Posted on 04/22/2006 12:13:59 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
In a history-making moment, President George W. Bush is expected next week to proclaim May of every year as Jewish American Heritage Month.
The proclamation will be the culmination of months of work by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who pushed resolutions through the House and Senate that urged Bush to take action. That’s no small feat for a first-term Demo-crat.
Now it’s up to school districts, museums and community groups to make the symbolic designation meaningful. Wasserman Schultz wants these institutions to raise awareness about Jewish contributions to American life, as they have done with Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
"We’ve all observed a precipitous rise in bigotry and anti-Semitism across the country and globally," said Wasserman Schultz. "If through educational and cultural programming we can foster understanding and tolerance, that would be a significant accomplishment."
The month of May will replace the little-known Jewish American Heritage week in April that has been proclaimed annually by presidents - including Bush - since 1980. May was chosen because it does not include any major Jewish holidays.
"There will be no religious emphasis," Wasserman Schultz said. "It will be purely cultural and educational, so we didn’t want it tied to any particular Jewish holiday."
The U.S. House of Representatives put a stop to laws commemorating a certain period of time in 1995, responding to the deluge of members seeking a symbolic way to connect with certain constituents or special-interest groups. But lawmakers still ask the president frequently to issue proclamations, and he has honored Irish Americans, the Wright brothers and family caregivers.
Bush courted Jewish voters, who traditionally lean Democratic, during his two presidential campaigns. He began an annual Hanukkah celebration at the White House. Before last year’s event, the White House brought in a team of three rabbis to oversee the cleansing of the kitchen and preparation of kosher food.
"The president recognizes the importance of celebrating Jewish-American contributions to the nation," said White House spokesman Blair Jones.
Wasserman Schultz will officially announce Jewish American Heritage Month at a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach. The museum’s founding executive director, Marcia Zerivitz, worked closely with Wasserman Schultz.
"We don’t want to forget the larger story of immigration and that everyone has come from somewhere else," Zerivitz said. "American Jews have contributed so much, and we thought we should have a month to commemorate that."
Well the blacks get a month , the jews get a Month, The irish get Saint patty's day.
Likely this is to set us up for Muslim History Month just before election day...that will fire up the base.
The italians USED to get Columbus day...
Way to bring the country together George!!
C'mon guys, we have a Womans History Month after all.
But, but, May is so Catholic, it's the month of Mary. I don't think this was a good choice for a Jewish History month. And, how stupid, to think you can study Jewish Culture, without the Jewish religion.
Ack, I hope I don't get flambed here.
February?
good feaking grief.
Can Homosexual Month and Pit Bull Month and Muslim Freedom Fighters Month be far behind?
As soon as the schools return Spring Break to Easter Break and Winter Break to Christmas Break, I'll consider Jewish/black/Muslim/Presbyterian months.
Someone overlooked the Hispanic bloc when choosing May. La Raza will be complaining that the Jewish folks got the entire month while Latinos have to settle for one stinking Cinco de Mayo.
Why dont we get to the point; every month is, "anything but white and Christian" month.
I'll take June for North Georgia Redneck history month!
Wonderful news!
"Cinco de Mayo."
Cinco de Mayo is cancelled for us this year.
Send em the hell back to mexico and they can have a take-back-the-month parade!
So a Jewish Woman will get two months. A Black Jewish Woman will have three months. That's a quarter of a year. That's discrimination! Call the ACLU!
When will we have a Welsh month? How about a day?
That leaves 10 months unaccounted for. I suggest one month be set aside as "non-hyphenated-Americans history month."
I figure we will get a Welsh month about the same time we get a Redneck Month. I wouldnt hold my breath.
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