May is recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month in the United States. In conjunction with the observance, Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center is hosting the 14th annual Michiana Jewish Film Festival the week of May 12. Virtual screenings will also be available for on-demand viewing beginning May 15.
Eight films will be shown during the festival, including Seven Blessings (2023), which swept the Israeli Academy Awards with 10 wins, including Best Film. The Michiana Jewish Film Festival offers superb, cutting-edge, and award-winning films from around the world to the Michiana region, facilitating a multifaceted exploration of Jewish identity, community, culture, and history. Founded in 2011 by the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, the festival brings diverse audiences together to share in this unique cinematic experience—one that would not be as readily available in the Michiana region otherwise.
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, U.S. President Joseph R. Biden wrote in a proclamation: “In 1654, a small band of 23 Jewish refugees fled persecution abroad and sailed into the port of modern-day New York City. They fought for religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles upon which our Nation was built. Jewish American culture has been inextricably woven into the fabric of our country.”
Since the 17th Century, 3.5 million Jews have emigrated to the United States – the first that we know of in 1654 from Brazil, then largely from Central Europe and Western Europe, and later from places including Canada, Mexico, and South Africa.
Exploring Jewish American heritage can include a focus on religion, ancestry, culture, or any combination of the three. Check out these resources to enhance your understanding of Jewish history and experiences:
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Judaism: Founder, Beliefs & Facts—History.com
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Who Are American Jews? —A variety of resources curated by JewishAmericanHeritage.org to explore the complexity and diversity within the American Jewish community
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6 Jewish American objects for Jewish American Heritage Month—National Museum of American History
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Understanding Antisemitism—JewishAmericanHeritage.org
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Jewish Heritage Month Books—Good Reads
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Yiddish in American Life—a reading list from the Yiddish Book Center
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Childrens' books that are about Jewish characters or by Jewish authors and illustrators–Simon & Schuster
Originally published by at diversity.nd.edu on May 01, 2024.