Jewish American Heritage Month 2026

001Hi, I'm Rabbi Steven Rein from Congregation B'nai Israel Sha'arei Zion. Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity not only to celebrate the history and contributions of the Jewish community, but also to reflect on how deeply Jewish ideas have shaped the broader American story. From the very beginning of our nation's history, America drew inspiration from the Hebrew Bible. Early settlers saw themselves in the story of the Israelites journeying from slavery toward freedom and responsibility. Even some of our founding fathers imagined biblical imagery for the Great Seal of the United States. Scenes of Moses, the Red Sea, and the Israelites traveling through the wilderness toward the promised land. That idea of a people striving toward a better future became a part of the American spirit itself. We hear in the words of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. who spoke about justice, dignity, and the dream of reaching a promised land together. At the heart of Jewish tradition is a simple but powerful belief. Every human being is created in the image of God. In America, this idea helps inspire the belief in equality and unalienable rights. Judaism adds another dimension as well. That along with rights come responsibilities. We are responsible for one another. We are called to treat every person with dignity, compassion, and respect. That is one of the greatest lessons of Jewish Heritage Month. Our heritage is not only something to remember, but something to live by. By learning from one another's stories and traditions, we strengthen our schools, our communities, and our shared American future.