In Jewish proclamation, Obama edits out standard reference to Jesus
‘Year of our Lord’ disappears in honor of Heritage Month
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May 3, 2010
A presidential proclamation welcoming May as “Jewish American Heritage Month” appears to break recent precedent by omitting the formulaic phrase “in the year of our Lord” in its closing paragraph.
The move drew praise from some Jewish leaders, who said they weren’t aware of it until being notified by the New Jersey Jewish News.
According to the New Shorter Oxford Dictionary, the phrase “in the year of our Lord,” regularly appended to White House proclamations, indicates “a year as reckoned from the birth of Jesus.”
The proclamation, signed by President Barack Obama and released on April 30, praises the Jewish community for its contributions to America’s “national culture” and declares May a month “to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans.”
Unlike a similar declaration Obama issued in 2009, and annual Jewish Heritage Week proclamations issued by Bill Clinton and, later, Jewish American Heritage Month proclamations by George W. Bush, the proclamation does not end in the standard formula “in the year of our Lord” preceding the year.
Instead, the final paragraph refers merely to the “thirtieth day of April, in the year two thousand ten.”
Recent proclamations concerning other subjects, including the National Day of Prayer (April 30) and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (April 29) continue to carry the phrase “in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten.”
Marc Stern, the acting executive director of the American Jewish Congress and an expert on the Establishment Clause, said the practice of including the phrase “in the year of our Lord” on government documents has always been an “awkward” legal issue.
On one hand, the reference to the birth of Jesus Christ appears to run afoul of Supreme Court decisions concerning the separation of church and state.
On the other hand, advocates of church-state separation have not chosen to “make a fuss” over the phrase. Stern could think of only one or two cases in which the phrase has been challenged, and those have been resolved when officials agreed to remove the phrase from the proclamations in question.
“In general, if you would ask people [who support strict separation] they would say it is inappropriate,” said Stern. “On the other hand, if you ask, ‘Do you care this is there,’ most would shrug their shoulders. It’s a sort of contradictory attitude.”
Stern welcomed the phrase’s omission from the proclamation of Jewish Heritage Month.
“It is a good and sensitive gesture that does not change the course of American church-state relations,” he said.
Steven Freeman, director of legal affairs and associate director of civil rights at the Anti-Defamation League, said the ADL has never pressed for the phrase’s omission, but welcomed it nonetheless.
“We see it as a welcome, sensitive, and attentive gesture,” said Freeman. “It demonstrates sensitivity which we appreciate.”
Brandon Rottinghaus, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Houston, said the phrase “in the year of our Lord” has been part of presidential proclamations at least since the Truman administration. Rottinghaus, who maintains a database on presidential proclamations, said he wasn’t aware of it being omitted on proclamations since then.
Past proclamations including the phrase included one by Clinton mourning the death of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (November 4, 1995) and another marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (March 21, 2002).
The Obama administration has been caught in the crosshairs recently involving both its relations with the Jewish community and over church-state affairs.
White House officials have recently reached out to Jewish leaders to smooth relations ruffled by disagreements over the administration’s strained relations with Israel.
The Obama administration also had to quash rumors that it was cancelling its endorsement of the National Day of Prayer, scheduled for May 6, after a U.S. district judge in Wisconsin ruled it unconstitutional. In the presidential proclamation declaring the National Day of Prayer, Obama called on Americans to “give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our nation.”
The White House did not return calls seeking comment.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article referred to "Jewish American Heritage Month" proclamations by Bill Clinton. In fact, May was not declared Jewish American Heritage Month until 2006; prior to that, presidents issued proclamations declaring "Jewish Heritage Week." The article has been changed to reflect this information.
Andrew Silow-Carroll is Editor-in-Chief of the New Jersey Jewish News. Between columns you can read his writing at the JustASC blog.
Presidential Proclamation — Jewish American Heritage Month
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release April 30, 2010
A PROCLAMATION
In 1883, the Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus composed a sonnet, entitled "The New Colossus," to help raise funds for erecting the Statue of Liberty. Twenty years later, a plaque was affixed to the completed statue, inscribed with her words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…." These poignant words still speak to us today, reminding us of our Nation's promise as a beacon to all who are denied freedom and opportunity in their native lands.
