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May is Jewish American Heritage Month.

Does it Matter?
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MAY 11, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
With so much else going on, synagogues in the
Philadelphia area are not planning events for
[Jewish American Heritage Month].

From left: Joshua Nelson and Frank London perform at a Weitzman
Jewish American Heritage Month earlier in May.

Shoot From Within
ay is Jewish American Heritage Month. That’s
been the case since 2006, when the House
and Senate voted unanimously to declare
it as such, and President George W. Bush backed the
resolution with an announcement of his own.

But did you realize that?
If you didn’t, you’re not alone.

On the spring calendar, Jewish American Heritage
Month falls after Yom HaShoah and Israel’s birthday.

This year, it also comes at a moment when rising
antisemitism is a part of the national conversation.

Finally, on the religious calendar, it arrives weeks
after Passover and weeks before Shavuot.

With so much else going on, synagogues in the
Philadelphia area are not planning events for JAHM.

Neither is the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia,
according to Jeffrey Lasday, its chief of external affairs.

However, none of this is to say that Jewish
American Heritage Month is a bad idea. It can
be a good one, according to Emily August, the
public engagement officer for the Weitzman National
Museum of American Jewish History. It just needs to
become relevant.

“It is a designated moment when the contributions
of Jews get amplified,” she said. “We have an aware-
ness-building opportunity here.”
The Weitzman, based in Old City, plays a leading
role in JAHM. It has organized a network of 200
partners around the country, representing 46 states,
to spread the word. The museum offers a set of
marketing materials and a social media campaign.

And this year, at least in Philadelphia, it is paying for
billboards about the month.

“We want everyone to celebrate JAHM in any way
they can,” August said.

But so far, JAHM is not really on the radar of any of
the denominations in the area.

Orthodox Rabbi Yonah Gross, who leads
Congregation Beth Hamedrosh in Wynnewood, said,
“I don’t foresee any major programming going on
around it. Especially this year when there’s Israeli
Independence Day and then Lag BaOmer next
week.” Reconstructionist Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy,
of Congregation Kol Emet in Yardley, also said that her
synagogue is not planning any JAHM-specific events.

“It’s a busy month for confirmation and Shavuot,”
she added. “There’s a lot going on in May.”
Reform Rabbi Geri Newburge, who leads Main
Courtesy of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Jarrad Saffren | Staff Writer



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Exponent College and a scholar of American
Jewish history, sees the month as an
opportunity to reinforce the American
story of the Jewish people. The Jewish
community today is focused on Israel.

But Bush’s 2006 resolution came on the
heels of Jewish community celebrations
in 2004 of the 350th anniversary of the
arrival of the first Jews to North America.

“To understand what’s unique about
the American Jewish experience helps
us understand a number of things,”
Eleff said.

It is the museum’s mission to help
make Eleff’s point, according to
August. The hope is to transform JAHM
into more of a cultural event to make
people aware of Jewish American
Heritage. August envisions a kickoff
event on Independence Mall and a
Jewish music festival during May. She
is already working on a community
events calendar for the month. She is
also trying to use influencers to get
young people involved.

“We have a lot of big dreams,” she
said. ■
Philadelphia Jewish
Line Reform Temple-Beth Elohim in
Wynnewood, explained that, “We’re
dealing with so many challenges as
a Jewish community right now that I
think that that is taking center stage.

I don’t have to tell you about the ADL
report where we had more incidents
of antisemitism since people started
counting these things.” Conservative
Rabbi Eliott Perlstein of Ohev Shalom
of Bucks County said that JAHM gets
“lost in the shuffle” of Yom HaShoah
and Israeli Independence Day. His
synagogue does not schedule any
JAHM programming.

“I don’t think anyone has any criti-
cism or opposition,” he said. “I don’t
think the rank and file of our commu-
nity is even aware of it.”
Each rabbi said that the month could
be a positive for the Jewish community.

Gross and Boswell-Levy believe that it
can be a good way to inform the wider,
non-Jewish community about Jewish
culture. Newburge and Perlstein think
that it’s important for Jews to receive
positive recognition from politicians.

Lasday agreed.

Zev Eleff, the president of Gratz
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