A proclamation designating April 30-May 5 as Jewish Heritage Week in New York City was issued by Mayor Edward I Koch in ceremonies today at the New York City Council chambers. The city-wide program, which focuses on Jewish traditions, culture and contributions to the American society, is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council and the New York City Board of Education.
Robert Abrams, New York State Attorney General, chairman of the Jewish Heritage Week Advisory Council, who presided at the City Hall program, said more than one million students and adults are expected to participate in school assemblies, classroom program, exhibitions, displays and community events. Richard Ravitch, JCRC president, who greeted the participants in the ceremony, commented that “for many students,” Jewish Heritage Week “is the only opportunity to get positive information about the Jewish community.”
Abrams, who helped arrange the first Jewish Heritage Week in 1977, said that this year, in addition to hundreds of public schools, many private and parochial schools will also undertake Jewish Heritage Week celebrations.
In addition to school assemblies, in-class instruction and exhibits, there will be visits to sites of Jewish interest, performances by Jewish artists and lectures by various experts. Many television and radio programs, held in conjunction with the New York Board of Rabbis and the American Jewish Committee, will be part of the celebration. The American Jewish Congress artists program, funded by a Comprehensive Education and Employment Act (CETA) grant, will give performances and workshops in music and poetry.
The Jewish Labor Committee and the United Federation of Teachers sponsored a teacher training seminar attended by hundreds of public school teachers in preparation for Heritage Week. A city-wide art competition is being conducted under supervision of Aileen Golden, art coordinator of school district 15. The works will be displayed throughout the city and winning entries will be on exhibit at the Jewish Museum from April 30 to May 20. Abrams said that the JCRC has been receiving requests for more than six months from principals, teachers and students for materials for use in the Heritage Week program.
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