Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

54 | MAY 13 • 2021 

O

n April 30, President Joe Biden 
proclaimed May to be Jewish 
American Heritage Month, a 
time to celebrate all the Jewish contribu-
tions to American culture and history over 
the past 370 years. Americans have been 
doing so every May for the past 15 years.
The idea for an official Jewish American 
Heritage Month originated in resolutions 
introduced in 2005 by Reps. 
Deborah Wasserman Schultz 
of Florida and Henry Hyde 
of Illinois in the U.S. House, 
and Sen. Arlen Specter of 
Pennsylvania in the Senate. 
Impressed by a highly suc-
cessful national celebration 
in 2004-2005 of the 350th 
anniversary of Jews in America, they 
decided to act to make this an annual 
affair. With strong support in Congress, 
their resolutions passed in 2005. 
On April 20, 2006, President George 
W
. Bush proclaimed May to be Jewish 
American Heritage Month (JAHM). Every 
president since Bush has also issued proc-
lamation every year for JAHM.
This year, upon declaring JAHM, 
President Biden said: “The Jewish 
American experience is a story of faith, 
fortitude, and progress. It is a quintessen-
tial American experience — one that is 
connected to key tenets of American iden-
tity, including our nation’s commitment to 
freedom of religion and conscience.” 
Biden also noted two recent Jewish 
milestones: “This year, we also recognize 
two historic firsts, as America saw the vice 
president take the oath of office alongside 
her Jewish spouse [Doug Emhoff] and a 
Jewish American became the first majority 
leader of the United States Senate [Chuck 
Schumer] and the highest-ranking Jewish 
American elected official in our Nation’s 
history … 
“During Jewish American Heritage 
Month, we honor Jewish Americans, who, 
inspired by Jewish values and American 

ideals, have engaged in the ongoing work 
of forming a more perfect union.” 
This is all good to hear, especially, since 
Biden also noted the unfortunate rise in 
antisemitism in America.
It seems to me that Jewish American 
heritage is the foundation of your week-
ly JN. Each issue usually has a report 
about an aspect of Jewish history, which 
will eventually be added to the William 
Davidson Digital Archive of Detroit 
Jewish History. It is my privilege and 
honor to write about the history of Jews in 
Detroit and Michigan. As Associate Editor 
David Sachs said, “Every month is Jewish 
heritage month at the JN!”
I searched the Davidson Archive for 
articles about JAHM. I was surprised to 
see the first reference in the April 7, 2000, 
JN, five years before the national procla-
mation. That year, Wayne State President 
Irvin Reid designated April as Jewish 
Heritage Month at the university. The 
opening event featured art by WSU senior 
Talya Drissman of Farmington Hills.
There was an interesting report about 
JAHM in the June 12, 2010, JN. That year, 
on May 27, President 
Barak Obama hosted the 
first-ever White House 
reception for JAHM. Two 
local international pres-
idents of BBYO, Jeremy 
Sherman and Arielle 
Braude, attended the event.
Finally, there were two 
other pages you may enjoy. 
The May 1, 2014, JN had a 
great list of things to do for 
JAHM. And, although the 
story, “Why Are You Proud 
to Be Jewish,” was published much earlier 
on Aug. 15, 1997, it is a perfect fit for 
JAHM. 

Want to learn more? Go to the 
DJN Foundation archives, available for free at 
www.djnfoundation.org.

Jewish Heritage Month

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

There was an interesting report about 

JAHM in the June 12, 2010, JN. That year, 
JN. That year, 
JN

Braude, attended the event.

other pages you may enjoy. 

 had a 

great list of things to do for 
JAHM. And, although the 
story, “Why Are You Proud 
to Be Jewish,” was published much earlier 