Our Nation has always been both a haven and a home for Jewish Americans. Countless Jewish immigrants have come to our shores seeking better lives and opportunities, from those who arrived in New Amsterdam long before America's birth, to those of the past century who sought refuge from the horrors of pogroms and the Holocaust. As they have immeasurably enriched our national culture, Jewish Americans have also maintained their own unique identity. During Jewish American Heritage Month we celebrate this proud history and honor the invaluable contributions Jewish Americans have made to our Nation.
The Jewish American story is an essential chapter of the American narrative. It is one of refuge from persecution; of commitment to service, faith, democracy, and peace; and of tireless work to achieve success. As leaders in every facet of American life -- from athletics, entertainment, and the arts to academia, business, government, and our Armed Forces -- Jewish Americans have shaped our Nation and helped steer the course of our history. We are a stronger and more hopeful country because so many Jews from around the world have made America their home.
Today, Jewish Americans carry on their culture's tradition of "tikkun olam" -- or "to repair the world" -- through good deeds and service. As they honor and maintain their ancient heritage, they set a positive example for all Americans and continue to strengthen our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2010 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
Comments
Bennett Muraskin
May 05, 2010
What “tensions between Jews and the White House?” Do the right wing Zionists who are attacking Obama for being anti-Israel speak for all of us?
I doubt if they speak for you, so why imply otherwise?
Bennett
Andrew Silow-Carroll
NJJN Editor-in-Chief
May 06, 2010
The phrase “tensions between Jews and the White House” does not appear in the article. This one does: “The Obama administration has been caught in the crosshairs recently involving both its relations with the Jewish community and over church-state affairs.” That’s a factual statement. Elie Wiesel was given a one on one with Obama after publishing a critical open letter; Rahm Emmanuel met with 20 rabbis; the president sent a conciliatory letter to the Confererence of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. That does not suggest every Jew everywhere disagrees with the adminsitration, but a president doesn’t need to “smooth relations” with those who agree with them.
As for “right wing Zionists”—the Zionists part is accurate, but there are among Obama’s critics those support a two-stste solution and a freeze on settlements who nonetheless felt the White House anger with Netanyahu should have been played out more quietly and with commensurate demands placed onthe Palestinians.
Vlady
May 06, 2010
Obama is notorious in breaking traditions. One of the latest changes was “Next Year in the White House” during WH Seder.
Andrew Silow-Carroll
NJJN Editor-in-Chief
May 06, 2010
First of all, I think you mean “Next year in Jerusalem.”
And second of all, the whole thing about “NYIJ” and Obama was a PARODY—a spoof, a joke, a lampoon. The original source was an “AP Story” written by “Shana Habab.” No one named “Shana Habab” works at the AP. And “Shana Haba” is Hebrew for “next year,” which is a little suspicious, no?
Finally, for the satirically tone deaf, the Times reported on the White House seder: “In the Old Family Dining Room, under sparkling chandeliers and portraits of former first ladies, the mostly Jewish and African-American guests will recite prayers and retell the biblical story of slavery and liberation, ending with the traditional declaration ‘Next year in Jerusalem.’ (Never mind the current chill in the administration’s relationship with Israel.)”
Namir Yaarot
May 06, 2010
why diod previous presidents use the term in the year of our lord? was this a slp at Jews and if so why did our supposed leaders put up with it
Hypatia
May 07, 2010
Much as I deplore Obama’s ignorant and ham-handed approach to Israel, I have to hand it to him for two American church-state items: First, in his acceptance? or was it inaugural? address, he specifically mentioned people of “no religion”. Second, this instance of leaving out the “year of our Lord”. Both gratifying and sensitive positions.
My cup would have run over if he had just refrained from this “national day of prayer” garbazhe, ESPECIALLY as he was breaking the law, since a Federal judge had earlier ruled that such a day was unConstitutional.