MC Library Research Guides: Jewish American Heritage: Home

May is Jewish American Heritage Month!

In May 2006, former President George W. Bush proclaimed the first Jewish American Heritage Month. Since then, May has been proclaimed as Jewish American Heritage Month in which Jewish contributions that have been made towards American culture, history, and more are recognized.

MC Library is proud to join in the celebration of the achievements and contributions of Jewish Americans throughout history. This guide is dedicated to Jewish American Heritage. Here, you will learn about Jewish American history, stories, and receive several book and video recommendations. You will also find helpful research databases and resources from MC, as well as local, and national sources, all dedicated to Jewish American Heritage.

First Jewish American Heritage Month Proclamation, 2006 | National Archives

Some Notable Jewish Americans

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - 2020)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an attorney and law professor back when women didn't typically pursue law degrees. In 1970, she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and argued six gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court from 1973 to 1976. In 1993, Ruth was appointed to the Supreme Court by then President Clinton and became known as the second female justice and first Jewish woman justice.

Source: Amazing Jewish Americans | American Jewish Committee

Stan Lee (1922 - 2018)

Born to Eastern European Jewish immigrant parents, Stan Lee was born Stanley Lieber. Lee was an American comic book writer, publisher, producer, and editor who rose through the ranks of a family-run business which eventually became Marvel Comics. He led Marvel's expansion into a multimedia corporation. He is best known for co-creating characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and Thor. Stan Lee was known to cameo in many Marvel films.

Source: Amazing Jewish Americans | American Jewish Committee

Levi Strauss (1989 - 1902)

The inventor of blue jeans emigrated to the United States with his mother and sister back in 1847 and would later go on to open a wholesale dry goods business he named Levi Strauss & Co. An active member of the Jewish community, Strauss helped established the first synagogue in San Francisco--Congregation Emanu-El.

Source: Amazing Jewish Americans | American Jewish Committee

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

One of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time, Albert Einstein was visiting the United States when Hitler came into power in 1933, leading him to emigrate to the United States. He became a U.S. citizen in 1940. Einstein taught as a professor at Princeton University for over two decades and is best known for developing the theory of relativity. In 1921, Einstein received a Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics.".

Source: Amazing Jewish Americans | American Jewish Committee

Videos on Jewish American Heritage

Events

Challah Baking Class - Virtual

"Join us virtually to learn how to mix, proof, knead, and shape your challah, in celebration of Jewish American Heritage month!" - MCPL

Date: Sunday, May 11th, 2025

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Location: Virtual Branch

Registration: Required, see link below

Challah Baking Class Registration

Connect. Reflect. Act

"In this exhibition, you will meet a selection of 100 Jewish Washingtonians, discuss stories of liberation while seated around a symbolic seder table, and explore an oversized interactive map of the region, charting local Jewish community movement and growth over time. "

Date: Tuesday - Sunday

Time: 11am - 6pm

Location:
Lillian and Albert Small
Capital Jewish Museum
575 3rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Registration: Tickets Required

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History - Core Exhibition | Learn More

Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust

"Spanning three floors, our self-guided Permanent Exhibition, The Holocaust, offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also encounter personal objects and the eyewitness testimonies of individual survivors."

Date: Everyday (Closed on Yom Kippur and Christmas Day)

Time: 10am-5:30pm (Last entry to permanent exhibition is at 4:30pm)

Location:
United States Holocaust Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126

Registration: Tickets required

Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust | Learn More

About These Guides

Each year, Montgomery College's Board of Trustees designates national and state of Maryland awareness days and months for MC to celebrate. To acknowledge and celebrate diversity, MC Library creates online guides and library displays for each awareness day or month designated by the Board.