Contributed by Lisa Brauner, Parent of the Class of 2026 | Full Article Here
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to honor over 370 years of Jewish contributions to U.S. culture, science, and society.
Did You Know? NYC holds the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. Jewish history in the city dates back to 1654, when 23 Sephardic refugees arrived in New Amsterdam (Manhattan) seeking religious freedom. From Haym Salomon’s financing of the American Revolution to the massive migration waves at the turn of the 20th century, Jewish New Yorkers have been integral to the city’s fabric.
The Bronx Science Connection Bronx Science is world-renowned for its Nobel Prize-winning alumni. Remarkably, 8 of our 9 Nobel laureates were Jewish Americans, many of whom were children of immigrants fleeing persecution:
- Roy J. Glauber (’41): Physics (2005)
- Leon N. Cooper (’47): Physics (1972)
- Melvin Schwartz (’49): Physics (1988)
- Sheldon Glashow (’50): Physics (1979)
- Steven Weinberg (’50): Physics (1979)
- Robert J. Lefkowitz (’59): Chemistry (2012)
- Claudia Goldin (’63): Economics (2023) – First female alumna to win!
- Hugh David Politzer (’66): Physics (2004)
Globally, while Jews constitute a small percentage of the population, they represent 22% of all Nobel Prize recipients. Continue here.
How to contribute:
- Email: newsletter@bxsciencepa.org
- Subject: Our Stories
- What to send: A brief reflection, a photo, or a note on a specific heritage month that resonates with you.
We will follow the NYC Department of Education’s calendar of observances to guide our monthly spotlights. For more resources and information on these celebrations, please visit the NYC Schools Social Studies page.
