President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month in 2006, designating the month to acknowledge Jewish contributions to American culture, history, military, science, government, and more. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum “join in paying tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society,” according to the Jewish American Heritage Month website.
Now nearly 20 years old, Jewish American Heritage Month has steadily gained in popularity and recognition. Around the nation, events are taking place – concerts, lectures, tours and, in Tidewater, a baseball game – in honor of the special month.
To learn about events taking place elsewhere (for those who might be travelling this month), go to jewishamericanheritage.org.
To test your knowledge of the culture and heritage of the Jewish people and their contributions to the United States, go to ajc.org/jewishamericanheritagemonth.
A few events happening in Tidewater are highlighted here. To learn more, go to JewishVa.org/JAHM, where multiple ways to observe the month are outlined.
✡️May 15, Thursday
Meet the authors of Miri’s Moving Day. Stephanie Wildman and Adam Ryan Chang celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with their book, Miri’s Moving Day. An interactive read-along featuring a craft activity for pre-K through 3rd graders. 10:30 am. Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library. Information: JewishVA.org/JAHM.
✡️May 18, Sunday
History Speaks: Building on a Foundation of Hope. Explore Norfolk’s early Jewish history through the lens of the Myers family, the first permanent Jewish residents of Tidewater, with Rabbi Michael Panitz. 1 – 3 pm. Myers House, 323 Freemason Street, Norfolk. Free. RSVP: JewishVA.org/JAHM.
✡️May 21, Wednesday
JCC Senior’s Club JAHM presentation with Karen Dutton exploring the Myers House in Norfolk. A partnership between the Chrysler Museum of Art and the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the event takes place at the Simon Family JCC at 12 pm. Contact Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.
✡️May 23, Friday
Memorial Day Ceremony – Honoring Fallen Heroes. Remember those who served in this short ceremony in front of the War Veterans Flagpole. 8:30 am. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Sierra Lautman at SLautman@ujft.org.
✡️May 25, Sunday
Jewish American Heritage Month Tours at the Chrysler Museum of Art. A guided exploration of art related to Judaic themes or created by Jewish artists in the Chrysler Museum’s collection. 2 pm. Free. Chrysler Museum of Art. RSVP: JewishVA.org/JAHM.
✡️May 28, Wednesday
Jewish American Heritage Night at the Tides. Join the Tides and UJFT for the inaugural Jewish American Heritage Night when the Tides take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Discounted tickets and an exclusive JAHM 2025 t-shirt. First pitch 6:35 pm. Harbor Park. Purchase tickets: JewishVA.org/JAHM.