Bill Text: IL HR1048 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Sets 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-05-15 - Resolution Adopted [HR1048 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR1048-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.