Jewish Women’s Archive: jwa.org
High-res photos of Gail Reimer and Judith Rosenbaum: tinyurl.com/18JWA
JWA’sd 18th Anniversary info (event details, press release, Gail’s bio): wizadjournal.com/jwa2014

For Immediate Release
May 6, 2014

For all media inquiries please contact:
Niki Lamberg, (617) 869-8695, nl@nlamberg.com

The Jewish Women’s Archive Announces
New Executive Director Judith Rosenbaum

First executive transition since Gail Reimer founded JWA 18 years ago

Brookline, MA— Historian Dr. Judith Rosenbaum will become the next Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA), the world’s leading organization chronicling the stories of Jewish women, past and present, all online at jwa.org. JWA’s founding Executive Director Dr. Gail Reimer made the announcement last evening, at JWA’s 18th Anniversary Celebration in New York City. Rosenbaum will succeed Reimer, who will step down from her position on August 31, 2014.

“We are delighted to welcome Judith as JWA’s new Executive Director,” said JWA Board Co-Chair Tamara Kreinin. “She brings a depth of knowledge of the organization, intellectual rigor, and a creative vision for the future of JWA.” JWA Board Co-Chair Susan Raskin continued, “Judith’s strength of personality, refined leadership, and infectious warmth will energize a new generation of JWA leaders and activists committed to documenting the stories and experiences of Jewish women in North America.”

At the 18th Anniversary gala, comedian Judy Gold wished JWA “Happy Chai Birthday!” Raskin’s tribute to Reimer noted, “18 years ago Gail had an idea, and she was brave enough to turn it into a reality.” Historian Joyce Antler explained JWA’s impact, “It’s not just an Archive, it’s a social movement!” “Gail is a visionary,” said Dr. Rosenbaum, “I look forward to launching JWA into its next 18 years.” Full information and the press release about the 18th Anniversary is online: http://wizadjournal.com/jwa2014.

Rosenbaum brings to the position more than 15 years of experience as an educator, historian, writer, and activist. She served for eight-and-a-half years as JWA’s Director of Public History and Director of Education, developing and directing many of JWA’s major initiatives, including Living the Legacy, a social justice education project; National Institutes for Jewish Educators; and the online exhibit Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution.

Rosenbaum holds a BA in History from Yale University and a PhD in American Studies from Brown University. Her dissertation research focused on the women’s health movement in the United States. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Israel, and has taught and lectured nationwide on Jewish women’s issues. A regular contributor to academic and popular publications, including Tablet Magazine, The Jewish Daily Forward, and The Huffington Post, Rosenbaum is currently co-editing an anthology about the modern Jewish mother. She is the daughter of feminist historian Paula Hyman.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to JWA, an organization that brings together my deepest values and commitments—to women, to the power of stories, to a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community,” said Rosenbaum. “I’m proud of JWA’s success thus far, and our work is far from finished. I am eager to deepen and broaden JWA’s impact by sharing how the stories of Jewish women can move and inspire action for a just world.”

JWA is the first and only organization dedicated to uncovering, chronicling, and transmitting the rich history of North American Jewish women. Through its digital repository, the organization contains the most extensive collection of material about North American Jewish women anywhere in the world. In addition to its digital content, JWA trains educators and partners with institutions to teach a more inclusive narrative of Jewish history using a range of resources—historical documents, posters, creative lesson plans, oral history guides, and archival photographs—that trace the lives and contributions of Jewish women over time.

This year alone, JWA directly served more than 1.2 million people: researchers, scholars, and students who used its ever-expanding collection of online resources; educators who participated in the organization’s professional development institutes, webinars and workshops, and a growing base of friends and supporters who attended JWA’s public programs.

The New York celebration commemorating the 18th anniversary of the Jewish Women’s Archive took place on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 6:00 PM at The Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, New York City. Details, including Dr. Reimer’s biography, online at wizadjournal.com/jwa2014.

The Boston celebration commemorating the 18th anniversary of the Jewish Women’s Archive will take place at 6:00 PM on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the JFK Presidential Kennedy Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston. Details also at wizadjournal.com/jwa2014.

Visit the Jewish Women’s Archive at jwa.org.