(RNS) — In late April, President Joe Biden proclaimed May 2023 American Jewish Heritage Month, proposing that we Americans “celebrate the enduring legacy of American Jews, whose values, culture and contributions have shaped our character as a nation.”
Most Americans would be surprised to learn that this was the 43rd such proclamation by a U.S. president. Authorized by bipartisan acts of Congress, presidents have declared each year a time dedicated to honoring Jewish heritage and its contribution to the United States.
But unlike other commemorative months for other ethnic groups, Jewish heritage months passed without much fanfare or notice. That is finally changing, but as American Jewish Heritage Month 2023 draws to a close, we realize our work has only just begun.
This year, federal, state and local leaders have made unprecedented commitments to give American Jewish Heritage Month a prominent place on the calendar. Last week, the White House hosted a receptionand, in an extraordinary way joint statementthe 26 Republican governors unanimously recognized the month and “called for its observance to celebrate the historical, economic and cultural impact” of the Jewish community.
Governors of both parties, meanwhile, issue proclamations to announce the occasion for their own states, in some cases during public events at state capitols. Not less than 135 American mayors have publicly recognized the month, with most issuing proclamations or holding events. Companies are starting to join the movement: the supermarket chain Wegmans, for example, is marking the occasion with displays in its stores and on its website.
With the rise of anti-Semitism on both the far right and radical left, such celebrations take on new urgency. Most of the measures we employ to combat hatred toward Jews are defensive in nature: guards at synagogues and Jewish community centers, for example, and training of law enforcement on investigating and prosecuting crimes. of hatred. We pushed for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s standard definition of anti-Semitism; and enforced Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students facing discrimination on campus.
These and similar actions are essential, but wars cannot be won without also committing an offensive. The best strategic and proactive weapon against anti-Semitism is philosemitism – a positive appreciation of the remarkable history of the Jewish people and the values of Judaism that have helped shape civilization.
Rather than dwelling on those who hate Jews, we should celebrate how Jewish history and values were vital sources of inspiration for the founding of the United States, the civil rights movement, of Americans in support of social justice and our country’s legal system.
We should explore how fundamental Jewish beliefs, such as the creation of man in the image of God, the gift of a weekly Sabbath, and the importance of education in the lives of children, helped define the character and values of America. We should rejoice in the miraculous restoration of Jewish sovereignty over the Jewish homeland and in the deep and unique friendship between the United States and the State of Israel.
By fostering a better understanding and celebration of Jewish heritage, we can put hateful bigots on the defensive. And we can reconnect with our own country’s values at a time when Americans’ appreciation for our own heritage is sadly dissipating.
Making American Jewish Heritage Month the momentous occasion it should be is one of the key initiatives of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, on whose advisory board we serve. In collaboration with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, our work has produced encouraging results. CAM recently hosted a bipartisan Congressional Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol, where Democratic and Republican senators, representatives, and community leaders spoke about the importance of the month.
At our Global Conference of Mayors, held earlier this year in Greece, municipal proclamations for American Jewish Heritage Month were a central topic for the U.S. delegation. We are working closely with governors and mayors across the country who want to seize the opportunity for their states and cities.
We are grateful that this positive movement is gaining momentum, but there is still more to do. Educational institutions should publicize the month to their students, an appropriate curriculum should be developed and offered to schools across the country, and businesses and community institutions should organize commemorative events.
Finally, as diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in universities and the workplace proliferate and produce ever more training courses, we must ensure that these programs celebrate and celebrate protecting America’s great Jewish heritage a priority.
(Elan S. Carr served as United States special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. The Rev. Johnnie Moore was twice appointed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Both serve on the advisory board of the Movement to Combat Anti-Semitism. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)
