The history of the Yishuv, the Jewish community in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel, appears to be male. The role of women, as is often the case, has been ignored. The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, founded in 1997, and the Lafer Center for Women and Gender Studies at Hebrew University sponsored a conference in 1998 devoted to the contribution of Jewish women to the creation of the State of Israel. The papers in this anthology come from that conference. They cover the historical narrative and women’s place (or lack thereof ) in it; women and immigration; pioneers and defenders; education, health, and politics; creativity in word and music; and shaping the collective memory. By examining topics such as the immigration of American Jewish women to Palestine, the lack of education for women and the contributions of the Rothschilds and Montefiores in this area, and the women workers’ movement, this volume sheds light on the important contributions of women to Israel. The articles cover Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi women. Extensive notes and a glossary will help readers find further information. It would have been helpful to include the affiliations of the contributors. This is a valuable resource for academic libraries supporting women’s studies, gender studies, and Jewish studies programs.
Nonfiction
Jewish Women in Pre-State Israel: Life, History, Politics, and Culture
- Review
By
– January 11, 2012
Barbara M. Bibel is a librarian at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, CA; and at Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley, CA.
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