Jewish American
Heritage Curriculum
The Combat Antisemitism Movement, in partnership with the Tikvah Fund, developed
a Jewish American Heritage Curriculum for schools to teach the over 300-year history and contributions of the Jewish community in America. As the United States marks 250 years since its founding, we invite educators to bring this timely and meaningful resource into their classrooms.
300 Years of Contribution. 250 Years of America.
As the United States marks 250 years since its founding, this initiative provides a timely opportunity to teach the full American story, including the experiences and contributions of a minority community that has been part of the nation since its earliest days. The curriculum is structured, historically grounded, and classroom-ready, offering educators clear content, primary sources, and documented history that can be directly implemented in schools.
We invite schools, teachers, and educational leaders to work with us and bring this curriculum into their classrooms.
At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, education remains one of the most effective tools for addressing misinformation and ensuring that students learn accurate history. Understanding Jewish American heritage strengthens historical knowledge and reinforces the principles of freedom, religious liberty, and equal opportunity that define the United States.
Jewish American Heritage Month, observed each May, is an important opportunity to dedicate time in the classroom to the study of Jewish American history, and we encourage schools and educators to use this month to teach a focused lesson or unit using the Jewish American Heritage Curriculum.
About the Curriculum
This curriculum explores over 300 years of Jewish life in America, tracing the journey from the earliest Jewish settlers in the colonies to the present day. It highlights how a small minority community helped shape the nation’s economic growth, cultural life, and global leadership.
Through historical narratives, key figures, primary sources, and guided discussions, students gain a deeper understanding of Jewish American heritage and its enduring impact on the United States.
Foundations of Jewish American History
Early immigration, the fight for religious freedom, and the integration of Jewish communities into colonial and early American society.
Leadership and Contribution Across Fields
Jewish contributions to civil rights, politics, science, medicine, entrepreneurship, military service, arts, and innovation.
Cultural Identity and American Values
How Jewish traditions, faith, and identity have both shaped and been strengthened by American democratic principles.
Modern Antisemitism
An examination of the rise in antisemitic incidents, the growth of anti Zionist movements, campus and community trends, and the broader implications for Jewish life in America today.
Jewish American Heritage at a Glance
In September 1654, 23 Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Brazil arrived in New Amsterdam, marking a foundational moment in American Jewish history.
Irving Berlin wrote “God Bless America,” which became one of the most iconic patriotic songs in American history.
Congregation Shearith Israel, founded by 1730 in New York, is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, describing the experience as “praying with his feet,” helping strengthen Jewish involvement in the civil rights movement.
Emma Lazarus, a Jewish American poet, wrote “The New Colossus,” the poem inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty, framing America as a refuge for the persecuted.
Emma Lazarus, a Jewish American poet, wrote “The New Colossus,” the poem inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty, framing America as a refuge for the persecuted.
During World War II, over 500,000 American Jews served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Jewish Americans have won 22 percent of all Nobel Prizes since 1901, despite being only about 0.2 percent of the global population.
Stories That Preserve Our Heritage
A Mother’s Idea That Changed the World
Meet Ruth Handler, the Jewish Mother who founded the iconic company Mattel in a garage 81 years ago today and changed how generations of girls imagined their futures.
Discover the stories we are telling about Jewish heritage, community milestones, and positive impact. Learn more, pass them on, and come back weekly for new stories that continue to celebrate and highlight Jewish contributions to American life.
Forty Years Later: Honoring Judith Resnik
Judith Resnik, the second American woman in space and the first Jewish woman, flew as a NASA mission specialist.
Jewish Women Who Redefined What Is Possible
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science we honor the Jewish women whose breakthroughs reshaped physics, medicine, computing, aerospace, and biotechnology.