Can you imagine a world where there is no chemotherapy treatment for childhood leukemia, polio is still running rampant, and no one is wearing blue jeans? Thanks to the contributions of three notable Jewish Americans, you don’t have to. May is the month to celebrate remarkable Jewish American women and men like Dr. Gertrude B. Elion, Jonas Salk, and Levi Strauss, inventors of the before mentioned creations.

In April of 1980, President Carter issued the first Jewish American Heritage Week. For the next 26 years, the week was celebrated in either April or May. In 2006, President George W. Bush officially recognized May as Jewish American Heritage Month. This year’s theme is Tikkun Olam, which means repairing the world or healing the world.

Below are several of my favorite quotes from notable Jewish people.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein, Scientist

So often in life the things you regard as an impediment turn out to be a great good fortune. -Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Supreme Court Justice

The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves. -Steven Spielberg, Film Director, Screenwriter, and Producer

Dare to dream. And when you dream, dream big. –Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America

When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. -Elie Wiesel, Professor, Writer, and Holocaust Survivor

Be a leader, like these remarkable individuals and move to action TODAY.