Dustin Purdy - Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage (May 2025)

📢 Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is celebrated each May in the United States to recognize and honor the achievements, contributions, and culture of Jewish Americans throughout American history. Established by Presidential proclamation in 2006, JAHM encourages Americans of all backgrounds to learn about the rich tapestry of Jewish American experiences—from early colonial settlers and waves of immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, to modern-day influencers in politics, science, business, arts, sports, social justice, and education.

✡️ Overview of Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world, dating back over 3,000 years. It originated in the ancient Near East, with the foundational belief in one God who revealed divine laws and teachings to the patriarch Abraham and later to Moses. Judaism is both a religion and a cultural identity, encompassing a wide range of spiritual beliefs, historical experiences, and cultural practices.

Core Beliefs

Monotheism: Belief in one, indivisible God who is just, merciful, and involved in human affairs.
The Covenant: A sacred agreement between God and the Jewish people, originally established with Abraham and reaffirmed with Moses at Mount Sinai.
The Torah: The central sacred text, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It outlines religious laws, ethics, and teachings.
The Mitzvot: Commandments—there are 613 in total—guiding daily life, including ethical behavior, rituals, and justice.
Tikkun Olam: The idea of “repairing the world” through justice, kindness, and social responsibility.

Sacred Texts

The Torah: The foundational religious text.
The Tanakh: The full Hebrew Bible (Torah, Prophets, and Writings).
The Talmud: A collection of rabbinical commentaries and discussions on Jewish law, ethics, and tradition.

Worship & Practices

Synagogue: The Jewish place of worship and community gathering.
Shabbat (Sabbath): A weekly day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Holidays: Include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Hanukkah, and others, each commemorating historical and spiritual events.

Branches of Judaism

Orthodox Judaism: Adheres strictly to traditional interpretations of Jewish law and practice.
Conservative Judaism: Balances tradition with modernity, adapting some practices while preserving core beliefs.
Reform Judaism: Emphasizes ethical teachings over ritual law and embraces modern values and inclusivity.
Reconstructionist and Humanistic Judaism: Focus on cultural identity, ethics, and community without requiring belief in a supernatural deity.

Judaism is practiced worldwide, with major communities in Israel, the United States, and across Europe, Latin America, and beyond. It continues to influence ethics, law, literature, and social justice movements globally.

Sources:

My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com)
Jewish Virtual Library (https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org)
BBC Religion: Judaism (https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism)
ReformJudaism.org (https://www.reformjudaism.org)
Chabad.org (https://www.chabad.org)

🎓 Significance & Contributions

Throughout American history, Jewish American changemakers have made profound contributions to society—advancing civil rights, revolutionizing science and medicine, shaping the arts, and advocating for justice and equity. Their resilience, creativity, and leadership continue to influence the fabric of the United States, inspiring future generations to lead with purpose and compassion.

🎓 Law, Politics, & Civil Rights

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Supreme Court Justice, champion of gender equality and civil liberties.
Bella Abzug – U.S. Representative and women’s rights leader.
Henry Kissinger – Former U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
Joseph Lieberman – First Jewish candidate on a major U.S. party presidential ticket (2000, VP candidate).
Debbie Wasserman Schultz – Long-serving Congresswoman and political advocate.

📚 Literature & Journalism

Elie Wiesel – Holocaust survivor, author of Night, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
Philip Roth – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist known for exploring Jewish-American identity.
Arthur Miller – Playwright (The Crucible, Death of a Salesman), often included Jewish themes.
Emma Lazarus – Poet whose words appear on the Statue of Liberty (“Give me your tired, your poor…”).
Gloria Steinem – Journalist, feminist icon, and co-founder of Ms. magazine.

🔬 Science & Innovation

Jonas Salk – Developer of the first polio vaccine.
Gertrude Elion – Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and pharmacologist.
Richard Feynman – Theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
Robert Oppenheimer – Theoretical physicist and “father of the atomic bomb.”

🎤 Art, Music, & Entertainment

Barbra Streisand – Iconic singer, actress, and activist.
Leonard Bernstein – Composer and conductor (West Side Story).
Steven Spielberg – Renowned film director and philanthropist.
Bob Dylan – Influential musician and Nobel Prize-winning songwriter.
Mel Brooks – Comedian and director who shaped American humor.

📢 Activism & Social Justice

Abraham Joshua Heschel – Rabbi and civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Howard Zinn – Historian and author of A People’s History of the United States.
Judith Heumann – Disability rights activist, key figure in the ADA movement.
Gloria Allred – Attorney known for high-profile women’s rights cases.

🎨 Online Exhibits & Virtual Tours

Explore these online exhibits and virtual tours to learn about the rich vibrant Jewish culture.

Online Exhibits

Virtual Tours

🗓️ Jewish American Heritage Month: A Journey Through Time

Explore this Padlet to learn more about Jewish American History.

What to learn more?

As we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, let us carry forward the knowledge, appreciation, and respect we've gained by celebrating the stories, resilience, and contributions of Jewish Americans. Their impact on history, culture, and society continues to shape our world, and it is through learning and reflection that we build a more inclusive and understanding community for all.

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