JAHM 2021
About JAHM
<p><strong>CELEBRATING THE PROMISE OF A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND DEDICATED TO HUMAN EQUALITY</strong></p>
<p>Every year, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/30/a-proclamation-on-jewish-american-heritage-month-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by Presidential Proclamation</a>, May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in recognition of the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society.</p>
<p>Each year, this national celebration shows the ways in which this history deserves our collective attention, pride, and recognition.</p>
<p>The stories of American Jewish life are quintessential American stories of resilience, aspiration, imagination, determination, and achievement.</p>
<p>Explore the resources below to learn more about how Jews have shaped and been shaped by America across almost four centuries. Spread the word…and join in the celebration this May!</p>
<p><strong>ABOUT JAHM 2021<br />
</strong></p>
<p>This May, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM)–established by Presidential Proclamation each year since 2006–will recognize the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society.</p>
<p>The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) in Philadelphia leads this nationwide celebration that features a month-long series of events, including a virtual Capitol Hill event and the premiere of an important documentary about a Rabbi who played a key role in the Civil Rights movement. More than 75 partner organizations across 29 states–from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California–will participate in JAHM’s national programming and education campaign.</p>
<p>“For more than 360 years, American Jews have always risen to contribute to society and culture, including science, medicine, sports, business, civil rights, government, and military service,” said NMAJH CEO, Dr. Misha Galperin. “We’re working to raise awareness about those contributions and to stem the roots of antisemitism by bringing stories of American Jewish experience to life.”</p>
<p><strong>JAHM’s History</strong></p>
<p>JAHM began as an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders. Through the bi-partisan efforts of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and the late Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, JAHM was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor the contributions and achievements of Jewish Americans and to educate all Americans. It’s been continued every year since then by Presidential Proclamation. Other notable milestones include the formation of a national advisory committee in 2007 to drive the effort forward; NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman, a New Jersey native and University of Pennsylvania graduate, carrying the original JAHM proclamation into space in 2010, and President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama hosting the first-ever White House reception in honor of JAHM that same year. In 2018, NMAJH became the home of JAHM and now leads the nationwide effort.</p>
<p><strong>JAHM 2021 Theme</strong></p>
<p>This Jewish American Heritage Month takes its theme from the ancient sage Rabbi Hillel’s most well-known saying–“If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now—when?”–and the work of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma.</p>
<p>JAHM will highlight historical moments in which American Jewish communities demonstrated remarkable resilience and care for communities outside of their own, and also how diverse communities stood up for Jews in the face of antisemitism. The month will showcase contemporary stories of communities transcending difference to come together in mutual support and solidarity and amplify diverse voices within the Jewish community. JAHM will work to fight not only explicit antisemitism, but also its insidious influences and discrimination against people of all races, religions, and walks of life.</p>
<p>“If antisemitism is a disease, then activities like Jewish American Heritage Month are a vaccine,” added Galperin. “One small step, with a big impact that every individual, city, and state can take right now, is to simply celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month in their communities.”</p>
<p><strong>JAHM Programming</strong></p>
<p>JAHM 2021 will feature a series of hallmark events as well as highlight the work of its national community partners throughout May.</p>
<ul>
<li>The month of activities will kick off with a two-part event featuring <strong>an all-day free screening of the film, </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Audacity-Abraham-Joshua-Heschel/dp/B08R322446"><strong><em>Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Heschel Story</em></strong></a><em>, </em>a documentary by the widely acclaimed filmmaker <a href="http://journeyfilms.com/about/">Martin Doblmeier</a> released for Jewish American Heritage Month about the prophetic civil rights leader.</li>
<li>The screening will culminate in a conversation on the lessons of the Heschel-King legacy and its relevance today in fighting hate in all form with members of the <strong>Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. </strong></li>
<li>Typically held in person at the U.S. Capitol, <strong>this year’s Congressional JAHM Celebration in which legislative, administration, and other leaders honor American Jewish heritage and communities, will be held virtually. </strong>Our nation’s legislators will offer their perspectives on the importance of honoring and celebrating Jewish American heritage across the country. The event will also honor Holocaust Survivor and authoritative voice on the subject of antisemitism, Abe Foxman, the former longtime director of the Anti-Defamation League.</li>
<li>Other activities throughout the month also include: a program with the Combat Antisemitism Movement on the <strong>lessons of the Soviet Jewry movement for today and how everyday people can leverage the power of their voices to make change</strong>; an event celebrating the diversity of American Jewish life through <strong>stories of Asian American Jewish experience</strong> in partnership with The Andrew and Ann Tisch Center for Jewish Dialogue at ANU, The Museum of the Jewish People; and more conversations, performances, and partnerships that will be unveiled in the weeks to come. JAHM and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month share the month of May.</li>
<li><strong>A New Member for the Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame: </strong>New for 2021, JAHM will feature <strong>a nationwide initiative to select the first community-based inductee into the NMAJH Ed Snider <em>Only in America</em>® Gallery/Hall of Fame</strong>. Nominees will be Jewish Americans who embody the spirit of this year’s JAHM theme and have been dedicated to helping others and making a difference in their community during the past year. Details on how the public can participate in the nomination and voting process will be available on the JAHM website by May 1..</li>
</ul>
<p>JAHM 2021 is organized by <a href="https://nmajh.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NMAJH</a> and co-produced with <a href="https://jmuse.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jMUSE</a></p>
<p>Image:<br />
Hanukkah menorah, Manfred Anson, National Museum of American Jewish History, 2011.139.1. Donated by Dr. Aaron Feingold in honor of Zara Feingold and Rachel Feingold.</p>
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