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FAQ

  1. How did you decide whom to include in the current edition of the Encylopedia?

    It was the editors' vision to embrace the whole Jewish world and all of Jewish culture from the Hebrew Bible to the present. Recognizing that any selection process is subjective, the articles focus, with a few exceptions, on deceased women and living women age 50 or above. For more on the selection process, see the Editors' Preface.
  2. Who made the selections?

    The co-editors, Professors Paula E. Hyman of Yale and Dalia Ofer of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with the assistance of an Editorial Board made up of 20 distinguished scholars, made the selections for the 2006 edition. For the upcoming new edition, decisions about new entries are being made by editor Jennifer Sartori, the current Editorial Board, and JWA staff.
  3. How did you determine whether or not someone was Jewish?

    The editors did not limit themselves to a traditional halakhic (legal) definition of who is a Jew. Any woman who had a Jewish parent, who converted to Judaism, and/or who self-identified as Jewish was eligible for inclusion.
  4. Why are there articles on men in an encyclopedia on Jewish women?

    The editors and publishers decided, after much discussion, to include a few religious leaders whose views influenced the status of women in various sectors of the Jewish community.
  5. How do I point out what I believe is an error in the text?

    You can use the "discuss" form at the bottom of each article to let us know of any errors. Please include information that will enable us to make corrections, including references.
  6. What if I disagree with something in an article?

    Use the "discuss" form at the bottom of the article to contribute your own point of view on the subject. Relevant references must accompany any factual disagreement.
  7. How do I suggest one or more women who should be added to the online Encyclopedia?

    If you would like to suggest a new article, visit our nomination form. If you are qualified to write the article and interested in doing so, please let us know. Expanding and updating the online Encyclopedia is a high priority. To support these efforts, please consider making a donation to the Jewish Women's Archive.

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How to cite this page

Jewish Women's Archive. "FAQ." (Viewed on March 15, 2024) <http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/faq>.