THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY COHEN, BISHOP, B. BOYLE, K. BOYLE, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, V. BROWN, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KILLION, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, NEILSON, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, READSHAW, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, WATERS, WATSON, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 23, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 23, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2012 as "Jewish American Heritage

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, On April 20, 2006, after congressional resolutions

introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida

and Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania urged the President to

recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions

to American culture, President George W. Bush designated May as

Jewish American History Month; and

WHEREAS, President George Washington, who knew the importance

of Jewish contributions to the War for Independence, wrote in a

letter dated August 17, 1790, "May the children of the stock of

Abraham who dwell in the land continue to merit and enjoy the

goodwill of the other inhabitants. While everyone shall sit

safely under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none

to make him afraid."; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina and Georgia

were first to eliminate barriers to voting and holding office

for Jewish citizens, steps which were further upheld in the Bill

of Rights of 1791; and

WHEREAS, There have been successive waves of Jewish

emigration to the United States, including people from Germany

during the 19th century, from Eastern Europe from 1880 though

1914 fleeing pogroms, from Europe after World War II who

survived the Holocaust, and, most recently, from the Soviet

Union after 1970, all bringing individuals with talent, skills

and drive who have enriched American culture; and

WHEREAS, The Library of Congress, National Archives and

Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities,

National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, United States

Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Pennsylvania Historical and

Museum Commission have joined in the 2012 efforts to pay tribute

to the generations of Jewish Americans who have helped form the

fabric of American history, culture and society, and resources

for celebration have been provided at

www.jewishheritagemonth.gov; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of May 2012 as "Jewish American Heritage Month" in

Pennsylvania and encourage participation in national, State and

local observances celebrating the contributions of Jewish

Americans to life in the United States.