March 8th is globally recognized as International Women’s Day. In 1987, the United States expanded upon that to designate the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. This designation was shaped with the help and support of groups like the National Women’s History Alliance who lobbied Congress for an official recognition. There are so many women to admire and celebrate. Here are a few of the Jewish women who have been incredible examples to us here at Federation.

Dr. Gerda Lerner was a huge advocate for Women’s History Month. In 1920, Lerner was born to a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria. She grew up deeply involved in the underground resistance to the Nazi regime and was jailed alongside her mother for six weeks, an experience that ultimately led to her career as an activist and historian. In 1939, Lerner escaped to America where she continued her advocacy, becoming a historian, professor and author in all things women’s history.

Another historian to note is American historian and diplomat Deborah Lipstadt. She dedicated much of her life’s work to fighting Holocaust denial, including penning several books about it. In 1994, Lipstadt was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. In 1996 she was sued by Holocaust denier David Irving for libel, a case that she ultimately won in 2000. In 2022, she was confirmed as the United States Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism. This role earned Lipstadt a spot on the 2023 Time 100 Most Influential List.

An example who almost any American woman can name is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to be appointed as a United States Supreme Court Justice, and the first Jewish woman to serve in that position. Ginsburg spent much of her legal career advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. She also served as the founding director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project.

Yet another lawyer to make this list is Rachel Freier. Freier is a current New York Supreme Court Justice. She was the first Hasidic Jewish woman to be elected as a civil court judge in New York State. Freier also established Chasdei Devorah, a non-profit for poor Jewish families, B’Derech, a GED program for Haredi at-risk students and Ezras Nashim, an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service.

One cannot speak about influential Jewish women without mentioning Golda Meir. Born in Kyiv, Meir spent many years living in the United States before ultimately making Aliyah with her husband. Meir took on many important roles over the years including signing the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence. She served as the Labor Minister as well as Foreign Minister, before becoming the first and only female Prime Minister of Israel.

A few other Jewish women to note:

• Bella Abzug fought to pass the Equal Rights Amendment as well as other vital legislation.
• Gertrude Elion was a brilliant chemist who helped develop the first chemotherapy for childhood leukemia as well as the first effective antiviral medication and treatment for many other diseases.
• In 1890, Ray Frank became the first woman to preach formally on a bima in the United States.
• Justine Wise Polier was the first woman to serve as a Family Court Justice in New York. She spent 38 years helping to serve the poor and disenfranchised.

There are countless Jewish women who have made a profound impact on society and exemplify Jewish pride. We at the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County are proud to recognize Women’s History Month!