WHEREAS, California is home to a diverse and vibrant Jewish community that includes Jews from all backgrounds, including Mizrahi, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi; and

WHEREAS, A recent study showed that 17% of Jews surveyed, including 29% of Jewish adults under the age of 30, live in households in which at least one member is Black, Hispanic, Asian, some other non-White race or ethnicity, or multiracial; and

WHEREAS, Jewish Californians have inextricably woven their experience and their accomplishments into the fabric of our state’s identity. Generations of Jewish people have come to this state fleeing oppression, discrimination, and persecution in search of a better life for themselves and their children. These Jewish Americans have created lives for themselves and their families and played indispensable roles in the civic and community life, making invaluable contributions to our state through their leadership and achievements; and

WHEREAS, The Jewish community in the County of Los Angeles comprises approximately 5.3% of the county’s population, making that Jewish community the largest in the world outside of New York City and Israel. There are Jewish communities represented in all cities throughout California, including large metropolitan areas like the Cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego and smaller rural communities like the central valley; and

WHEREAS, There are approximately 1,174,000 Jews in California; and

WHEREAS, In 2021, the High Holidays recognized and celebrated by the Jewish people in California and around the world will begin on September 6, 2021, with Rosh Hashanah, and conclude on Thursday, September 16, 2021, with Yom Kippur; and

WHEREAS, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on September 6, 2021, the first day of Tishri, 5782 on the Hebrew calendar; and

WHEREAS, Rosh Hashanah is also known as “Yom Teruah,” the Day of Sounding of the Shofar, the ancient ram’s horn; and

WHEREAS, Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” and is the Jewish New Year. It is a time of inner renewal and divine atonement; and

WHEREAS, The traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah in Hebrew is “Shana Tova u’Metukah,” which means “have a happy and sweet new year”; and

WHEREAS, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on September 16, 2021, the 10th day of Tishri, 5782 on the Hebrew calendar, and is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people, who spend the day praying united as one people; and

WHEREAS, The traditional greeting for Yom Kippur in Hebrew is “G’mar Hatima Tova,” which means “may you be inscribed in the Book of Life,” and is an offering of a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling year; now, therefore, be it