House Considers Bipartisan Jewish American Heritage Month Resolution

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a resolution Wednesday evening that would call on elected officials and other civic leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of Jewish Americans for Jewish American Heritage Month. 

The resolution calls on the executive branch and state and local leaders to take “all possible steps to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of American Jews in all aspects of their lives, including the workplace, college and university campuses, synagogues, and at home.”

The bipartisan resolution is sponsored by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.; Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; and Troy Carter, D-La. 

“Antisemitism is surging across our country—from college campuses to city streets—and it must be confronted head-on. I co-sponsored this resolution because standing against hate and standing with our Jewish neighbors and our ally Israel is not—and should never be—a partisan issue,” Miller-Meeks told The Daily Signal.

“I’m glad to work across the aisle with anyone willing to call out antisemitism for what it is. Silence in the face of this growing threat is not an option,” the Iowa congresswoman added. 

The resolution comes in May, which has historically been recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. The month was first celebrated by presidential proclamation by George W. Bush in April 2006. Since then, American presidents have issued proclamations for the month.

According to the House resolution, Jewish American Heritage Month “encourages all people of the United States to learn more about Jewish heritage and the contributions of Jewish people throughout the history of the United States.”

The resolution covers several noteworthy inventions by Jewish Americans. They include the shopping cart, the Polaroid instant camera, and the Barbie doll, among others. The anthem “God Bless America” was written by a Jewish American, Irving Berlin. 

The resolution cites troubling statistics regarding antisemitism and Jewish Americans. It notes that according to the American Jewish Committee, 77% of American Jews feel less safe in the U.S. since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas terrorists in Israel.

Nearly 70% of Jewish adults reported experiencing antisemitism online.

The resolution also cites Hillel International, which found that 83% of Jewish college students also either witnessed or experienced antisemitism since the October 2023 attack and ensuing war.

A recent report by Harvard University found a troubling climate on the campus. To take just one example, The Daily Signal reported that at the university’s School of Education, there was a “Pyramid of White Supremacy” graphic that characterized opposing the “boycott, divestment, and sanctions” movement against Israel as “coded genocide.”

“Make no mistake, antisemitism is a canary in the coal mine, and attacks on Jewish students in any school setting is unacceptable, and then there should be serious consequences,” Wasserman-Schultz said on the House floor in support of the resolution. 

All of these statistics contributed to what the resolution calls “record highs with incidents targeting Jews and those who are perceived as Jewish.”

According to a recent poll of registered voters, 37% of voters think Jewish Americans are more supported by Republicans than Democrats. That compared with 26% who thought the reverse. That’s a marked difference in opinion compared with last September, when voters were nearly evenly split on the issue. 

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