Jewish American Heritage Month offers a valuable opportunity to educate children about the extensive 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture.
At Connecticut Children’s, we embrace Jewish American Heritage Month alongside other cultural celebrations, aiming to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment. We engage our team members, patients, and families by adorning our hospital with signage, providing educational resources, sharing team member profiles, and more. Additionally, we encourage families to explore new activities that deepen their understanding and appreciation of Jewish history and contributions in our country.
Here are some suggestions for honoring Jewish American Heritage Month with children:
- Jewish-inspired Arts and Crafts: Engage children in creative activities inspired by Jewish traditions. Online resources offer a plethora of ideas, from crafting dreidels to making paper chains, igniting kids' interest in Jewish culture.
- Jewish Books and Authors: Explore children's books featuring Jewish characters or written by Jewish authors. Platforms like Social Justice Books provide recommendations for various age groups, fostering literacy and cultural understanding.
- Cooking Adventures: Involve children in the kitchen by preparing popular Jewish recipes. Websites like PJ Library offer classic recipes such as blintzes, challah, and falafel, providing a hands-on way to explore Jewish culinary traditions.
For additional inspiration, Connecticut Children’s Growing Healthy Blog offers further suggestions for honoring Jewish American Heritage Month with children.
Jewish American Heritage Month, observed every May in the United States, was established through a proclamation by President George W. Bush in 2006. This recognition commemorates over 350 years of Jewish contributions to American culture, inspired by the successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History.