At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., released a statement honoring Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). At the start of her congressional career, Wasserman Schultz helped pass a resolution designating May as JAHM.
“I welcome all Americans to join me in celebrating the determination and resiliency of Jewish Americans during Jewish American Heritage Month throughout this May,” Wasserman Schultz said. “This May, I am delighted to celebrate the 16th annual Jewish American Heritage Month. When I first sponsored the legislation creating JAHM in 2005, our goal was to honor and share the amazing contributions that American Jews have made to our nation.
“This year, our theme highlights historical moments in which American Jewish communities demonstrated resiliency and care, especially for communities outside of our own. A year into the global pandemic, with a rise in white supremacy and anti-Semitism, that resiliency has been put to the test. But as always, American Jews rose to the occasion, and we have so much to show for it, including some historic firsts in Jewish American History,” she continued.
“With the fall and winter elections, Doug Emhoff is now the first Jewish Second Gentleman – and the first Second Gentleman ever. Senator Jon Ossoff’s victory marks the first time Georgia has sent a Jew to the Senate and the first time a Southern state has elected a Jewish Senator in over four decades. And across the globe, Jewish doctors, nurses, scientists, and organizations led the charge to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wasserman Schultz added.
“So, while we urge everyone to get vaccinated and mask up, we also encourage you to celebrate our history this May primarily on social media and with online events,” she said in conclusion. “We all must do more to promote a greater understanding of our community, combat anti-Semitism and increase awareness of the tremendous impact Jewish Americans have made on our country’s history. I welcome all Americans to join me in celebrating the determination and resiliency of Jewish Americans during Jewish American Heritage Month throughout this May. Thank you.”
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