Inspiration for the New Year from #jwapedia

September 28, 2011

Hashtag launched for a campaign to tweet JWA's Encyclopedia of Jewish women's history.

Last week, JWA asked: Who do you choose to inspire and guide you, your community, and the world, this New Year?

Here's a roundup of your answers in no particular order.

@itsdlevy: One source of inspiration to me is Fanny Brice who was hysterical without being angry or mean.
@AmelahG: Inspired by Deborah the Prophetess, Mother of Israel as I prepare for 5772.
@ettaqueen: Jessica Feingold inspires me 2 learn more about other religions & get better at multitasking this year.
@leahbee: I'm inspired by the legacy of Jewish women involved in feminist health activism & reform.
@mandeljewished: Her brothers (Singer) were better known, but Esther Kreitman had a distinct voice & feminist message.
@thewanderingjew: Inspiring a community: bringin butch, suit, chic to the world of architecture, Phyllis Lambert.
@chaneldubofsky: Lucy Fox Robins Lang, feminist politics embodied to guide me (and us all) into the New Year.
@PEJEjds: Cynthia Ozick is STILL a writer par excellence.
@NCJWNY: Our inspiration & founder: Hannah G. Solomon. Let's hear it 4 #women who have "the whole wide world w/o limit."
@bibliofeminista: For inspiration, we often turn to Gloria Steinem, who exemplifies Second Wave American Feminism.
@thewanderingjew: Inspiring the world: "To see things plain and still to care" - Mindel Cherniack Sheps.
@GesherCityBos: We're inspired by Henrietta Szold cc: @HadassahOrg
@chaneldubofsky: Oh, oh, Annie Leibovitz. I wish for all of us this year the gift of your fearlessness.
@lilithmagazine: We're inspired by our founder and editor-in-chief Susan Weidman Schneider.
@todaywomenshist: Another woman who inspires us: Gertrude Stein, American modernist writer, artistic iconoclast.
@jahr: Grace Paley inspires me to see the poetry in everyday life & to commit to local politics.
@thewanderingjew: Yudica's poetry, an inspiration for everyone, then and now (in these times of economic disaster)
@NoahZaves: I'm inspired and guided by Judith Kaplan (Eisenstein). She upended the status quo with the first Bat Mitzvah!
@chaneldubofsky: Hortense Powdermaker! Reminding me to be mindful of my multiple identities.
@chaneldubofsky: 'the struggle b/w patriarchy & feminism'- Women of the Wall inspires me to keep fighting forward.
@chaneldubofsky: Rosika Schwimmer: Pacifist, feminist. So rad, I don't even know what to do, She inspires me all yr.
@thewanderingjew: Canadian Jewry started with a cross-dressing rebel. That chutzpadik spirit can inspire any community!
@ettaqueen: Inspired to be more musical this year! MT @jtaarchive: Happy Birthday Cass Elliot, z"L.
@jwaonline: We choose Judy Feld Carr, who rescued more than 3500 Syrian Jews between 1975 and 2000, to inspire the world this year.
@rabbiruth: I'm inspired by Lina Morgestern 19c philathropist, activist & author. Used #jewish values 2 change world.
@julieannsilver: Gilda Radner, my favorite funny lady, left the party far too early.
@suemacy1: I'm inspired by my friend Tiby Eisen, female baseball pioneer.
@todaywomenshist: For inspiration, we often turn to Gloria Steinem, who exemplifies Second Wave American Feminism.
@jwaonline: We're inspired by Gerda Lerner (she established field of Women's Hist) to ensure women's stories are taught.
@chaneldubofsky: i'm thinking about you a lot today, Ethel Rosenberg. Radical & uncompromising.
@thewanderingjew: Inspiring communities: Mattie Rotenberg got an education, then opened Jewish dayschools.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this round of #jwapedia. And Shana Tova from all of us at the Jewish Women's Archive. We wish you a sweet new year filled with discovery.

Topics: Jewish Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Rosh Hashanah