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.
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 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, inspiring the selection of May as the official heritage month.
The first Jewish family arrived in D.C. in 1790 as waves of European immigrants settled in downtown neighborhoods. 7th Street Northwest became the main business and residential center of Jewish life in D.C. with dozens of mom-and-pop grocery stores, delis, and synagogues.
This Year’s Theme
This May, the Jewish American Heritage Month aims to amplify the “true, joyful, and powerful stories of Jewish life in America.” The organizers also see 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.”
The restored 1876 synagogue inside the Capital Jewish Museum. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
How to Celebrate in DC
Walk the cemetery grounds and hear stories of the Jewish Americans laid to rest here, including Thomas Lantos, Ruth Rappaport, and Martin Sloane. ($5, 1 p.m.)
Explore the untold narratives of female heroes of the Kielce pogrom and Jewish life in Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the Holocaust. (Free in person or virtually, 7 p.m.)
Learn D.C.’s deli history with gallery talks from chefs and authors. Make your own pickling seasoning, enjoy a pickleback shot, and dance to beats from the golden age of delis! ($15, 7 p.m.)
Ongoing: “What is Jewish Washington?” Exhibit
Head to the Capital Jewish Museum and explore local Jewish stories in D.C. through photos, maps, and interactive exhibits. The museum itself is a historic D.C. synagogue moved from its original location. (Free, All Day)
