For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 9, 2001
Jewish Heritage Week, 2001
By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
Americans have long cherished our identity as
a Nation of immigrants. The shared values and aspirations of those who
have come to America's shores have helped to shape our culture, laws,
and government.
The Jewish community has played a vital role
in our Nation's history, tracing back to colonial
times. Many were active in supporting the Revolutionary War
and in settling new territories and cities during America 's westward
expansion. Although initially a small community, in time,
millions of Jewish men, women, and children followed. In
fleeing persecution, pogroms, and the horrors of the Holocaust, they
sought a new life in the United States where they could worship in
freedom and pursue their hopes and dreams in peace. The many
oppressions histori-cally borne by the Jewish people remind us that we
must remain committed to religious liberty and tolerance for all.
As we celebrate Jewish Heritage Week, we also
recall the lasting contributions that Jewish Americans have made to the
arts, education, industry, and science. Many of their names
are inscribed in America's textbooks, and the Jewish community's rich
heritage and culture continues to enrich our society's national
fabric. In many communities large and small, Jewish families
have shared their resources, time, and talent to help
others. Their contributions to our national life and
character help make America a better place.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President
of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby
proclaim April 22 through 29, 2001, as Jewish Heritage
Week. I urge all Americans to join in observing this week
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand one,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred
and twenty-fifth.
GEORGE
W. BUSH
# # #
|