OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
BRANDON JOHNSON
MAYOR
May 24, 2023
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Silverstein, Conway, Moore, Ramirez-Rosa, Hall, Waguespack, Nugent, Martin, Reilly, Vasquez, Mitts, Rodriguez, Lawson, O'Shea, Dowell, Mosley, Scott, Madden, Knudsen, Chico, Villegas, Lopez, Gutierrez, Sposato and Clerk Valencia, a resolution commemorating Jewish American Heritage Month.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
Resolution Honoring May as Jewish American Heritage Month
WHEREAS, for nearly 370 years, Jews have profoundly contributed to America's history, society, and culture; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, then-President George W. Bush established May as "Jewish American Heritage Month" to honor the long history of Jewish Americans and the many contributions of Jewish Americans to American culture, history, military, science, government, education, and all areas of American life; and
WHEREAS, Jewish residents began arriving in Chicago in the 1830s, and in the many years that followed, Jewish Americans have contributed significantly to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our great city, enriching the lives of all Chicagoans; and
WHEREAS, the proud heritage of Jewish Americans is a reminder of our nation's constitutional commitment to religious freedom and the importance of a dedication to community and history; and
WHEREAS, antisemitic activity is on the rise in the United States, with Jewish Americans being the target of over half of all religiously based hate crimes and bias-based incidents despite constituting about 2 percent of the U.S. population; and
WHEREAS, the Midwest has seen a troubling surge in antisemitic incidents in recent years, with antisemitic incidents rising 36 percent between 2021 and 2022 alone; and
WHEREAS,the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) has started a new campaign, "Stand Up to Jewish Hate," to combat the indifference and ignorance surrounding antisemitism through the use of the Blue Square, a unifying symbol of solidarity and support for the Jewish community; and
WHEREAS, raising awareness of the inextricable link between the Jewish American experience and broader American history and culture is a powerful tool towards combatting the rising threat of antisemitism in the United States; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fourth day of May, 2023, do hereby designate May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month, and express appreciation for the significant contributions made by Jewish Americans to the diverse community that comprises the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the United States of America.