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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is encouraging mayors across the United States to officially proclaim and celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) at the municipal level in May.
Partnering with CAM in these efforts, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria recently sent a letter to fellow city leaders in the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) urging them to initiate and participate in JAHM activities.
“For centuries, Jewish Americans have shaped the great American story — advancing the values and spirit that drive our nation forward,” Mayor Gloria — who attended and delivered keynote remarks at the CAM-organized 2024 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Beverly Hills, California, last December — said.
“At a time when antisemitism is rising to record levels, its more important than ever to uplift and celebrate the contributions of our Jewish Community,” he added. “I ask my fellow mayors across the country to join me in officially proclaiming ‘Jewish American Heritage Month’ in our cities this May.”
The full text of the letter Mayor Gloria’s sent to his USCM peers can be read HERE.
Mayor Gloria was among the 172 city mayors and 37 state governors who recognized JAHM in May 2024, an indication of the growing awareness of the critical importance and timely relevance of this annual opportunity to highlight Jewish contributions to U.S. society and educate the general public about Jewish culture, traditions, and history.
Similar JAHM letters were sent to the U.S. Conference of Mayors by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in 2024 and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney two years ago.
Recognizing and celebrating JAHM was a key element included in the Municipal Antisemitism Action Index unveiled by CAM at the Beverly Hills summit.
“We are deeply grateful for Mayor Gloria’s exemplary leadership in issuing this vital call to action, and appreciate the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s participation in this impactful collective effort,” CAM Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz stated. “We are proud of our daily collaboration with mayors to secure and nurture Jewish life in cities across the United States, and the JAHM municipal initiative is a clear and successful result of that joint work.”
In 2006, the U.S. Congress passed a bipartisan resolution urging “the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on state and local governments and the people of the United States to observe an American Jewish History Month.”
Shortly thereafter, then-President George W. Bush declared May as Jewish American Heritage Month.
Since then, successive presidents from both parties have all released annual proclamations emphasizing the integral and unique role Jews have played in the American experience over the past three and a half centuries.
Local governments — at the state, county, and municipal levels — have begun to follow suit, recognizing JAHM and implementing relevant programs, ceremonies, and activities, and CAM has made a concerted nationwide push to get more to do so in recent years.
In addition to its work with mayors on this issue, CAM also hosted a JAHM congressional breakfast on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in 2023, bringing together senators, representatives, and staff members from both sides of the political aisle, and plans to do so again this year.
A template for official state and municipal JAHM proclamations is available HERE.
