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Why do we have Jewish Heritage Month?
President George W. Bush proclaimed the month of May to be Jewish Heritage Month on April 20, 2006, after resolutions introduced by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), passed the House and the Senate, respectively, to honor the contributions of Jewish people to the history of America.
There seems to be no particular reason Jewish Heritage Month is in May, except for the celebration of 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in 2004 happened to be scheduled in May, and it stuck.
Americans and the Holocaust
While recent public sentiment seems to label things like the pro-Palestine movement as anti-semitic and pretend like the United States has always been supportive of Jewish people, history clearly shows that we as a country have not been kind. In several books I’ve read to my children about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the authors describe how people treated her differently because she was Jewish. The book The People’s Painter describes that artist Ben Shahn had a similar experience.
As Hitler’s Holocaust was spreading across Germany, thousands of people boarded boats to seek asylum in other countries. Over 900 refugees were on the boat SS St. Louis, but the United States refused to accept them, claiming concern the ship could contain Nazi spies. They were also denied harbor in Cuba, and eventually were forced to return to Europe. Once returned, hundreds of the refugees were murdered by the Nazis. However, the United States Holocaust Museum also indicates that the United States was the country that accepted the most refugees between 1933-1945.
Read also: History of Forced Sterilization in the United States
It should be no surprise that there is such an expansive list of Jewish Americans to highlight this month because there are so many incredible Jewish people to choose from! This is by no means an exhaustive list, I barely scratched the surface!
Note: The Radical Agenda believes in supporting independent bookstores over big box stores, so we share book links using Bookshop.org. Click on the picture to order your copy of the books that catch your eye, and thank you for supporting small businesses around the country!
Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrans by Norman Finklestein, illustrated by Vesper Stamper
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky
Frankie Liked to Sing by John Seven, illustrated by Jana Christy
The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Evan Turk
The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Create Rhapsody in Blue by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
