Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month. This month serves as a time to celebrate the contributions and experiences of Jewish Americans throughout our nation’s history.
Today, approximately 7.6 million Jewish Americans make up roughly 2.4% of the U.S. population. A quarter of Jewish Americans live in the New York City metropolitan area; our city has the second-largest Jewish population of any city in the world! We have many people on staff and people we serve who are Jewish American.
The city’s large Jewish population has produced trailblazers in nearly every field imaginable: whether it’s Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, composer Irving Berlin, or baseball star Hank Greenberg, there are countless Jewish New Yorkers whose contributions to our society and culture we commemorate this month, and all year long.
Unfortunately, Jewish Americans continue to face discrimination and prejudice in our city and our country. There has been a staggering rise in antisemitism in our country in the past couple of years. Together, we must all combat antisemitism and other forms of hate. We stand with our staff, friends, neighbors, the people we serve, and all Jewish Americans. We will continue to work towards racial equity and social justice.
If you or someone you know has faced harassment or discrimination, contact the NYC Commission on Human Rights by filling out an online form or by calling 212-416-0197. If you are a victim of or witness a hate crime, call 911. There is language support if you need interpretation services.
