How did Jewish American Heritage Month start?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and all month long News4JAX is celebrating by highlighting local organizations, people and history.

Jewish American Heritage Month started in 1980 when Congress passed a resolution asking the president to declare April 21 through 28 as Jewish Heritage Week.

Following a series of yearly presidential proclamations dedicating a week in April or May each year as Jewish Heritage Week, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish Heritage Month in 2006.

The resolutions were passed unanimously.

Since 2007, Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden have issued proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month, which celebrates Jewish Americans and encourages all Americans to learn more about Jewish history and contributions to the U.S.