From the Jewish Museum of Florida:
May is a time when we gather to share the pride of what American Jews have accomplished and contributed. As all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, this program explores the immeasurable impact of the influx of Jewish immigrants.
Stephen Whitfield of Brandeis University will speak on how Jews have changed America, and how America has changed them, including examples of Jews in Hollywood and music.
Jewish Museum of Florida's Founding Executive Director Marcia Jo Zerivitz, who initiated the concept for an annual Jewish American Heritage Month.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the efforts for the resolution signed by President George W. Bush in 2006, will also be featured on the program.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Broward County are co-sponsoring this event with the Jewish Museum of Florida and were represented by Pepi Dunay, the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Director of Community Relations and Elaine Bloom, Board Member, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
WHAT IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH?
Like other groups' months, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is the time to celebrate the contributions of American Jews to the fabric of our nation's lives. America has been both a haven and a home to Jews. Many arrived as immigrants seeking escape from persecution, and in finding freedom, tolerance and opportunities here, have given back in all areas to enrich our national culture.
Each May, the President of the U.S. issues a Proclamation and President Barack Obama has also hosted JAHM receptions in the White House.
2012 OBSERVANCE
The theme is Immigration. Since arriving in St. Augustine, Florida in the 1500s (as conversos) or in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1654, the Jewish people have achieved great success in America, toiling tirelessly in strengthening the nation and in their commitments to faith and family.
The speaker, Stephen Whitfield, says, "A century ago, over two million Jews came to the United States from eastern and central Europe (from 1881 until 1914). The impact of these newcomers has been immeasurable. They changed America. No other Diaspora community has ever been larger or more powerful or more secure. But America also changed the newcomers. Their magnitude, their influence, their success also led to a rethinking of how the nation defined itself - and Jewish thinkers and writers felt compelled to address the question of how Jewish allegiance might be reconciled with American citizenship, so that any tension would be creative."
Stephen Whitfield, author of eight books, was raised in Jacksonville, FL and teaches in the American Studies Program at Brandeis University. He earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1972 in the History of American Civilization, an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Tulane University. Whitfield has had Visiting Professorships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at the Catholic University of Leven/Louvain-la-Neuve, twice at the University of Paris IV (Sorbonne), and at the University of Munich. He was the JAHM speaker in 2007 on the Contributions of American Jews to American Music.
From the Jewish Museum of Florida:
May is a time when we gather to share the pride of what American Jews have accomplished and contributed. As all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, this program explores the immeasurable impact of the influx of Jewish immigrants.
Stephen Whitfield of Brandeis University will speak on how Jews have changed America, and how America has changed them, including examples of Jews in Hollywood and music.
Jewish Museum of Florida's Founding Executive Director Marcia Jo Zerivitz, who initiated the concept for an annual Jewish American Heritage Month.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the efforts for the resolution signed by President George W. Bush in 2006, will also be featured on the program.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Broward County are co-sponsoring this event with the Jewish Museum of Florida and were represented by Pepi Dunay, the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Director of Community Relations and Elaine Bloom, Board Member, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
WHAT IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH?
Like other groups' months, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is the time to celebrate the contributions of American Jews to the fabric of our nation's lives. America has been both a haven and a home to Jews. Many arrived as immigrants seeking escape from persecution, and in finding freedom, tolerance and opportunities here, have given back in all areas to enrich our national culture.
Each May, the President of the U.S. issues a Proclamation and President Barack Obama has also hosted JAHM receptions in the White House.
2012 OBSERVANCE
The theme is Immigration. Since arriving in St. Augustine, Florida in the 1500s (as conversos) or in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1654, the Jewish people have achieved great success in America, toiling tirelessly in strengthening the nation and in their commitments to faith and family.
The speaker, Stephen Whitfield, says, "A century ago, over two million Jews came to the United States from eastern and central Europe (from 1881 until 1914). The impact of these newcomers has been immeasurable. They changed America. No other Diaspora community has ever been larger or more powerful or more secure. But America also changed the newcomers. Their magnitude, their influence, their success also led to a rethinking of how the nation defined itself - and Jewish thinkers and writers felt compelled to address the question of how Jewish allegiance might be reconciled with American citizenship, so that any tension would be creative."
Stephen Whitfield, author of eight books, was raised in Jacksonville, FL and teaches in the American Studies Program at Brandeis University. He earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1972 in the History of American Civilization, an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Tulane University. Whitfield has had Visiting Professorships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at the Catholic University of Leven/Louvain-la-Neuve, twice at the University of Paris IV (Sorbonne), and at the University of Munich. He was the JAHM speaker in 2007 on the Contributions of American Jews to American Music.
