Wake County Board of Commissioners Proclaims May as Jewish American Heritage Month

On Monday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners took time during their regular meeting to proclaim May as Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh was there to celebrate, and Federation Interim CEO Robin Talley gave a short speech about the role of Jewish Americans in Wake County. You can read an expanded version of the speech below.

Thank you to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for giving space to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. Indeed, we have much to celebrate. Our Jewish community is one of the fastest growing in the country. At the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, we receive calls every day from people who are moving here from around the country. They are attracted to new jobs, a lower cost of living, and Carolina blue skies. In the last 20 years especially, our community has been able to grow the infrastructure we need to live Jewishly. We worked with the Wake County Public Libraries to plan an entire month of activities celebrating Jewish Americans. We can buy kosher meat at multiple grocery stores. We are even seeing the construction of the first new synagogue in decades.

This growth feels so new that it is easy to forget that Jews have been an integral part of Raleigh and Wake County from the very beginning. In 1817, Moses Mordecai moved into the home of his wife, Peggy Lane. The Mordecais remained an important family in Raleigh’s early years, and today the Mordecai House is the oldest house in Raleigh that remains in its original location. (By the way, you have no idea how hard it was to pronounce the name “Mor-deh-kee” instead of “Mor-deh-kai” when I first moved here.)

This year, Beth Meyer Synagogue celebrated its 150th anniversary. The congregation began in 1874 when Michael and Regina Grausman turned their home’s nursery into a sanctuary. From those humble beginnings, the congregation moved to different locations in Downtown Raleigh and the Oakwood neighborhood until it came to its current home on Newton Road. To look at the evolution of the synagogue building is to see the evolution of our Jewish community. Want to learn more? You can take a Jewish History Trolley Tour of Raleigh!

As in the rest of the country, the Jewish residents of Wake County took every opportunity to be productive members of our community. We started businesses that grew the local economy. We fought for freedom in every major war. We healed the sick in our world-class hospitals. We created music, art and theater. By the way, did you know that Raleigh-born actress Evan Rachel Wood is Jewish? We are doing our part for “Jewish geography!”

Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to recognize the special relationship between Jews and the land we call our home. Our ability to live Jewishly, and safely, is rare in the rest of the world. In return for this refuge, we have thrived and given the best fruits of our labor. America would not be the same without the contributions of Jewish Americans, from new immigrants to families with generational ties.

Thank you to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for supporting our growing community. Our strong relationship and your resources have helped us to keep our campus safe, build our connections with groups in the greater community, and celebrate our heritage proudly. Our Jewish community has a proud history in Wake County. By continuing to work together, we will ensure an even better Jewish future.

To watch a recording of the proclamation and Robin Talley’s speech, click here.

Front row (L to R): Michael Abramson, Susan Goldhaber, Mark Goldhaber, Vice-Chair Don Mial, Chair Susan Evans, Robin Talley, Michael Ross, Marlene Mlawski.

Back Row (L to R): Tara Waters, Cheryl Stallings, Shinica Thomas, Safiyah Jackson