American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, is offering guidance to K-12 educators and administrators on responsible ways to integrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) into the school and classrooms.
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), recognized nationally each May, provides schools with opportunities to explore Jewish identity, history, and the many contributions Jewish Americans have made to American society over time. When schools participate in JAHM, Jewish students feel seen, understood, and included in their community. In addition, participating in JAHM enriches the overall learning experience for the entire school community.
This guidance offers a framework with practical steps, checklists, and curricular recommendations that will help educators thoughtfully weave Jewish American experiences into the classroom throughout the year.
Reflect the Full Diversity and Complexity of Jewish Identity.
Jewish identity is multifaceted and unique for each person. Students benefit when this diversity is clearly represented, not reduced to a single story.
What to consider:
- Present Jewish identity as multifaceted, including religion, culture, ethnicity, and peoplehood.
- Highlight the diversity of the Jewish community across race, geography, and lived experience.
- Include voices and stories from across the Jewish world, including Sephardic, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, and other communities.
- Represent Jews of Color and a range of cultural backgrounds.
What to avoid:
- Defining Jewish identity narrowly or in a single dimension.
- Presenting Jewish identity as exclusively Ashkenazi or European.
- Reinforcing the misconception that all Jews are white.
- Making assumptions about how Jewish students practice, observe, or identify.
- Suggesting there is a single “Jewish perspective.”
- Presenting any one viewpoint as representative of all Jews.
Integrate, Don’t Isolate.
JAHM works best when it is integrated into and across the school curriculum.
What to consider:
- Embed education about Jews and Jewish contributions into existing curricula across disciplines.
- Connect JAHM to broader themes in American history, civic life, and culture.
- Examples of classroom implementation:
- History: American immigration and the Jewish experience
- English: A novel by a Jewish American author with Jewish characters that explores the American Jewish experience, beyond Holocaust themes
- Civics: The Civil Rights Movement, featuring historical figures like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.
What to avoid:
- Limiting perspectives to a single program or event.
- Treating Jewish identity as separate from the broader American experience.
Present Jewish Life Beyond Persecution.
Students should learn about all aspects of Jewish life, not just in moments of crisis.
What to consider:
- Highlight Jewish contributions to America in arts, science, civil rights, and public life.
- Share both historical and contemporary Jewish experiences.
What to avoid:
- Focusing exclusively on the Holocaust or antisemitism.
- Defining Jewish identity primarily through trauma.
Address Antisemitism with Clarity.
Clear communication helps Jewish students feel understood and guides educators’ response.
What to consider:
- Include age-appropriate discussions of antisemitism, both historical and contemporary.
- Provide educators with clear definitions and examples of how antisemitism appears in school settings.
- Equip students to recognize and respond to bias.
What to avoid:
- Treating antisemitism as a thing of the past.
- Creating ambiguity about what constitutes antisemitism.
Include Israel Thoughtfully and Responsibly.
While Jewish American Heritage Month focuses on American Jewish identity, culture, and history, Israel is important to the identity of over 3 in 4 American Jews and may therefore come up during JAHM programming.
What to consider:
- Frame conversations on learning and understanding, not debate. Avoid questioning any student’s identity or belonging.
- Acknowledge the historical and contemporary connection between the Jewish people and Israel.
- Approach the topic with nuance and age-appropriate framing.
What to avoid:
- Omitting Israel entirely due to discomfort.
- Presenting Israel only through conflict.
- Allowing classroom conversations to become polarized.
Foster Conditions for Thoughtful Dialogue.
The way teachers guide conversations matters as much as the topics themselves.
What to consider:
- Establish clear norms and prepare educators to navigate sensitive topics.
- Ensure that no student is asked to represent or speak for an entire group.
What to avoid:
- Situations where Jewish students feel put on the spot or isolated.
- Dialogue that allows identity to be questioned or dismissed.
Final Thought
JAHM is more than a celebration—it is a commitment to understanding and inclusion. Schools should approach JAHM with clear actions and ensure these steps:
- Ensure Jewish identity is taught as more than a religion, reflecting its cultural, historical, and peoplehood dimensions.
- Include at least one meaningful example of Jewish contribution to American life.
- Equip educators with foundational guidance on recognizing and responding to antisemitism.
By taking these baseline actions, schools demonstrate to the entire school community – students, families, faculty, and staff – that the Jewish community in all its diversity is a valuable and welcomed part of the fabric of America.
Checklist for K-12 School Leaders to Celebrate and Integrate JAHM
Planning & Execution
- Clear goals are established and include more than just a recognition or celebration
- Programming is coordinated, not ad hoc.
- Curricular resources are vetted for accuracy.
- Communications to the school community are planned and timely.
- Where appropriate, students and Jewish student organizations (if present) are included in planning.
Identity & Representation
- Jewish identity is presented as more than solely a religion, and also includes culture, ethnicity, and peoplehood.
- Diversity of the Jewish community (racial, cultural, geographic) is represented.
- Assumptions about how Jewish students identify or practice are avoided.
- Families are informed about how JAHM will be approached in the school and classroom.
- Students are not asked to represent or speak for an entire group.
Curriculum & Programming
- Jewish experiences and contributions are integrated across subjects.
- Programming and lesson plans highlight both historical and contemporary Jewish life. <
Antisemitism Awareness
- Educators are equipped with clear definitions and examples of antisemitism.
- Students are taught how antisemitism is a contemporary issue, not only a historical one.
- The school has, and follows, clear protocols for responding to antisemitic incidents.
Israel as Part of American Jewish Identity
- Israel is addressed thoughtfully and included as part of Jewish history and identity.
- Educators are prepared to facilitate age-appropriate, nuanced conversations.
- Complexity is embraced, rather than binaries or oversimplification.
School Climate Alignment
- JAHM programming reflects the lived experiences of Jewish students in school.
- Leadership messaging aligns with policies and actions on inclusion and antisemitism.
- Families and trusted community partners are engaged where appropriate.
Reflection
- After JAHM concludes, school staff will assess what worked and what needs improvement.
- Ways to sustain this work beyond one month will be identified and implemented.
CURRICULAR RESOURCES (Inset Box)
- Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History – National organizer of JAHM; K-12 lesson plans and primary sources.
- The Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning – A wide range of curated educational materials for all ages for use in celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month.
- The Jewish Education Project – Curated tools supporting accurate teaching of Jewish American identity.
- Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) – Standards-aligned K-12 lessons grounded in primary sources.
- Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA) – Offers lesson plans and resources highlighting the contributions of Jewish women in various fields, suitable for middle and high school students.
- ConnectED – History of Jewish Life in America; Jewish American Contributions; A Jewish American Tale
- Additional Resources:
- Age-appropriate cultural resources (books, films, podcasts) that reflect American Jewish identity and experience.
- Short videos or primary sources highlighting Jewish American contributions to society.
- Professional development resources on recognizing and responding to antisemitism.
CONTACT US
AJC’s Center for Education Advocacy recognizes that every school community is different and has distinctive needs. Our experienced educators partner with school administrators and faculty to help foster a deeper understanding of the Jewish people, address antisemitism, and build school environments resilient against all forms of hate. We are here to support your efforts to ensure that every student learns in a brave, respectful, and informed environment. For guidance, resources, or consultation, please contact us at [email protected].
