Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and the Charleston Jewish Federation (CJF) will declare May as Jewish American Heritage Month at an 11 a.m. ceremony on May 1. The announcement will take place in the city council chambers at City Hall on 80 Broad St. downtown.
Tecklenburg will announce the beginning of Jewish American Heritage Month with a proclamation stating, “The biblical and contemporary history of the Jewish people and the enduring values of the Jewish faith were vital sources of inspiration for the founding of the United States, the Civil Rights movement, America’s global leadership in the cause of freedom, Americans’ commitment to social justice, and many of our Country’s most central tenets.”
The event is a part of a national initiative coordinated by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Every U.S. President has declared May as Jewish American Heritage Month since 2006, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution passed by the U.S. Congress. The local celebration on May 1 will mark Charleston’s recognition of the event for the first time.
“I am thrilled and honored to be a part of Jewish American Heritage Month in the City of Charleston,” Appel told Charleston City Paper. “The history of the Jewish people in Charleston, and America generally, is a rich one dating back centuries. Charleston is home to the first synagogue in the United States (Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim) and the first Jew elected to public office in America (Francis Salvador).
“It is important to tell these stories and share these experiences with the entire community,” he added. The more we learn about other cultures the more we can fight back against prejudice and hate.”
Tecklenburg will be joined by city council member Ross Appel, CJF CEO Judi Corsaro, CJF President Ilene Turbow and other Jewish community leaders. In addition, Charleston Symphony artistic director and concert master Yuriy Bekker will render a musical performance, and Lavelle Tulla of BVL Historic Preservation Research will speak about the Little Jerusalem Project.
The event will be livestreamed on the city of Charleston and CJF’s Facebook pages.
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