Jewish Heritage Month at the White House, 2011

NJDC — May 17, 2011 – 4:35 pm | Barack Obama | Democrats | Jewish American Heritage Month 2011 Comments (0) Add a comment

The second annual celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month at the White House—a tradition first inaugurated under President Barack Obama’s Administration—was an exciting and meaningful event for the hundreds of Jewish community leaders and activists gathered from across the country at the White House this afternoon.

The afternoon began with the choral stylings of Yeshiva University’s own Maccabeats, singing a mix of their most popular songs. The President then spoke to the audience, joking that the Maccabeats had sung him a very special song backstage with a chorus of “four more years”—to much laughter from the gathered crowd. The President specifically recognized the presence of DNC Chair Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who originally initiated Jewish American Heritage Month; Israel’s Ambassador Michael Oren; all of the gathered members of Congress; Justices Breyer and Ginsburg; and Elie Wiesel as well.

The day was remarkable for so many reasons, not least of which is the very fact that the President of the United States would host a reception in the White House honoring the many contributions of the American Jewish community.

The presidential proclamation marking Jewish American Heritage Month can be viewed here; a listing of NJDC’s “Trailblazing Jewish Democrats” that NJDC is recognizing as part of Jewish American Heritage Month can be viewed here.

Pictured below is the President speaking to the reception and the Maccabeats performing.

 

 

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