In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month and the active role the Jewish community has played in the city over its more than 125 year history, Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones issued the following proclamation celebrating the occasion:

WHEREAS, Jewish immigrants to America, since their first arrival to our shores in the 16th century, have played a central role in the creation, growth, freedom, prosperity, and strength of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the biblical 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, America’s global leadership in the cause of freedom, Americans’ commitment to social justice, and many of our Country’s most central tenets; and

WHEREAS, Jewish citizens of the City of Newport News having first settled here in 1885, played an active role in creating the shopping districts on Jefferson and Washington Avenues with businesses such as Hofheimer's Shoes, Hannah's, La Vogue, Silverman Furs, Rosenbaum Hardware and Nachman's Department Store, which became the city's first store to integrate its lunch counters in the late 1950s; and

WHEREAS, Jewish citizens of the City of Newport News have lived strong values for over 125 years and have played prominent roles in civic life including Joseph Reyner, Harry Reyner, Walter Segaloff, Franklin Blechman, Louis Drucker, Alan Diamonstein and Joe Frank to name a few; and

WHEREAS, the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula through a powerful combination of advocacy, education, and passion is committed to strengthening Jewish life on the Virginia Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, the Jewish community of Newport News maintained their religious traditions from the beginning and practice the Jewish faith to this day through our Adath Jeshurun Congregation, Congregation Emet V'Or, Rodef Sholom Temple, Temple Beth El and Temple Sinai; and

WHEREAS, following the rebirth of Zionism and the miraculous return of the Jewish people to the Jewish homeland, 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 and unbreakable alliance with the State of Israel based upon shared values and mutual interests; and

WHEARAS, for forty-two years, every President of the United States has declared a period of time for celebrating the contributions to the United States of 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 Congress.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phillip D. Jones, Mayor of the City of Newport News, do hereby proclaim May 2023, as

“JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH”

in the City of Newport News, and call upon all our citizens to commemorate this occasion by appropriately celebrating the contributions to our Country and City of the Jewish community’s history, heritage and culture.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be duly affixed the Seal of the City of Newport News, Virginia, this 1st day of May 2023.

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Phillip D. Jones, Mayor

ATTEST: City of Newport News, Virginia

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Mabel Washington Jenkins, MMC

City Clerk