Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) takes place in May, honoring a community whose story in North America spans more than three centuries. Jewish people arrived in what is now the United States as early as 1654, when a group of twenty-three Sephardic Jews fleeing the Portuguese Inquisition landed in New Amsterdam (present-day New York). Over time, waves of Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe immigrated to escape pogroms and economic hardship, followed later by Jews from North Africa and the Middle East. They established synagogues and schools, created businesses, and fought for civil rights. From peddlers and tailors to scientists and Supreme Court justices, Jewish Americans have been central to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life.

Recognition of this history culminated in 2006 when Congress passed resolutions urging the President to proclaim a month for celebrating Jewish American heritage. President George W. Bush issued the first proclamation on April 20, 2006, designating May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The choice of May coincided with the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America in 2004 and allowed schools and organizations to highlight contributions during the academic year.

JAHM celebrations include lectures on Jewish history, art exhibits featuring works by Jewish painters like Mark Rothko and Eva Hesse, and culinary events highlighting foods such as challah, matzah ball soup and falafel. Synagogues and community centers host concerts of klezmer music and discussions on Yiddish theater. Universities screen films about Jewish experiences, from immigration stories to documentaries on the Holocaust and the birth of Israel. In classrooms, students learn about figures like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, composer Leonard Bernstein and baseball player Hank Greenberg.

Beyond heritage, the month underscores themes of resilience and solidarity. It reminds Americans of the importance of religious freedom and the need to combat antisemitism. Public programs emphasize the diversity within Jewish communities—Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, Persian—and encourage dialogue about identity and belonging. As May unfolds, the aroma of brisket and kugel fills kitchens, and the soulful strains of a clarinet imitate human laughter and weeping. By month’s end, participants come away with a richer understanding of how Jewish Americans have both preserved ancient traditions and shaped the modern United States.