Jewish-American Heritage Month is a relatively new heritage month, first proclaimed by President George W. Bush in 2006. But despite the newness of the month-long celebration, there’s no denying the over three and a half centuries of contributions Jewish Americans have made to the U.S.
May was chosen to celebrate Jewish Americans as it coincided with the 350th anniversary of American Jewish History, as declared by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History.
Jewish influence is ingrained in our culture, from the Hasidic Jewish neighborhoods of Brooklyn to TV shows like Amazon’s Transparent, which follows the stories of an American-Jewish family. But the Jewish influence casts a wider net than what we see. There are several prominent Jewish figures who’ve influenced us all.
Bob Dylan is one of the most influential musicians of all time. His accessible folk music changed the very definition of what a “hit” was, and he was handsomely rewarded for his work. Throughout his career, he’s won 12 Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Nobel Prize in Literature. He’s also a member of the esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Olympic champion Aly Raisman is in the midst of crafting a legendary story. The young gymnast was part of the gold-medal-winning “Final Five” at the Rio Games in 2016. This year, she has been a leading voice in the testimony against Larry Nassar, the doctor who sexually assaulted hundreds of young female gymnasts. She has also led the call for change in the US Olympic Committee.
Tony-winning Broadway star Daveed Diggs gained national stardom as part of the original Hamilton cast. He recently debuted the film Blindspotting, which he co-wrote, at the Sundance Film Festival. Reviews have been almost unanimously stellar.
Jewish Americans have made, and continue to make, some of the most significant societal contributions of our time. Now’s the time to properly honor them
