Last year in honor of Tu B'Shevat, we created a new page on jwa.org to feature Jewish women in environmental activism, and honored six women actively engaged in that work. After it “went live,” we were excited to find that several people submitted comments suggesting other Jewish women who deserved recognition. We heard those suggestions, and this year we brought the question to you—“who would you add to our list?” We asked, and you answered!  We have received the names of over 30 women in response to our call.

It has been inspiring to learn the stories of so many courageous and dedicated women.  Their work spans a wide range of experience, including careers in animal rights, green architecture, clean water, conservation, and climate change. We were thrilled to see the variety of paths these women had taken to promote change -- including non-profit workers, artists, camp directors, authors, lawyers, and spiritual leaders. On our website, we have written "Acting individually and collectively, Jewish women have pioneered their own environmental activist efforts." The array of stories you have brought to our attention overwhelmingly confirms this.

Central to the mission of the Jewish Women's Archive is sharing the unheralded stories of Jewish women. While we celebrate those who are well-known for their work, we also recognize those who work out of the spotlight. We want to thank you for answering our call, helping us build our collection, and bringing the stories of these dedicated women to light.