To the Editor:
The Breaking News item "Obama proclaims May Jewish Heritage Month" omits mention or discussion of what I think is the most interesting bit about the president’s proclamation — it refrains from using the phrase "in the year of our Lord," which is a standard formulation in every presidential proclamation. I wrote about this issue in 2010, which I believe was the first time that the phrase was omitted.
In 2010, the issue generated a lively discussion on certain blogs, and the New Jersey Jewish News also covered the issue. Interesting that the president has, it seems, made a tradition now of not using the phrase in the Jewish Heritage Month proclamations. That seems to speak more about respect and pluralism than the rest of the proclamation.
Robert M. Bernstein
New York, N.Y.
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