This collective biography introduces the reader to almost 100 groundbreaking Jewish women who, by being true to themselves and moving forward with courage and creativity, made the world a better place. In the forward, the authors’ stated goal was to show the great diversity that Jewish life contains. Given the group they’ve curated, I would say they were successful. The book is quite inclusive — there are female and non-binary Jews, those from various racial and cultural backgrounds, those born Jewish as well as converts like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Tiffany Haddish. Subjects include women from across the ages. Many different fields and professions are represented. Some women are well-known, such as Anne Frank, Golda Meir, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barbra Streisand, and biblical figures, like Ruth, while others are less familiar. The authors are Swedish and have included some worthwhile Swedish pioneers as well.
Each profile starts off with a quote (when available), then we learn when the subject lived, what she did, and where she did it. Certain women were presented in pairs or groups, if appropriate. I was a little puzzled as to the organization, since it wasn't chronological, alphabetical, or grouped by profession or country. The short profiles are written in a straight-forward manner and some are more engaging than others. For instance, I found the one about Marilyn Monroe quite touching, as it described how she maintained her Judaism throughout her life, connecting strongly to the importance Jews place upon family. I learned that the dancer and choreographer Anna Halprin observed her grandfather dancing and praying in synagogue and concluded that G-d must be a dancer and that Jews are a dancing people.
While some of the women were more observant than others, they all identified as Jewish, and some had experienced varying degrees of antisemitism. Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike will be able to relate to and understand the choices these women made based on their values. In addition, I think that non-Jewish readers will be struck by the great diversity of the Jewish community.
Each mini-biography is accompanied by a full-page portrait of the woman being profiled — often in color, sometimes not. In either case, the art is striking and is definitely one of the strengths of this book. The back matter includes a glossary of Jewish terms.
Jewish Changemakers would be a valuable resource for a teacher or librarian. This material provides an entree into discussions about history, the Bible, feminism, social justice, identity, diversity, and much more. And of course, each inspiring entry is also an invitation to do a deeper dive into the life of a woman who broke barriers.
Reviewer Belinda Brock earned a MS in Literacy and Language from University of Chicago and her background is in teaching and educational publishing. She authored GG and Mamela, the first children’s book to address hospice care. Her essays have been featured on Kveller, Jewish Women’s Archive, and HuffPost.