2023 -- S 1068

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY OF 2023 AS "JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH"

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, Miller, Kallman, Bell, Felag, Gallo, Raptakis, Cano, F.
Lombardi, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: May 25, 2023

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Ever since their first arrival to our shores in the 16th century, Jewish

immigrants to America have played a central role in the creation, growth, freedom, prosperity,

and strength of the United States of America; and

     WHEREAS, On April 20, 2006, the United States government proclaimed May as Jewish

American Heritage Month, stating, "As a nation of immigrants, the United States is better and

stronger because Jewish people, from all over the world, have chosen to become American

citizens"; and

     WHEREAS, Generations of Jews have fled to the United States in search of a better life

for themselves and their families, and these immigrants have made invaluable contributions in

support of equality and civil rights through their leadership and achievements; and

     WHEREAS, The first Jewish immigrants in the small but growing colony of Newport,

arrived from Barbados in the mid to late 17th century; and

     WHEREAS, The Newport Jewish community established the Congregation Jeshuat

Israel, which built a synagogue in Newport that was dedicated in 1763; and

     WHEREAS, The Newport synagogue, known today as the Touro Synagogue, is

America’s oldest standing Jewish house of worship; and

     WHEREAS, In August of 1790, President George Washington chose to visit Newport for

a public appearance to rally support for the new Bill of Rights, and through a letter to the

President of the Congregation Jeshuat Israel articulated the new government’s support for the

First Amendment rights of religious freedom and separation of church and state; and

     WHEREAS, The Touro Synagogue Foundation hosts an annual reading of Washington’s

letter to commemorate this transformative event in our Nation’s history; and

     WHERAS, Jewish Americans connect to their Jewish identity in a variety of ways, such

as culturally, ethnically, religiously, and by following Jewish ethics and values; and

     WHEREAS, In 2022, Jewish Americans faced a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents-36

percent higher than in 2021- including, but not limited to, physical attacks, vandalism, verbal and

physical harassment, and hateful comments on social media; and

     WHEREAS, Humanity shares an obligation to condemn and combat antisemitism

wherever it exists, to include Jewish Americans in all facets of civic life, and to stand with the

Jewish American community against hatred and bigotry; and

     WHEREAS, The Jewish community has greatly contributed to the vibrancy and diverse

heritage of the City of Providence, and has supported our State and Country by serving in the

Armed Forces of the United States and the State of Rhode Island National Guard; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders celebrate the heritage of the Jewish American community

in Rhode Island and the deep civic engagement of local Jewish institutions, schools and

synagogues; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May of

2023, to be "Jewish American Heritage Month" in the State of Rhode Island, and calls upon all

our citizens to commemorate this occasion by appropriately celebrating the significant

contributions of the Jewish community’s history, heritage, and culture to our Country and the

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Congregation Jeshuat Israel, the Jewish

Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island, and the Rhode

Island Israel Collaborative.

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