2022 Update: Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel reintroduced this resolution during the 2022 session under House Resolution 99 (2022).

The full text of HR 99 is below, and the original is available on the California Legislature website.

In a unanimous vote, the California State Assembly has passed a historic resolution honoring the contributions of the state’s Israeli-American immigrant community.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, whose San Fernando Valley district is home to a large population of Israelis, introduced legislation to officially recognize the contributions of Israeli-Americans during Jewish American Heritage Month. The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) in California worked with Assemblymember Gabriel to spearhead this initiative.

“This is a historic move by the California Assembly,” said Vered Elkouby Nisim, Chair of ICAN California. “This is the first time that Californians of Israeli heritage have been officially honored by our leaders in Sacramento and acknowledged for our contributions to this state.”

Passage of this resolution comes at a time of heightened concern among the Israeli community about rising antisemitism and targeted discrimination based on national origin.

“It’s been a difficult month for our community; the lies and misinformation spread about my homeland, Israel, during the latest conflict with Hamas in Gaza has sparked an outbreak of violent antisemitic attacks in California,” concluded Nisim. “This positive acknowledgment from our elected leaders is a reaffirmation that we Israelis deserve the right to celebrate our heritage and be proud of our unique identity.”

A bipartisan group of members of the California Assembly signed on to the resolution as co-authors.

“We’re thankful to Assemblymember Gabriel for spearheading this effort and demonstrating appreciation for our vibrant Israeli community in California,” said Dillon Hosier, CEO at ICAN. “We hope that this historic resolution inspires Israelis across the state to get more engaged in civic life.”

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Relative to Israeli Americans.

RESOLUTION TEXT

Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Mia Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Choi, Cooley, Cooper, Megan Dahle, Daly, Davies, Mike Fong, Friedman, Eduardo Garcia, Gray, Grayson, Haney, Holden, Irwin, Lackey, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nguyen, O’Donnell, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Seyarto, Smith, Ting, Valladares, Voepel, Ward, Akilah Weber, Wilson, and Wood)
March 28, 2022

 

WHEREAS, The month of May in the United States is recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month, an annual recognition and celebration of the achievements and contributions of American Jewish people, including Israeli Americans; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans are a vibrant immigrant community enriching the diversity of the State of California; and

 

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Israeli population in the United States, including first- and second-generation immigrant families, and home to the largest Israeli population outside of the State of Israel; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans have historically been subject to multiple forms of discrimination, including anti-Semitism and national origin discrimination, and desire, like all immigrant communities, to connect with their culture and celebrate their heritage free from bigotry and bias; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans have facilitated the sharing of antiquities and artifacts with California’s museums and academic institutions, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, stones from Jerusalem’s Western Wall, and many other objects excavated from active archaeological sites, demonstrating the indigenous Jewish connection to their ancestral lands in Israel; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans contribute invaluable skills that strengthen the California economy and share their heritage with California’s culture and heritage; and

 

WHEREAS, The contributions of Israeli Americans in the fields of astrophysics, mathematics, chemistry, aerospace engineering, biotechnology, agriculture, and internet technologies have been invaluable to the State of California; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans have brought their tradition of environmentalism and sustainability to California, sharing water recycling and conservation technology and best practices, alternative energy technologies, and agricultural technology solutions; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli-American technology entrepreneurs and startups have brought significant advancements to some of the most high-profile technology companies across California, from Silicon Valley to Silicon Beach; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans have contributed significantly to the entertainment industry with many Israeli adaptations turning into award-winning Hollywood hits, and Israeli-American actors and actresses leading in prominent roles on television and in films; and

 

WHEREAS, Israeli Americans have helped to form a strong bond between the people of the United States and the people of Israel, reinforcing our shared values and interests; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly, in honor of the multitude of contributions that Israeli Americans have made to make this a better country and state for all people, affirms that the Israeli-American community has contributed immensely to California’s society and culture, and condemns any act of national origin or other forms of discrimination that serve to marginalize or disenfranchise members of this community; and be it further

 

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.