Photo by VPickering

Since high school, I’ve always known that May is a month- long tribute to many aspects of Asian America. But it wasn’t until last week when I was compiling a list of D.C.-area events related to this month that I found out that May is also Jewish American Heritage Month. Here’s a brief synopsis of what I know and learned about the origins of the two observations, as well as a few events:

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

It first started out as a week after Congress passed a 1978 joint resolution proclaiming the first seven days of May to be Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. May was chosen to commemorate the first arrival of Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843. It was also chosen because the transnational railroad, labored by mostly Chinese immigrants, was completed on May 10, 1869.

President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation shortly after the resolution passed in Congress. Other presidents have also continued to issue similar proclamations. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush extended the celebration to the month of May.

APA Events

Monday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
Aasif Mandvi of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will headline the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ comedy show titled “Entertainment Night” at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater.

Tuesday, May 8, 5:30 p.m.
Macy’s and the National Association of Asian American Professionals will sponsor “Taste of Asia.” The event will feature samples of Southeast Asian cuisine prepared by guest chefs from Super Pho, Case Asia, Bangkok Noodle Restaurant. It will take place at the lower level furniture gallery of Macy’s in Metro Center.

Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Asian Heritage Foundation is co-sponsoring its May celebration in downtown Silver Spring’s “Fiesta Asia.” The event is free admission and will take place on Ellsworth Drive.

Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
A week later, Asian Heritage Foundation is hosting Fiesta Asia in downtown D.C. The street festival is also free and will take place between 3rd Street to 6th Street along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Saturday, May 19, 7 p.m.
Korean pop singer Jay Park will headline Verizon’s APA Heritage Month Tour at the Fillmore Silver Spring (8656 Colesville Rd.)

Saturday and Sunday, May 19 – 20,
The 11th annual DC Dragon Boat Festival will be held at Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown (2900 Virginia Ave. NW).

Jewish American Heritage Month

This is a younger commemorative observation, but its also had a small start. A 1980 joint resolution passed in Congress designating a week in April or May as Jewish Heritage Week. President Jimmy Carter also issued the first proclamation , noting the significance of April in the Jewish calendar: Passover, the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Israeli Independence Day, Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry, and the Days of Remembrance of Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust.

The dates and the number of times it would be celebrated within a year varied. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania later pushed to officially recognize the entire month of May. According to official government website, the month was chosen because the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History on May 2004 was so successful. President George W. Bush officially then proclaimed this time of the year as Jewish American Heritage Month in 2006.

JA Events

Thursday – Monday, May 3 – 21
The Washington Jewish Music Festival has a list of performances in the metropolitan area. The festival was established in 1999 to promote cross-culture dialogue in the D.C. community.

Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
David McKenzie of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington will discuss the book “Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community” at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (901 G St. NW).

Wednesday, May 16, 1 – 4 p.m.
Dr. Pamela S. Nadell, director of the Jewish studies program at American University, will give a lecture titled “Presenting American Jewish History on Independence Mall: The National Museum of American Jewish History” at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (901 G St. NW).

Saturday, May 26, 12 – 1:30 p.m.
The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington will be hosting a kosher deli luncheon and continuing to show its award-winning exhibit “Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community.

Any other month-long May celebrations we should know about?

(Christian Oh contributed to this list)