Jewish American Heritage Month Fights Rising Hate With History and Joy

PHILADELPHIA, PA – May 01, 2026 – As May begins, so does the national observance of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), a month-long initiative dedicated to celebrating the vibrant history and living culture of Jewish Americans. Led by the Philadelphia-based Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, this year's commemoration arrives with a dual mission of heightened urgency: to share stories of joy and contribution while actively pushing back against a documented, historic rise in antisemitism through education, visibility, and collaboration.

Designated by Presidential Proclamation each year since 2006, JAHM is powered by The Weitzman in partnership with a vast coalition of over 200 cultural, educational, and advocacy organizations nationwide. The month aims to illuminate the nearly four-century story of Jewish life in America, a narrative deeply interwoven with the nation's own development.

A Joyful Bulwark Against Rising Hate

The theme of countering antisemitism is not merely a talking point; it is a direct response to alarming national trends. Recent data paints a stark picture of the challenges facing the Jewish community. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a staggering 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2024, the highest number ever recorded since the organization began tracking in 1979 and representing a nearly 900% increase over the past decade. These incidents included a 21% rise in physical assaults and a 20% increase in vandalism.

Further reinforcing this trend, the FBI's 2024 statistics revealed that hate crimes against Jews reached an all-time high, accounting for 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. This data provides a sobering backdrop for JAHM's mission, transforming it from a simple cultural celebration into a vital act of public education and defiance against prejudice.

"Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the depth, diversity, and vitality of Jewish life in America – a story nearly four centuries in the making and still unfolding today," said Dan Tadmor, President and CEO of The Weitzman. "At a time when antisemitism is rising, JAHM is also a powerful response through education, visibility, and joy. We are proud to lead this national effort with partners across the country who are helping more Americans understand and connect with the Jewish American story."

Education as the Primary Antidote

Central to JAHM's strategy is the firm belief that education is the most effective tool against ignorance and hate. The Weitzman is spearheading several key initiatives aimed at equipping educators and students with the resources to explore Jewish history, identity, and the complexities of antisemitism.

For the third consecutive year, the museum is sponsoring "JAHM Collection Development Grants" for members of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). These grants provide funds for school librarians to purchase books and materials that expand their collections with content on the Jewish experience. The goal is to build more inclusive libraries that can serve as an "antidote to antisemitism" by providing students with context, nuance, and diverse perspectives.

This effort extends directly into the classroom through a new collaboration with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). This partnership brings The Weitzman's vetted educational materials, drawn from its "Stories that Shaped a Nation" curriculum, to a national audience of educators through the AFT's widely used Share My Lesson platform. These resources cover topics ranging from Jewish American identity and diversity to the history of antisemitism, empowering teachers to lead informed discussions.

Weaving Jewish History into America's 250th

This year's JAHM holds special significance as the nation looks toward its 250th anniversary, or Semiquincentennial. The programming is strategically designed to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of Jewish Americans to the nation's founding and its ongoing story.

A cornerstone of this effort is The Weitzman's new landmark exhibition, "The First Salute: An Untold Story of the American Revolution." Open now, the exhibit uncovers the little-known history of a small group of Jewish merchants in the Caribbean whose support was critical to the American cause. It details how these merchants on the Dutch island of Sint Eustatius helped supply George Washington's army with crucial gunpowder and supplies, and how the island's governor offered the first-ever foreign salute to the American flag in 1776—an act for which a British admiral later blamed the island's Jewish population.

This historical deep-dive continues with a series of virtual lectures. On May 6, award-winning historian Professor Laura Arnold Leibman will present "1776: Jews and the American Revolution," followed by a May 7 discussion on "The First Salute" with Leibman and Weitzman CEO Dan Tadmor. These events, part of a broader series on 250 years of Jewish life in America, aim to firmly place the Jewish experience within the core narrative of American history.

A National Celebration for All

While its educational mission is serious, JAHM's programming is rooted in celebration and accessibility. A diverse array of events, many offered in a hybrid format, invites participation from across the country. Highlights include a Dual Heritage Month Family Day on May 3 at The Weitzman, celebrating both Jewish American and Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage in partnership with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Pennsylvania Asian Pacific American Jewish Alliance (PAPAJA).

On May 13, the celebration reaches the nation's capital with "An Evening of Sephardic Music with Lily Henley" live at the Library of Congress. The concert will feature Henley's work in reviving the Sephardic Jewish ballad tradition and the endangered Ladino language, turning cultural preservation into a vibrant, modern performance.

The central hub for all activities is the website JewishAmericanHeritage.org. The site offers a free digital toolkit, posters, social media graphics, and extensive educational resources filtered by grade level and subject. The public is encouraged to share their own stories and celebrations on social media using the hashtags #MyJAHM and #OurSharedHeritage, fostering a sense of national community and collective pride in a shared, diverse American story.