23 Souls, Big and Little: Early Jewish Arrivals in North America | The Center for Jewish-Inclusive Learning Portal

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Topic

Jewish American Heritage

Summary

All over the world, and especially in the United States, monuments are built to represent a country’s values and to honor and commemorate the achievements of its earliest settlers and founders. The first Jewish people arrived in North America in 1654, yet their contributions are not commemorated in any monuments here.

In this lesson from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, students will share details about monuments that they have seen and who was represented in them. They will discuss the achievements that qualified these individuals to have a monument constructed for them and the values that it represents. After showing students examples of current monuments, you will discuss how to interpret them.

Keeping this discussion in mind, students will read about Jewish individuals who were part of the first communities to arrive in North America and analyze their achievements and contributions to Jewish life in North America. Then, they will talk through how US history would possibly change if there were greater awareness of these early Jewish settlers in the US, if they would be represented as an individual or as a community, and what the focus of the monument would be.

The lesson culminates with students designing their own monument concept that commemorates early Jewish arrivals to North America, reflecting their understanding of America’s history and values.

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