Subject: Draft statement for jahm for review
From: "Walker, Eric" <[email-masked]>
To: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>, "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, Sarah E Arkin <[email-masked]>, "Weinberg, Aaron" <[email-masked]>, "Walsh, Tom" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 17:38:56 -0700

This month, we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month by marking the important contributions that Jews have made to American life. 

From a young age, I was taught that a central tenet of our faith is tikkun olam – or - repairing the world. As Jews and as active citizens, my parents helped me understand that it is our responsibility to help and advocate for others. 

This year's theme - education - builds upon that legacy of tikkun olam. We know that education can be the silver bullet for parents who want to give their children a better life or a chance to escape the cycle of poverty. Education is also our best defense against bigotry and ignorance in society. By fighting for a better education for all Americans, we can do our part to repair our country and the world.
 
There's a reason why two-thirds of Jews identify with the Democratic Party: because the Democratic Party's values are in sync with the values of the Jewish community, like tzedakah, or charity, gemilut hasadim, the gift of loving kindness, and the cause of social justice. This Jewish American Heritage Month, I'm proud to call myself a Democrat because I know that we are not only advancing the causes of our party but of the Jewish faith.