Every May, Jewish American Heritage Month provides a time to learn about and celebrate Jewish people’s contributions to civic and cultural life in the United States. We invite you to join us for programming throughout the month.
Events
Western Libraries
Display for Jewish American Heritage Month
All Month Long in Haggard Hall 2nd Floor and online.
Event Accessibility
These events are intended for all participants, including those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities. For disability accommodation (such as ASL interpretation, etc.) please contact Amy Salinas Westmoreland at westmoa2@wwu.edu. Advanced notice is appreciated and sometimes necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
Dining Specials
Come celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month at the dining halls with some delicious food inspired by Honey, Cake & Latkes by: Auschwitz - Birkenau Survivors. Enter to win a copy of the cookbook to take home!
5/7/26, 11am, Jewish American Heritage Month Lunch @ Viking Commons
5/13/26, 4pm, Jewish American Heritage Month Dinner @ Ridgeway Commons
5/21/26, 3pm, Jewish American Heritage Month Dinner @ Fairhaven Commons
Lunch & Learn Sessions
Facilitated by Litav Langley of L&L Consulting, we will host three lunch and learn sessions in VU 735. Lunch will be provided. Litav is the owner of Litav Langley Consulting LLC, providing business and non-profit leaders with strategic advisement, organizational development, and education to build organizations where all employees and clients can thrive. Their career has spanned practice as an attorney, college student development and higher education administration, grassroots and political advocacy in transgender communities, and civil rights compliance. They adore exploring in the woods and on the coast with their family and are spending lots of time on the baseball field with their youngest child’s team this Spring. Follow Litav on Instagram @zevvylangley and LinkedIn.
Toward Jewish Students’ Flourishing
Building Capacity to Advance Student Development
Wednesday May 6, 2026 12-1:00 p.m.
VU 735
Centering faculty and staff, but open to all.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Jewish students at Western are diverse in their Judaism, in the other identities they hold, and in the salience of their various identities. Especially in the current national context, where antisemitism and other forms of hate have risen and where every person is far more than the harms they experience, it is imperative that student development professionals are competent to support the identity development of diverse Jewish students. In this session, we’ll cover basics about American Jews today and discuss critical practices to effectively support student development. Student affairs staff and faculty of all identities are encouraged to participate.
Tzedek Tzedek
Civil Rights Movement Solidarities & Contemporary Jewish Activism
Thursday, May 14, 2026 12-1:00 p.m.
VU 735
Open to students, faculty, and staff
Engaging in tikkun olam (repairing the world) is an important part of many Jewish people’s Jewish identity. Why is this, and how has the pursuit of tzedek (justice) animated solidarities between Jews and other marginalized communities in the United States? We’ll dive into this big question first by looking at Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work together during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Then, facilitator Litav Langley will share about their recent time lobbying with other Reform Jews in Washington, D.C. We’ll discuss how those lobbying priorities – access to health care, prevention of settler violence in the West Bank, voting rights, and the rights of immigrants – are rooted in Jewish texts and values.
Papercuts for the People!
Creating traditional and contemporary Jewish papercuts
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 12-1:00pm
VU 735
Open to all
Multiple diasporic cultures have rich histories of papercutting as a form of folk art.
Participants in this session will learn about the history of traditional papercutting in Jewish communities from North Africa and Europe and look at beautiful papercuts by contemporary Jewish American creators. Together, we’ll try our hands at constructing our own papercuts and other paper art. Whether you want to create decorations for Shavuot (6 Sivan / May 22), following European Ashkenazi tradition, or simply create some new beauty for your home or office, all are welcome.
Partners in Jewish History Month Planning
- Office of Multicultural Student Services
- Jewish Student Union
- Western Libraries
- Dining Services
- Litav Langley Consulting, LLC
Artist Highlight
Katy Ignatyeva is a student at Western who is working to be a fine arts major. Katy is a Russian-Jew with dual citizenship.