From the Jewish Museum of Florida:
May is a time when we gather to share the pride of what American Jews have accomplished and contributed. As all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, this program explores the immeasurable impact of the influx of Jewish immigrants.
Stephen Whitfield of Brandeis University will speak on how Jews have changed America, and how America has changed them, including examples of Jews in Hollywood and music.
Jewish Museum of Florida's Founding Executive Director Marcia Jo Zerivitz, who initiated the concept for an annual Jewish American Heritage Month.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the efforts for the resolution signed by President George W. Bush in 2006, will also be featured on the program.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Broward County are co-sponsoring this event with the Jewish Museum of Florida and were represented by Pepi Dunay, the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Director of Community Relations and Elaine Bloom, Board Member, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
WHAT IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH?
Like other groups' months, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is the time to celebrate the contributions of American Jews to the fabric of our nation's lives. America has been both a haven and a home to Jews. Many arrived as immigrants seeking escape from persecution, and in finding freedom, tolerance and opportunities here, have given back in all areas to enrich our national culture.
Each May, the President of the U.S. issues a Proclamation and President Barack Obama has also hosted JAHM receptions in the White House.
2012 OBSERVANCE
The theme is Immigration. Since arriving in St. Augustine, Florida in the 1500s (as conversos) or in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1654, the Jewish people have achieved great success in America, toiling tirelessly in strengthening the nation and in their commitments to faith and family.
The speaker, Stephen Whitfield, says, "A century ago, over two million Jews came to the United States from eastern and central Europe (from 1881 until 1914). The impact of these newcomers has been immeasurable. They changed America. No other Diaspora community has ever been larger or more powerful or more secure. But America also changed the newcomers. Their magnitude, their influence, their success also led to a rethinking of how the nation defined itself - and Jewish thinkers and writers felt compelled to address the question of how Jewish allegiance might be reconciled with American citizenship, so that any tension would be creative."
Stephen Whitfield, author of eight books, was raised in Jacksonville, FL and teaches in the American Studies Program at Brandeis University. He earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1972 in the History of American Civilization, an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Tulane University. Whitfield has had Visiting Professorships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at the Catholic University of Leven/Louvain-la-Neuve, twice at the University of Paris IV (Sorbonne), and at the University of Munich. He was the JAHM speaker in 2007 on the Contributions of American Jews to American Music.
From the Jewish Museum of Florida:
May is a time when we gather to share the pride of what American Jews have accomplished and contributed. As all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, this program explores the immeasurable impact of the influx of Jewish immigrants.
Stephen Whitfield of Brandeis University will speak on how Jews have changed America, and how America has changed them, including examples of Jews in Hollywood and music.
Jewish Museum of Florida's Founding Executive Director Marcia Jo Zerivitz, who initiated the concept for an annual Jewish American Heritage Month.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the efforts for the resolution signed by President George W. Bush in 2006, will also be featured on the program.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Broward County are co-sponsoring this event with the Jewish Museum of Florida and were represented by Pepi Dunay, the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Director of Community Relations and Elaine Bloom, Board Member, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
WHAT IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH?
Like other groups' months, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is the time to celebrate the contributions of American Jews to the fabric of our nation's lives. America has been both a haven and a home to Jews. Many arrived as immigrants seeking escape from persecution, and in finding freedom, tolerance and opportunities here, have given back in all areas to enrich our national culture.
Each May, the President of the U.S. issues a Proclamation and President Barack Obama has also hosted JAHM receptions in the White House.
2012 OBSERVANCE
The theme is Immigration. Since arriving in St. Augustine, Florida in the 1500s (as conversos) or in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1654, the Jewish people have achieved great success in America, toiling tirelessly in strengthening the nation and in their commitments to faith and family.
The speaker, Stephen Whitfield, says, "A century ago, over two million Jews came to the United States from eastern and central Europe (from 1881 until 1914). The impact of these newcomers has been immeasurable. They changed America. No other Diaspora community has ever been larger or more powerful or more secure. But America also changed the newcomers. Their magnitude, their influence, their success also led to a rethinking of how the nation defined itself - and Jewish thinkers and writers felt compelled to address the question of how Jewish allegiance might be reconciled with American citizenship, so that any tension would be creative."
Stephen Whitfield, author of eight books, was raised in Jacksonville, FL and teaches in the American Studies Program at Brandeis University. He earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1972 in the History of American Civilization, an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Tulane University. Whitfield has had Visiting Professorships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at the Catholic University of Leven/Louvain-la-Neuve, twice at the University of Paris IV (Sorbonne), and at the University of Munich. He was the JAHM speaker in 2007 on the Contributions of American Jews to American Music.
