May 3, 2025

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

Online resources are available to learn about the culture and contributions of the Jewish American community.
To receive this information in another language, please contact Gloria Handyside 303-441-1622 ghandyside@bouldercounty.gov.

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Commissioners have proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Boulder County. Residents are encouraged to learn about the culture and contributions of Jewish Americans, and to commit themselves to creating an environment free of bias, exclusion, and harassment.

Online Resources

The Library of Congress Jewish American Heritage Month website has a collection of online resources from the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The 30th Annual Boulder Jewish Festival will take place on Pearl Street on Sunday, June 8. It will include local art, food, activities, and music.

For local history, visit the website of Congregation Har HaShem. This synagogue was established in 1965 as the Boulder Jewish Fellowship.

For more information about history of the Jewish experience in the Rocky Mountain region, visit the University of Denver’s Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society and Beck Archives website. The archives include the Lowenstein Family Papers and Art collection, which tells the story of one Jewish family's miraculous survival amidst the horrors of the Holocaust.

The Holocaust is a defining event of the 20th century for many people in the Western world because of the Nazis' attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe while invading and annexing sovereign European countries.

The Nazi persecution during the Holocaust began with an initial focus on political opponents and what the Nazis termed, "Undesirables", including people with disabilities. The persecution escalated to Jewish people and then other groups. During the Holocaust, at least 11 million people were brutally killed, including six million Jewish Europeans and at least five million prisoners of war, Romani, Jehovah’s Witnesses, people with disabilities, Black people in Germany, gay and bisexual men, and other people.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website has online resources, including tools for learning and teaching, podcasts, and videos.

Identity and Heritage Months

At the beginning of February, the Boulder County Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to heritage and identity months. The commissioners emphasized that Boulder County will continue to celebrate the contributions of the diverse groups that make our county strong, successful, and resilient – while acknowledging that the history of these groups is American history and includes both successes and tragedies.

As outlined in the commissioners’ Proclamation Recognizing 2025 Heritage and Identity Months in Boulder County, heritage months recognize and celebrate the contributions of underrepresented groups, and help people understand their own identities. They enable us to honor the achievements and contributions of groups whose histories are often absent from traditional narratives of U.S. history or misrepresented altogether.

Heritage and identity-based months teach people about the histories and cultures of different groups, help people understand their own cultures and identities, encourage people to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Boulder County, Colorado, and the United States, and prompt people to reflect on past struggles and successes.

Americans with Disabilities Act Notice

Special Assistance
Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email the ADA Coordinator, or call 303-441-1386. Submit your request as early as possible, and no later than two business days before the event. Boulder County's ADA Policy