The Library will be closed on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in observance of Easter

Jewish American Heritage Month

Social Science, Philosophy and Religion Department, Central Library,
Israel's Independence Day Festival, at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, April 21, 2002. LAPL Photo Collection

On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush declared that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month after resolutions passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. President Barack Obama further supported this resolution with his own proclamation issued on April 30, 2013, in which he stated:

Jewish immigrants from all over the world wove new threads into our cultural fabric with rich traditions and indomitable faith, and their descendants pioneered incredible advances in science and the arts. Teachings from the Torah lit the way toward a more perfect Union, from women's rights to workers' rights to the end of segregation…Jewish Americans continue to guide our country's progress as scientists and teachers, public servants and private citizens, wise leaders and loving parents.

Read Obama’s entire proclamation.

There is much to explore on the official Jewish American Heritage Month website.

The Jewish Federations of North America provides additional content to investigate, including “This Month in Jewish History,” “The JTA Jewish News Archive,” and more.

The Library of Congress also participates in Jewish American Heritage Month, providing the complete legislative history leading up to the declaration of the heritage month, plus additional material.

You will find many resources in the Social Science, Philosophy, and Religion department on the Jewish American experience. Books about the Jewish experience in Los Angeles and the American West include:

296.9794 B645 Wrestling with the Angels: A History of Jewish Los Angeles by Blazer, Phil

296.9794 J597 Jews in the Los Angeles Mosaic

301.412978 A161 Jewish Women Pioneering the Frontier Trail: A History in the American West by Abrams, Jeanne E.

301.4509569 M821 To the Golden Cities: Pursuing the American Jewish Dream in Miami and L.A. by Moore, Deborah Dash

Exterior view of the B'nai B'rith Temple on Hope Street and Ninth Street in Los Angeles, ca.1902

Exterior view of the B'nai B'rith Temple on Hope Street and Ninth Street in Los Angeles, ca.1902

Some additional titles of interest are:

296.3 S528 Jews, God, and Videotape: Religion and Media in America by Shandler, Jeffrey

296.6 K21 Shul with a Pool: The "Synagogue-Center" in American Jewish History by Kaufman, David

296.973 M236 The Jews in Early America: A Chronicle of Good Taste and Good Deeds by Malamed, Sandra Cumings

296.973 P397 Jews and Gentiles in Early America, 1654-1800 by Pencak, William

296.973 P746 Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish by Pogrebin, Abigail

301.4157 Q35-5 2002 Queer Jews

301.4509569 L782 The un-Americans: Jews, the Blacklist, and Stoolpigeon Culture by Litvak, Joseph

355.342 S634 2001 The Fighting Rabbis: Jewish Military Chaplains and American History by Slomovitz, Albert Isaac


 

 

 

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