HR1048 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1048 LRB097 21362 GRL 69497 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Since 1654, when Jewish immigrants first settled in North America, the Jewish-American people have contributed immeasurably to every aspect of our society, including government, sports, education, business, science, and the arts, and have enriched our culture and helped to shape our national identity; and

WHEREAS, Since the time of the American Revolution, when the colonies' small population of 3,000 Jewish settlers played an outsized role in the battle for our nation's independence, with an estimated 160 Jewish-Americans fighting in George Washington's Continental Army, the commitment of the Jewish-American people to the defense and freedom of the United States has been witnessed again and again from the time of the Civil War, to the first World War, to World War II - where half a million Jewish-Americans joined in a worldwide effort to halt the march of fascism and prevent the eradication of the Jewish culture - to the present theaters of American military involvement, where Jewish-Americans continue to defend our freedom; and

WHEREAS, Jewish-Americans have worked alongside their fellow Americans of all races, religions, and heritages to create the advances that continue to make our nation a center of business and technological innovation and creativity and enhance the vitality of our communities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Jonas Salk, and Carl Sagan are among the many Jewish-Americans whose dedication to the advancement of scientific understanding has helped cure diseases, prevent war, explore space, and grace us with a fuller appreciation of our world; and

WHEREAS, Jewish-American athletes have made important contributions to our national pastimes, including former Chicago Bears great Sid Luckman, pitching legend Sandy Koufax, Major League Baseball's reigning National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun, new Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, Olympic gold medal figure-skater Sarah Hughes, and Abe Saperstein, whose role in founding the Harlem Globetrotters earned him induction in basketball's hall of fame; and

WHEREAS, Despite oftentimes facing discrimination and persecution themselves, Jewish-Americans worked actively in the civil rights movement and the women's equality movement; and

WHEREAS, Jewish-American community groups, such as B'nai B'rith, Hatzalah, Hadassah, Hillel, the many synagogue men's clubs and sisterhoods, and several Jewish fraternities and sororities in America, such as Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Delta Tau, Tau Epsilon Phi, and Zeta Beta Tau, have worked locally and internationally to serve our communities, our country, and our world; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is home to one of the 10 largest Jewish populations in the world; and

WHEREAS, Many notable Jewish-Americans have called Illinois home, including Governor Henry Horner, one of the first Jewish governors in the United States, internationally-renowned pianist Fannie Bloomfield Ziesler, beloved children's writer and poet Shel Silverstein, Sears president and philanthropist Max Adler, and former Congressman, White House Chief of Staff, and current Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel; and

WHEREAS, Since 2006, the month of May has been designated as Jewish-American Heritage Month; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we set aside the month of May as an opportunity to reflect on the contributions that Jewish-Americans have made to our communities, our State, and our country.