
May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) – a time to commemorate the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society. We believe education about Jewish identity and the contributions of Jewish Americans is a critical antidote to the rampant antisemitism the Jewish community is experiencing today. We are calling on Bay Area cities and counties to recognize JAHM and use it as an opportunity for education about and celebration of the vibrant history of Jewish Americans.
JAHM City Council Proclamations 2026
Join the local Jewish community at city council meetings across the Bay Area to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. These public meetings are open to everyone.
At each meeting, the residents who requested the proclamations will formally accept them and share brief remarks. The program will conclude with photo opportunities alongside elected officials and members of the Jewish community.
If your community is organizing a JAHM proclamation and you’d like it featured on our website, please contact info@jcrc.org
Upcoming Proclamations:
- Piedmont – May 4 (time TBD) (120 Vista Avenue)
- East Palo Alto – May 5 (time TBD) (2415 University Avenue)
- Dublin – May 5 (time TBD) (100 Civic Plaza)
- Santa Rosa – May 5 at 4 PM (100 Santa Rosa Ave)
- Sebastopol – May 5 at 6 PM (Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street)
- Moraga – May 13 at 5:30 PM (335 Rheem Boulevard)
- Healdsburg – May 18 at 6 PM (401 Grove Street)
- Orinda – May 19 (time TBD) (22 Orinda Way)
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – May 19 at 9AM (575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa)
Thank you to the local governments/boards who have already passed a JAHM proclamation:
- Piedmont School District
- Belmont
- City College of San Francisco
Sample Resolutions:
Sample JAHM Resolution for City Councils
Educational Resources and Lesson Plans
JCRC Resources
In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, we’ve developed a robust suite of resources for parents, educators, and school administrators—all designed to foster Jewish inclusion and understanding in school communities. These resources are practical, relevant, and tailored to each audience, making them easy to use and implement in real-world settings.
- Jewish American Heritage Month for Teachers
- Jewish American Heritage Month for Parents
- Jewish American Heritage Month for Administrators
Classroom Activities
Each activity introduces students to a Jewish American figure while building skills in reading, writing, and reflection. The resource is thoughtfully leveled by age group, allowing educators to quickly find developmentally appropriate content. Whether used daily throughout the month or occasionally, these activities offer a simple way to weave Jewish inclusion and representation into the school day during the month of May.
- JAHM TK-1st Grade Activity
- JAHM 2nd-4th Grade Activity
- JAHM 5th-8th Grade Activity
- JAHM High School Activity
Lesson Plans and Teacher Facing Resources
- Institute for Curriculum Services: Jewish Americans lesson plan
- Facing History and Ourselves: Navigating Jewish American Identity lesson plan and a Being Jewish in the United States reading
- Library of Congress: Jewish American Heritage Month
- National Archives: Jewish American Heritage Month
- PBS: Lesson plans for The Jewish Americans by David Rubin video series and The Journey of the Jewish Americans documentary clip
Other Online Resources
- Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: JAHM Website and Virtual Museum
- The Anti-Defamation League: JAHM Resources
- Jewish Women’s Archive
Reading Lists
- Books by Black Jewish Authors
- Jewish Asian-American Stories
- 50 Essential Books by Jewish-American Authors
- 7 Diverse Jewish Children’s and Young Adult Books
- Jewish YA Books: More than the Holocaust
- LA County Library: JAHM
- San Jose Public Library Young Adult JAHM Books
- Chicago Public Library: Jewish American Heritage Books for Adults