The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly officially proclaimed the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Kansas for the first time.
Jewish American Heritage Month was proclaimed at the federal level in 2006, but many states have yet to officially recognize it.
Both the Kansas House and Senate passed resolutions last Wednesday morning during sessions at the Capitol in Topeka, and Gov. Kelly signed a proclamation immediately after.
“Kansas is made stronger by our Jewish residents and their many contributions,” Gov. Kelly said.
A ceremony coordinated by the Combat Antisemitism Movement was held at the Capitol with the support of Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, who was in attendance. Sponsors included the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City.
Speakers at the ceremony included Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone from Ahavath Achim Congregation in Wichita; Gavriela Geller, executive director of JCRB|AJC; and Bill Greenberg from Jewish War Veterans MO-Kan Post 605. Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda of Congregation Beth Shalom joined Cantor Paula Pepperstone from Wichita to sing the national anthem.
“We are so thankful to the Legislature… The 20,000-or-so Jews in Kansas are proud Americans and proud Kansans. We’re proud of our heritage and our accomplishments in American society,” Geller said.
“I’m proud to support the proclamation to commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month and to recognize our Jewish American community and the important contributions they’ve made throughout our history and culture,” added Speaker Hawkins.
The House resolution was sponsored and presented by Rep. Susan Estes; the Senate resolution was sponsored and presented by Sen. Renee Erickson. Jewish Federation Board Chair Beth Liss and Vice President & COO Derek Gale joined Erickson for lunch following the ceremony, along with Jewish Sen. Ethan Corson and Jewish Rep. Dan Osman.
Kansas is also among the 31 states to have adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism (in a unanimous vote last year).
“Discrimination of any kind, including antisemitism, has no place in Kansas,” Gov. Kelly said.
The proclamation states:
“Whereas, ever since Jewish immigrants first arrived to the shores of the United States of America in the 16th century, Jewish people have played a central role in the creation, growth, freedom, prosperity, and strength of the United States; and
“Whereas, the theological and contemporary history of the Jewish people and the enduring values of the Jewish faith were vital sources of inspiration for the founding of the United States, the Civil Rights movement, the United States' commitment to social justice, and many of the United States' most central tenets; and
“Whereas, the Jewish Community has helped define the United States' character and values through core Jewish beliefs, including the importance of education in the lives of children; and
“Whereas, the United States was the first country in the world to recognize the State of Israel in 1948, and over the years has developed a deep friendship with the State of Israel based upon shared values and mutual interests; and
“Whereas, the State of lsrael is now celebrating the 75th anniversary of its modem founding and its emergence as a world leader in technology, agriculture, water conservation and medicine; and
“Whereas, Kansas engages in trade and other relations with the State of Israel; and
“Whereas, for forty-two years, every President of the United States has declared a period of time for celebrating the contributions to the United States and the Jewish community's history, heritage, and culture, and since 2006, the month of May has been Presidentially declared to be Jewish American Heritage Month, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution of the United States Congress; and
“Whereas, it is important to commemorate and honor the contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States of America and the State of Kansas.
“Now, therefore, I, Laura Kelly, governor of the State of Kansas, do hereby proclaim May 2023, as Jewish American Heritage Month in the state of Kansas, and I urge all citizens to join in this observation.”