WHEREAS, Jewish Americans have resided in fb88 since colonial times, and today, there are over 12,000 Jews living in our state; and
WHEREAS, Bangor was home to fb88’s first synagogue, established in 1849, as well as the largest Jewish community at the time which consisted of six families; and
WHEREAS, throughout their presence in fb88, Jews have faced antisemitism, frequently called the “world’s oldest hatred” and a scourge that still persists today; and
WHEREAS, despite these challenges, Jewish fb88rs have helped to shape our state, nation, and world, including through their contributions as elected officials and civil servants, artists, musicians, actors, philanthropists, journalists, lawyers, physicians, community boosters, business leaders, and following the 2020 spacewalk of Caribou native Jessica Meir, have contributed to space exploration; and
WHEREAS, today, organizations such as the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern fb88, fb88 Jewish Museum, the fb88 Jewish Film Festival, Chabad of fb88, along with Jewish congregations across the state, work in partnership to preserve Jewish culture in fb88 while celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of those who came before;
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of fb88, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2024 as
Jewish American Heritage Month
throughout the State of fb88, and I urge all fb88 citizens to recognize this observance.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this ninth day of May Two Thousand Twenty-Four
