CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Mayor Jerry P. Dyer
_____ _________________________________ ________________________________ LEE BR JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor TYLER MAXWELL, Council President
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ESMER ANNALISA PEREA, Vice President MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember District 2
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PAUL C MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3 LUIS CHAVEZ, Councilmember District 5
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GARRY GARRY BREDEFELD, Councilmember District 6 NELSON ESPARZA, Council District 7
WHEREAS, since their 16th Century arrival in what was then Colonial America, Jewish immigrants have played a central role in the United States of America’s creation, growth, freedom, prosperity, and strength; and
WHEREAS, the biblical and contemporary history of the Jewish people and the enduring values of the Jewish faith were vital sources of inspiration for the founding of the United States, the Civil Rights movement, America’s global leadership in the cause of freedom, Americans’ commitment to social justice, and many of our Country’s most central tenets; and
WHEREAS, as with the nation, Jews have long been a part of Fresno’s rich history. B'nai B'rith, the Jewish service organization, established a cemetery more than a century ago before eventually turning it over to Temple Beth Israel, which was founded around 1919. Fresno’s Jewish population is today a central part of the City’s civic life, serving as business owners, judges, attorneys, and other prominent positions; and
WHEREAS, the Jewish community has helped to define the nation’s character and values through core beliefs such as the creation of man in the image of God, the infinite value of every human life, the need for a weekly Sabbath, and the importance of education in the lives of children; and
WHEREAS, The State of Israel is now celebrating the 75th anniversary of its modern founding and its emergence over the last few decades as a beacon of prosperity and a world leader in technology, agriculture, water conservation, medicine, and all manner of innovation; and
WHEREAS, for 42 years, every U.S. president has declared a period for celebrating the Jewish community’s contributions to the nation’s history, heritage, and culture. Since 2006, the month of May has been declared Jewish American Heritage Month, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution of Congress.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and Members of the Fresno City Council, do hereby proclaim May 2023 to be:
“Jewish American Heritage Month”
In the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 11th day of May 2023.
Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month