President George W. Bush officially proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month in 2006 to celebrate the long history and contributions of the Jewish people. More than 5.8 million people in the U.S. identify with Jewish heritage, according to 2020 census data.
Why We Celebrate in May
In September 1654, 23 Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Brazil arrived in present-day New York, then known as New Amsterdam. Though they were likely not the first Jewish people to settle in the new world, many today consider them founding pioneers of the Jewish American community.
In May 2004, a coalition of Jewish leaders and groups organized the 350th anniversary of the arrival of those 23 refugees, and it’s believed this celebration inspired the selection of May as the official heritage month.
This Year’s Theme
This May, the Jewish American Heritage Month organization, in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, aims to amplify the “true, joyful, and powerful stories of Jewish life in America.” The organization also sees this month as an “opportunity for organizations and people of all backgrounds to learn and celebrate the integral role Jewish Americans have played in shaping our nation.”
How to Celebrate in Madison
Madison has a very active Jewish community, both on the UW-Madison campus and beyond.
The Jewish Federation of Madison has put together a helpful guide for connecting with the city’s community. The organization also has a calendar of events that includes classes, holiday celebrations, and more.
Chabad Madison recently broke ground on a brand new, multimillion dollar Jewish Center on Monroe Street, after outgrowing its current Chabad House on Regent Street. When it opens, the new building will have a sanctuary, event space, classrooms, and (of course) a kitchen.
On the UW-Madison campus, both Hillel and Chabad offer Jewish activities and classes for students. But much of the programming takes a break once summer comes around.
While Passover may have come and gone, you can get into the spirit and learn about Jewish culture with this recent episode of City Cast Madison, where host Bianca Martin was joined by Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman of Shaarei Shamayim to talk about one of the most important food holidays in the Jewish tradition.
