Presidential Documents

23107 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 93 

Friday, May 15, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8379 of May 12, 2009 

Jewish American Heritage Month, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

The Jewish American tradition exemplifies the strength of the American 

immigrant tradition. Since Jews arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654, Jewish 

Americans have maintained a unique identity just as they have enmeshed 

themselves in the fabric of the United States. This month we celebrate 

this inspiring and unifying narrative. 

Jewish Americans across the United States practice the faith and celebrate 

the culture of their ancestors. Across the Nation every day, individuals 

emulate their forebears by seeking to perform mitzvot, the hundreds of 

commandments set forth in the Torah. The term ‘‘mitzvah’’ has come to 

mean ‘‘good deed,’’ and many Jews have adopted these practices to serve 

their communities. Other mitzvot include observing holidays, such as Passover, which marks the exodus from Egypt; and Yom Kippur, a time to 

contemplate and seek forgiveness for the sins of the past year; and Shabbat, 

the weekly day of rest. 

The focus on preserving traditions is a notable characteristic of Jewish 

culture. Many Jewish religious and cultural practices have developed and 

adapted over the millennia, yet the fundamental exhortation to ensure that 

long-cherished ways of life are passed on to future generations remains 

as strong as ever before. Many Jewish Americans carry on this belief as 

they instill these traditions in their children. 

Seeking to preserve their culture and start anew, Jewish immigrants have 

departed familiar lands to pursue their own American dreams for more 

than 300 years. During some periods, Jews sought refuge in the United 

States from the horrors and tragedies of persecution, pogroms, and the 

Holocaust. During other times, they came to seek better lives and greater 

economic opportunities for themselves and their children. 

Jewish Americans have immeasurably enriched our Nation. Unyielding in 

the face of hardship and tenacious in following their dreams, Jewish Americans have surmounted the challenges that every immigrant group faces, 

and have made unparalleled contributions. Many have broken new ground 

in the arts and sciences. Jewish American leaders have been essential to 

all branches and levels of government. Still more Jewish Americans have 

made selfless sacrifices in our Armed Forces. The United States would 

not be the country we know without the achievements of Jewish Americans. 

Among the greatest contributions of the Jewish American community, however, is the example they have set for all Americans. They have demonstrated 

that Americans can choose to maintain cultural traditions while honoring 

the principles and beliefs that bind them together as Americans. Jewish 

American history demonstrates how America’s diversity enriches and 

strengthens us all. 

23108 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 93 / Friday, May 15, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2009 as Jewish 

American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate the 

proud heritage of Jewish Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day 

of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. 

[FR Doc. E9–11587 

Filed 5–14–09; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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