The Democratic National Committee (DNC) chose Philadelphia’s National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) as the site of its observance of Jewish American Heritage Month. This observance was a multi-faith event that took place on Yom HaShoah and brought together movers and shakers from the Democratic Party.

Among the featured speakers were Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), DNC chair; Marcel Groen, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party; Reverend Leah D. Daughtry, chief executive officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee; and Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA).

During her speech, Wasserman Schultz discussed the history of Jewish American Heritage Month. She described working with the late Sen. Arlen Specter and with Gwen Goodman, founding director of NMAJH, to pass legislation creating this national month-long observance. She also spoke to this year’s theme for Jewish American Heritage Month: Jewish contributions to education.

Ivy Barsky, NMAJH director and CEO, focused on this theme in her remarks as well, pointing specifically to the contributions of Julius Rosenwald. Former president and chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company, Rosenwald helped build more than 5,000 schools for African American children in the South through the Rosenwald Fund. This year, Rosenwald will be inducted as the 19th member of the NMAJH’s Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame.

Other speakers at the event also addressed the importance of faith-based organizations, as well as the contributions that Jewish-Americans have made to American society. They also urged the attendees at the event to participate in some way in the electoral process and in the convention.

Photos by Bonnie Squires