This coming Tuesday, May 16, the White House will host a reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). An oft-overlooked entry in the coterie of American history months, JAHM was first celebrated in 2006. President Barack Obama was the first to host a White House reception to honor the month in 2010, but the program was cut in 2013 due to a budget sequester and was never renewed.
In many ways, JAHM’s lack of renown illustrates an American Jewish community somewhat mystified by its own legacy. Bereft of significant support from American Jewry, JAHM has mostly floundered on the sidelines of the American historical calendar since its inception. With the vast resources made available by the American Jewish community for Holocaust memorials, museums, and education, as well as Israel education and advocacy, one begins to wonder why American Jews appear in less of a rush to publicize and celebrate their own history, which spans countless milestones across the fields of medicine, science, technology, art, law, literature, stage, film, psychology, public policy and strategy, social justice, military service, and more.
During this month for celebrating our nation’s Jewish history, we encourage all our members to choose a significant memory from Jewish American History and share it with us @stephenwisetemple, #JAHM.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel