During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the
profound contributions that the Jewish faith and its traditions have had on our
Nation. Two hundred years ago, in April 1818, Mordecai Noah delivered his
famous discourse before the members of America’s first synagogue, Congregation
Shearith Israel, upon the consecration of their new house of worship.
Reflecting on Jewish history as well as on the unique rights and privileges
afforded to American Jews, Noah proclaimed that, “for the first time in
eighteen centuries, it may be said that the Jew feels he was born equal, and is
entitled to equal protection; he can now breathe freely.”
Jewish Americans have helped guide the moral character of
our Nation. They have maintained a strong commitment to engage deeply in
American society while also preserving their historic values and
traditions. Their passion for social justice and showing kindness to
strangers is rooted in the beliefs that God created all people in his image and
that we all deserve dignity and peace. These beliefs have inspired Jewish
Americans to build mutual-support societies, hospitals, and educational
institutions that have enabled them and their fellow Americans to advance
American society. Jewish Americans marched for civil rights in Selma and
fought for the freedom of their brethren behind the Iron Curtain. Through
their actions, they have made the world a better place.
The contributions of the Jewish people to American society
are innumerable, strengthening our Nation and making it more prosperous.
American Jews have proudly served our country in all branches of government,
from local to Federal, and they have defended our freedom while serving in the
United States Armed Forces. The indelible marks that American Jews
have left on literature, music, cinema, and the arts have enriched the American
soul. In their enduring tradition of generosity, Jewish Americans have
established some of the largest philanthropic and volunteer networks in the
Nation, providing humanitarian aid and social services to those in need at home
and abroad, acting as a “light unto the nations.” Universities and other
institutions around the country proudly display Nobel prizes won by Jewish
Americans in the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics, and economics.
In reaction to Mordecai Noah’s 1818 discourse, Thomas
Jefferson wrote that American laws protect “our religious as they do our civil
rights by putting all on an equal footing.” The American Jewish community
is a shining example of how enshrining freedom of religion and protecting the
rights of minorities can strengthen a nation. Through their rich culture
and heritage, the Jewish people have triumphed over adversity and enhanced our
country. For this and many other reasons, the American Jewish community
is deserving of our respect, recognition, and gratitude.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim
May 2018 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all
Americans to celebrate the heritage and contributions of American Jews and to
observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP
