00                   HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8                                                                    
01 Proclaiming October 2025 as Jewish Heritage Month.                                                                      
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03 WHEREAS, from the dawn of civilization, the Jewish people have been pioneers of                                       
04 religion, culture, prophecy, education, ethical values, freedom, social justice, and tolerance to                       
05 all mankind and have maintained a resilient cultural and religious identity for over 3,000                              
06 years, preserving rich traditions of faith, learning, service, and perseverance under                                   
07 extraordinary historical circumstances and unimaginable hardships; and                                                  
08       WHEREAS Jewish Americans have helped shape the soul of the United States by                                     
09 enriching the fields of science, law, education, medicine, commerce, and military service; and                          
10 WHEREAS the story of the state is also a Jewish story that includes immense                                           
11 contributions to the state's civic life, leadership, and rich culture before statehood, including                       
12 the contribution to the purchase of the state from Russia, as well as a deep commitment to                              
13 justice, community, and the common good; and                                                                            
14 WHEREAS Jewish people in the state have played vital roles in shaping the state,                                      
15 including leaders of Jewish descent like Ernest Gruening, a champion of the path to statehood,                          
16 and countless others who have served with distinction as judges, educators, healers, business                           

01 owners, artists, and public servants; and                                                                               
02 WHEREAS Jewish entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders have played                                        
03 a vital role in shaping the state's economic and civic landscape by founding businesses,                                
04 medical practices, and philanthropic organizations that uplift communities across the state,                            
05 while also serving as steadfast voices for human dignity and the freedom of faith, which are                            
06 values that strengthen the moral foundation of the state and bind its people together in shared                         
07 purpose; and                                                                                                            
08 WHEREAS institutions like the Alaska Jewish Museum, Alaska Jewish Campus -                                            
09 Chabad-Lubavitch, Congregation Beth Sholom in Anchorage, Congregation Sukkat Shalom                                     
10 in Juneau, Mat-Su Jewish Center - Chabad-Lubavitch in Palmer, Fairbanks Jewish Center -                                 
11 Chabad-Lubavitch, and Congregation Or HaTzafon in Fairbanks have served as spiritual and                                
12 cultural centers for Jewish people in the state and as intercultural partners in promoting                              
13 understanding and justice; and                                                                                          
14 WHEREAS the heritage of Jewish people in the state is woven through the cultural                                      
15 landscape, making contributions to the state's literary, musical, and academic life while                               
16 supporting cultural preservation and education efforts; and                                                             
17 WHEREAS the Alaska Jewish Museum in Anchorage, a subsidiary of the Alaska                                             
18 Jewish Campus, provides a home for Jewish history, art, and culture in the state and enriches                           
19 the cultural wealth of the broader state community through collecting and preserving original                           
20 documents, photographs, visual art, books, and artifacts that tell the story of the Jewish                              
21 experience in the state, as well as the heroic humanitarian rescue of Jewish refugees from                              
22 Yemen by Alaska Airlines' pilots and flight attendants who took enormous risks to rescue                                
23 Jewish people from hostile territory and bring the refugees safely to the fledgling Jewish                              
24 homeland of Israel; and                                                                                                 
25 WHEREAS celebrating Jewish Heritage Month in October 2025 gives all residents of                                      
26 the state a chance to come together, learn from one another, and honor the many ways Jewish                             
27 individuals and families have helped shape the story of the state;                                                      
28 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature proclaims the month of                                               
29 October 2025 as Jewish Heritage Month; and be it                                                                        
30 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages schools,                                                
31 cultural institutions, local governments, and all residents of the state to observe October 2025                        

01 as Jewish Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies and educational activities, including                              
02 visiting the Alaska Jewish Museum, and through public recognition of the contributions of                               
03 past and present Jewish residents of the state.