North America's first Jewish settlers arrived in New Amsterdam 350 years ago. JWA is celebrating this milestone by highlighting Jewish women's historic roles in pioneering and building communities across the continent.

This spring JWA is bringing an exciting 350th anniversary program of exhibits, discussions, films, and events to the Boston Public Library (BPL). Please join this celebration and exploration of the pioneering past and creative present of the American Jewish community.

All events are free and open to the public. Boston Public Library hours and directions.

Stories Untold:
Jewish Pioneer Women 1850 – 1910 Exhibition

April 8 – May 26, 2004
The centerpiece for this celebration of Jewish women is the artwork of Andrea Kalinowski. Kalinowski's work opens a window to the lives of Jewish women in the American West. Applying computer technology to traditional quilt patterns, Kalinowski interweaves photography, textiles, historic quilt patterns and the pioneer women's own words into nine large-scale mixed media paintings.

April 8, 5–6:30 pm
Opening Reception with Stories Untold artist Andrea Kalinowski
BPL, Boston Room

May 5, 1:30–3:30 pm
A special Stitch-In hosted by the Greater Boston chapter of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework.

Docent tours
The Jewish Women's Archive has organized volunteers to act as docents for the exhibit. For special tours of the exhibitions, please contact us.

This exhibition has been organized by the Museum of New Mexico, a division of the Office of Cultural Affairs, with generous support from the Dobkin Family Foundation. The exhibition is touring nationally under the auspices of of TREX: the Traveling Exhibitions Program of the Museum of New Mexico.

Women of Valor Poster Exhibit

April 8 – May 26, 2004
Discover the lives of trailblazing Jewish women: artists, reformers, activists, politicians, scientists, and athletes. All had the courage and conviction to overcome social, cultural, and religious barriers to achieve their goals. In the BPL Atrium.

Fanny Goldstein, (1895 – 1961)
A Boston Treasure

April 8 – May 26, 2004
The BPL's Department of Special Collections honors Ms. Fanny Goldstein with a display of artifacts culled from her extensive archive. Located in the floor display cases in the Boston Room, the exhibit illuminates Fanny's life-long contributions to the community. Goldstein was the first female Judaica librarian, and the first woman to direct a branch library in Massachusetts, the West End Branch Library. She is best known as the founder of Jewish Book Week, which later evolved into National Jewish Book Month.

And Now About My Mother

Mother's Day, Sunday May 9 2:00 pm
Celebrate with Congressman Barney Frank (at right, with his mother Elise), attorney Arthur Waldstein, and businessman Alan Morse as they share appreciations of the public and private accomplishments of their amazing moms. This event in the Rabb Auditorium will be followed by a Mother's Day champagne reception at 4:00 pm at the second floor of host Neiman Marcus.