With May marking the start of Jewish American Heritage Month, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., offered her take on the occasion:
Each May, the United States celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) which recognizes the more than 360 years of Jewish contributions throughout American history, culture and society; from sports, arts, music, literature, entertainment and history, to medicine, business, science, academia, government and military service.
Across all these fields, many Jewish Americans have contributed significantly to this nation’s struggle for freedom, justice and liberty, having helped bring about true progress in all aspects of America’s values and character.
JAHM celebrations have had a storied history, with past events having been held at the White House to the National Gallery of Art. Each year, a theme is chosen to highlight Jewish achievement and contributions to a specific aspect of American life.
This May, JAHM will celebrate Jewish illustrators, which provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize American Jews who have helped create the images that represent important parts of our everyday life, including cherished children’s books, graphic superhero novels, and daily comics and popular illustrations. These Jewish artists have both memorialized and re-imagined the American creative landscape, leaving an enduring mark on our shared national history.
The Jewish artists, writers and illustrators we celebrate this month are adept at untangling our complicated world and synthesizing lessons and insights for a broader public, yet often reflecting a deep commitment to the pursuit of freedom and justice. I am proud to have played a leading role in helping bring about this annual month of recognition.
I ask all Americans to join me in celebrating the work of Jewish illustrators and Jewish American Heritage Month throughout this May.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., was first elected to Congress in 2004.
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