The beginning of this May will mark two Jewish dates of importance. The first is Yom HaShoah, where Jews worldwide remember the industrial genocide of their ancestors conducted by Nazi Germany. Indeed, from my observations, the common motif of many Jewish stories — from Passover, to Purim, to the Shoah — seem to be rooted in gloomy pogroms. In contrast, I would like to mention the second date of importance, wherein upon the very start of May, we will begin not to mourn, but to celebrate, as Jewish-American Heritage Month begins.

Proclaimed in 2006 by former President George W. Bush, we have an illustrious history in many fields, from film director Steven Spielberg, physicist Albert Einstein, escape artist Harry Houdini, actress Natalie Portman and Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth. I would go far enough to say that my personal homeland is nowhere within Israel — it is in the United States of America! Some politicians think that they can win us over through Israel-friendly foreign policy — but they couldn't be more wrong; Judaism is more than just Israel!

Max Ian Engel

East Lyme