May is Mothers, Derby, Indy 500 and…Jewish American History Month

May is a wonderful month in Southern Indiana! In addition to warming spring weather, beautiful flowers and longer periods of daylight, May is also a time of major festivals and observances. With our convenient location just across the river from Louisville, SoIN residents get to enjoy the fun and excitement of the Kentucky Derby Festival at the beginning of the month, bookended by Indiana’s own world renowned sporting event, the Indy 500 on Memorial Day weekend. In between, we celebrate our wonderful varied community heritage by honoring Asian American and Pacific Islanders and Jewish Americans.

Have you ever wondered why certain months are designated for these types of observances? From a public library perspective, the programs and book collection should represent all members of our community. Look around and you will notice that our community is a beautiful blend of many different people. According to Give an Hour. Mental Health. For Life. “Celebrating cultural holidays is a path to mental wellbeing because honoring and celebrating the rich tapestry of traditions, histories, and experiences that shape our collective identity fosters social cohesion.” And further, “by engaging in these celebrations, we acknowledge and honor our roots. A sense of pride, self-acceptance and authenticity boosts our overall mental health.”

So, what does celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month look like? The National Day Calendar recognizes the contributions of Jewish people to our Nation over its almost 250-year history, and points out that Jewish people began establishing families, businesses, synagogues and contributing to their communities long before 1776.

The contributions of people from all cultures have shaped the world we have today. Some Jewish contributors you may have heard of include: Hyam Solomon, who encouraged the colonies to fight for freedom from the British; Louis Brandeis and Elena Kagan, important contributors to our court systems; Scientists Albert Einstein and Jonas Salk; Business leaders Al Fleishman and Monroe Green; and influential contributors in Performing Arts including Woody Allen, Barbara Streisand, J.J. Abrams, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Norman Mailer and Ayn Rand.

Some ways to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month include: attending local events hosted by heritage centers, libraries, schools, and synagogues. You can also seek out related books, memoirs or documentaries, and talk about what you have learned.

Here are a few suggestions from the library collection:

Jew-ish : reinvented recipes from a modern mensch : a cookbook by Jake Cohen