CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
Proclamation
Proclaiming Declaring May as Jewish American Heritage
Month
WHEREAS, Jewish Americans have been an important part of the American story and have greatly contributed to all areas of American life and culture since our nation’s earliest days; and
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2006, the Federal Government proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month, stating, “As a nation of immigrants, the United States is better and stronger because Jewish people from all over the world have chosen to become American citizens,” and, since then, proclamations in support of Jewish American Heritage Month have been made by Presidents of the United States annually; and WHEREAS, generations of Jews have fled to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families, and these immigrants made invaluable contributions in support of equality and civil rights through their leadership and achievements; and WHEREAS, Jewish Americans connect to their Jewish identity in a variety of ways, such as culturally, ethnically, religiously and by following Jewish ethics and values; and WHEREAS Jewish Americans are racially, ethnically, socially, politically and economically diverse, and around 25 percent of Bay Area Jewish households include a person of color, increasing to nearly 40 percent of households if the head of the household is younger than 35; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 Jewish Americans faced a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents—36% higher than in 2021—including but not limited to physical attacks, vandalism, verbal and physical harassment, and hateful comments posted on social media, and WHEREAS, Sebastopol shares an obligation to condemn and combat antisemitism wherever it exists, to include Jewish Americans in all facets of civic life, and to stand with the Jewish American community against hatred or bigotry in our city and country; and WHEREAS, there is a need for education and policies that are culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts of being Jewish in all aspects of American society, including discourse and policy; and
WHEREAS we celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of the Jewish American community, including those who live, work and play in Sebastopol.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT I, Mayor Neysa Hinton, on behalf of the Sebastopol City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the Great Seal of the City of Sebastopol this 2nd day of May 2023.
----------------------------------------------------------- Neysa Hinton, Mayor