Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on May 30, 2012

May 30, 2012

WASHINGTON (JTA) --President Obama celebrated the values of communities petitioning government at a White House reception honoring Jewish American Heritage Month.

"We dont just celebrate all that American Jews have done for our country; we also look toward the future," he said. "And as we do, I know that those of you in this room, but folks all across this country will continue to help perfect our union; and for that, I am extraordinarily grateful."

Obama focused a large portion of his remarks on the 150th anniversary of an order that was issued by General Ulysses Grant, which expelled Jews as a class from the military department of Tennessee.

It was wrong. Even if it was 1862, even if official acts of anti-Semitism were all too common around the world, it was wrong and indicative of an ugly strain of thought, Obama said.

He went on to note that American Jews protested the order.

"What happened next could have only taken place in America," he said. "Groups of American Jews protested General Grants decision."

He described how a Jewish merchant from Kentucky who met with President Abraham Lincoln and following the meeting, the order was revoked.

"Like so many groups, Jews have had to fight for their piece of the American dream," Obama said. "But this country holds a special promise: that if we stand up for the traditions we believe in and in the values we share, then our wrongs can be made right; our union can be made more perfect and our world can be repaired."

The order by Lincoln to revoke the order was on display during the reception, as were letters from two Jewish groups asking for the revocation.

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Obama celebrates Jewish petitioning of government

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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