Since 2024, the Southern District of Florida has celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). Last year’s JAHM program topic was Our Journey to Israel: Seeing It Through Our Eyes. The program featured three federal judges who shared their experiences from a recent Judges Education Mission to Israel: Circuit Judge Robert Luck, District Judge Roy Altman, and District Judge Bob Scola.
The 2025 JAHM program topic was The Resilience of the Jewish People and featured Dan Senor and Judge Roy Altman in conversation. Mr. Senor’s podcast, Call Me Back, and his many articles and powerful books, have informed and inspired many about Israel’s history and strength – its security, its technological advancements, the health of its society, and the Jewish resilience - the ability to survive and thrive despite immense adversity and persecution throughout history, especially after October 7. Judge Altman has been on a mission to educate and has used his intellect and passion to educate students across the country about Israel’s history, the Jewish people, and the danger of antisemitism. He led the first-ever Judicial Education Mission to Israel in 2024, and the second Mission in March 2025. Eighteen federal judges from across the country, Jews and non-Jews, embarked on a powerful 5-day educational mission, gaining a unique insight into the geopolitics of the Middle East, the U.S.- Israel relationship, and the rule of law, bearing witness to the atrocities from the October 7 massacre. A World Jewish Congress video can be found here: 2025 WJC Judges Mission to Israel 
The national effort to have a Jewish American Heritage Month began in South Florida. In 2005, two tremendous leaders in Miami - Marcia Zeriwitz from the Jewish Museum of Florida and Judy Gilbert Gould from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation approached Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz to sponsor a resolution that would create a month during which we honor the rich history and contributions of American Jews. A resolution was unanimously passed by Congress and each May we celebrate the extraordinary contributions Jewish Americans have made and continue to make to our country.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Robert Gilbert, Judy Gilbert Gould’s son and a JAHM committee member, and film producer, Jerry Levine, the film, South Florida’s Legal Legacy: A Film Celebrating the Roots and Meaning of Jewish American Heritage Month, was created. You can access that film here: South Florida's Legal Legacy
The Southern District of Florida hosts other heritage months that celebrate the various communities that form the mosaic of our country, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. By celebrating heritage months, we learn about one another, we honor the richness of our diverse nation and district, and we strengthen the fabric of American society. Since the first Jews came to America, Jewish Americans have given to their communities and tohis nation as loyal and patriotic citizens, grateful for the safe harbor that America provided for them. Jewish Americans have served in law, in government and the military, have won Nobel prizes, headed universities and corporations, advanced medicine, created and performed in enduring works of performing and visual art, written great American novels, and have become emblems of justice as members of the Supreme Court, and every other level of our courts. Most importantly, American Jews have always pushed America to live up to its promise as a nation to uphold freedom and justice for all.
We invite you to join us for future JAHM programs and we thank our committee for their leadership and dedication.
Meeting from 5/22/2025: Judicial Reform in Israel: A Judge's Perspective
By: U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, Chairperson