Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed May 2026 as Jewish Heritage Month, recognizing the history, diversity, and contributions of Jewish communities while reaffirming California\u2019s commitment to fighting antisemitism.<\/p>\n
In a proclamation<\/a> on May 31, Governor Newsom underscored the longstanding presence of Jewish communities in the state and their role in shaping California\u2019s cultural, political, and social landscape.<\/p>\n He noted that generations of Jewish immigrants arrived in the U.S. seeking freedom and opportunity after fleeing persecution, eventually establishing thriving communities throughout California.<\/p>\n California is home to the second-largest Jewish population in the country, according to the proclamation. Describing the state\u2019s Jewish community as diverse, Governor Newsom said the community includes Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, Persian, Israeli, Ethiopian, and Latin American populations.<\/p>\n He said that these populations have greatly contributed to the state\u2019s development since the early days of California\u2019s formation.<\/p>\n Praising the Jewish community\u2019s contributions to culture, politics, civil society, and other areas of public life, Governor Newsom said California is the \u201cglobal force\u201d thanks to the community.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCalifornia is not the state, nor is it the global force it is today, without the many contributions of Jewish people,\u201d he said in the proclamation.<\/p>\n Out of the total 7,692,105 Jewish people living in the U.S. in 2024, California is home to 1,259,325 Jewish people, according to the Jewish Virtual Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n