CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Mayor Jerry P. Dyer
_________________________________ ________________________________ JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor ANNALISA PEREA, Council President
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MIKE KARBASSI, Vice President MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3
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TYLER MAXWELL, Councilmember District 4 LUIS CHAVEZ, Councilmember District 5
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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, Jewish Americans have played an important role in shaping American culture, including making significant contributions to the arts, entertainment, science and technology, government, business, culinary traditions, and other fields in the United States; 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 in 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, for 43 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, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution of Congress, the month of May has been declared Jewish American Heritage Month.
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 23rd day of May 2024.
Honoring Jewish American Heritage Month