organizations, including student-led activities.
I look forward to honoring our Jewish American community at The New School!