Activism

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Collection

Birth of essayist and suffragist Nina Morais Cohen

December 6, 1855

Nina Morais Cohen; the daughter of Sabato Morais, a prominent Orthodox rabbi and a leading exponent of traditional Judaism—established he

Release of "Free To Be You and Me"

November 27, 1972

Free To Be You and Me, the album of non-sexist stories and songs that helped shape the self-understanding and world view of a generation of children, was released on November 27, 1972.

Birth of author Grace Paley

December 11, 1922

Grace Paley, author, feminist and “somewhat combative pacifist and cooperative anarchist,” was born on December 11, 1922 in the Bronx.

Shoshana Cardin becomes first woman to lead a major national Jewish organization

November 15, 1984

After over two decades of building a reputation as a passionate and generous member of the Jewish community through her activism and volunteer work, Baltimorean Shoshana Cardin was elected as the first woman president of the Council of Jewish Federations on November 15, 1984.

Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer elected to Senate

November 3, 1992

On November 3, 1992, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer were elected to the U.S.

Birth of Caroline Klein Simon, anti-discrimination pioneer

November 12, 1900

Caroline Klein Simon, a pioneering attorney, communal worker, and state official, was born on November 12, 1900.

Nita M. Lowey elected to House of Representatives

November 8, 1988

On November 8, 1988, Nita M. Lowey was elected to Congress.

Rebekah Kohut honored for fifty years of communal activism

November 21, 1935

U.S. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, NYC Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, Rabbi Stephen S.

Madeleine Kunin elected Governor of Vermont

November 7, 1984

In her autobiography, Madeleine Kunin acknowledges that her background may not have predestined her to become governor of Vermont.

Clara Lemlich sparks "Uprising of the 20,000"

November 22, 1909

“I am one of those who suffers from the abuses described here, and I move that we go on a general strike.” Thus, in Yiddish, 23-year-old Clara Lemlich addressed a crowd of thousands of restless laborers at New York City’s Cooper Union on November 22, 1909.

Bella Abzug convenes National Women's Conference in Houston

November 18, 1977

On November 18, 1977, 20,000 women, men and children gathered in Houston to participate in an unprecedented event, the first federally funded National Women’s Conference.

Bella Abzug Elected to Congress

November 3, 1970

On November 3, 1970, Bella Abzug was elected to the United States House of Representatives on a proudly feminist, anti-war, environmentalist platform, becoming th

"Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape" conquers the "Washington Post"

November 2, 1975

The October 1975 publication of journalist and activist Susan Brownmiller’s treatise Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape recast public unde

Esther Lederer becomes Ann Landers

October 16, 1955

Esther Pauline Friedman Lederer, writing as Ann Landers, had her first advice column published in the Chicago Sun Times on October 16, 1955.

Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act becomes Law

October 28, 2000

The Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act introduced by Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky became law on October 28, 2000.

Women strike for peace

November 1, 1961

On November 1, 1961, Women Strike For Peace (WSP) was inaugurated with a day-long strike by an estimated 50,000 women in 60 cities, all pressing for nuclear disarmament.

Birth of Judge Jennie Loitman Barron

October 13, 1891

Judge, lawyer, and suffragist, Jennie Loitman Barron, was born on October 13, 1891 in Boston’s West End.

Founding of Women's American ORT

October 12, 1927

In a Brooklyn kitchen on October 12, 1927, Anna Boudin, Mrs.

Emma Goldman Released from Jail and Then Reimprisoned

September 27, 1919

Emma Goldman was released from a two-year prison term, on September 27, 1919, only to be immediately reimprisoned.

Bella Abzug Addresses Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing

September 12, 1995

Bella Abzug's plenary address to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing on September 12, 1995 set a tone of international cooperation and commitment that

Jewish Women Watching declare "Sexism is a sin"

September 21, 2001

"Jewish women/girls hold your community accountable. Sexism is a sin.

Three generations of activist Seaman family mark 10th anniversary of Women's Strike for Equality

August 26, 1980

When women and men paraded down New York's Fifth Avenue on August 26, 1980, to mark the tenth anniversary of Women's Strike for Equality and the sixtieth anniversary of women's right to vote, three

"Women Strike for Equality"

August 26, 1970

Ten thousand women marched down New York's Fifth Avenue on August 26, 1970, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

Hadassah honors Orthodox feminist Blu Greenberg

July 25, 2006

Blu Greenberg, best known for her work on behalf of feminism within Orthodox Judaism, was honored with Hadassah's highest honor, the Henrietta Szol

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