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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING MAY AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
WHEREAS, Jewish American Heritage Month was first celebrated 18 years with a proclamation on April 20, 2006; and
WHEREAS, Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of Jewish Americans; and
WHEREAS, the recognition of heritage months is vital not only to celebrate and uplift the histories and cultures of others, but also serves to broaden our knowledge, understanding and compassion for those with lived experiences that are different from our own; and
WHEREAS, Illinois is fortunate to be the home to many famous and history-altering Jewish Americans including Betty Friedan, Peoria-born feminist writer and activist leader in the women's movement who co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW); former Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis; community advocate and activist Saul Alinsky known as a community organizer for betterment of Chicago residents; and
WHEREAS, the political field in Illinois is home to many Jewish American leaders including the first Jewish Governor Henry Horner, former Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, and current Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker; and
WHEREAS, Jewish Americans are credited with numerous life-enhancing inventions and lifesaving strides in modern medicine, such as the development of pacemakers and defibrillators by Jewish American cardiologist Paul Zoll; virologist and medical researcher Jonas Salk who is credited with developing the first polio vaccine; renowned physicist Albert Einstein who developed the theory of relativity; and theoretical physicist Richard Feynman known for the strides he made in quantum mechanics; and
WHEREAS, Jewish American have made significant contributions to the arts and culture we continue to enjoy today including singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen; composer and pianist George Gershwin; celebrated classical musician Isaac Stern; acclaimed novelist Philip Roth; and pla...
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