J250 Puts Jewish Contributions at Heart of America’s 250th

Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. special envoy charged with monitoring and fighting antisemitism, has unveiled a new educational approach he calls “pro-Semitism” — a campaign designed not only to oppose anti-Jewish hatred, but also to spotlight the enduring impact Jewish Americans have had on the United States.

Explaining the vision, Kaploun said that “the Jewish people are more than the hatred that defines us.” He made the remarks at America’s 250th Birthday Shabbat Dinner, an event co-hosted with the Combat Antisemitism Movement that brought together government figures, Jewish leaders, educators and community members to mark the country’s approaching 250th anniversary.

The gathering also marked the official debut of the J250 Initiative, a major education-focused project intended to broaden public awareness of the deep and lasting role Jewish Americans have played in shaping the nation’s history.

The initiative is being introduced at a moment of heightened alarm. The FBI’s latest annual hate crime report shows that anti-Jewish incidents have reached the highest level recorded since the bureau began compiling the data in 1991.

The FBI’s 2024 Hate Crime Statistics report listed 1,938 anti-Jewish hate crime incidents reported by law enforcement agencies. While Jewish Americans make up about 2% of the U.S. population, they accounted for nearly 69% of all religion-based hate crime victims nationwide. Supporters of the new initiative say confronting antisemitism remains essential, but they argue that teaching the broader public about Jewish achievement and service to America can be an equally important tool in reducing bias.

Organizers describe the J250 Initiative as a move beyond a purely defensive response to antisemitism and toward a more hopeful, forward-looking celebration of Jewish life in America. Rather than allowing Jewish identity to be framed mainly by persecution, the project aims to highlight what its backers call a “Jewish American Golden Age,” honoring Jewish patriots, business leaders, scientists, doctors, public officials, military service members, philanthropists and civic voices who have helped build and strengthen the United States from its earliest days.

The core mission of J250 is to uncover overlooked stories from the American Revolution through modern American history.

Among the first individuals to be featured are Haym Salomon, the Revolutionary War financier whose support helped sustain Gen. George Washington’s army; Francis Salvador, widely recognized as the first Jewish American to die fighting for American independence; and Continental Army officer Solomon Bush. Organizers say these are only a few of the 250 stories that demonstrate the enduring impact Jewish Americans have had on the nation’s history and development.

The initiative also highlights more recent Jewish Americans whose contributions helped shape the nation’s culture, science, medicine and public life.

As a Jewish immigrant, Irving Berlin arrived in the United States as a child after fleeing persecution and went on to become one of America’s most celebrated composers and songwriters. His classics, including “God Bless America,” “White Christmas” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,: helped shape the soundtrack of the nation and remain woven into America’s cultural identity.

The project also recognizes American Jewish physician Dr. Jonas Salk, whose development of the first successful polio vaccine stands among the greatest medical breakthroughs in history. His discovery saved millions of lives and transformed public health. By choosing not to patent the vaccine, he ensured it could be widely distributed, protecting generations of children from polio worldwide.

Another featured Jewish American is baseball legend Sandy Koufax, who rose to become one of the greatest pitchers in history, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to multiple World Series championships and earning three Cy Young Awards. At the height of his career in 1965, Koufax chose to sit out Game 1 of the World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, a decision that became one of the defining moments in American sports. His decision inspired generations of athletes and became a lasting symbol of integrity, conviction and the freedom to live one’s values.

“As I said in my Senate confirmation hearing, education is the best way to combat antisemitism,” Kaploun told INC News, “Teaching the world about the greatest Jewish contributors to American history gives people the knowledge to counter those who spread hate and lies about the American Jewish community.”

The initiative also includes a Jewish American Heritage curriculum, a national social media campaign and a student scholarship competition encouraging young Americans to explore Jewish history through the broader American story.

“Jewish Americans have helped build the America we love today, from the battlefields of the Revolution to the frontiers of modern science,” said Arie Lipnick, co-founder of The J250 Foundation. “It is only by renewing these foundational lessons that we can ensure the promise of America burns brightly for the next 250 years.”

Kaploun also reflected on his family’s immigration to the United States. “My great-great-grandfather immigrated from Galicia in the 1880s. My great-grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1913,” he said. “They could have never dreamed that their great or great-great grandson would one day be hosting America’s Birthday Shabbat Dinner. But that is exactly the American dream.”

He said America’s founding ideals of religious liberty, freedom of speech and equal opportunity created an environment in which generations of immigrants, including Jewish Americans, could contribute to the nation’s success while remaining faithful to their heritage.

Physician and philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson echoed the evening’s themes of unity, gratitude and hope.

“I love America as I love Israel,” Adelson told attendees. “We need to hope, we need to love each other. Maybe the next generation will be better and better.”

Her remarks reinforced the initiative’s message of fostering greater understanding, mutual respect and optimism for the future.

For organizers, J250 represents more than a historical project. It is an effort to ensure that Jewish history in America is not defined solely through the lens of antisemitism, but through the lens of patriotism, service, sacrifice, innovation, civic leadership and nation-building. The organizers say they hope to reclaim stories that have too often been overlooked and inspire a deeper appreciation for the role Jewish Americans have played in shaping the country over the past 250 years.

“If these last 250 years demanded we create the word ‘antisemitism,'” Kaploun said, “let these next 250 years lead us to create a new word in its stead: ‘pro-semitism.’ Being proud to be Jewish, educating the world and respecting one another. That is what it means to be pro-semitic.”