Reconstructionist rabbi Linda Joy Holtzman became the first woman to lead a U.S. Jewish congregation when she was appointed the spiritual leader of the Coatesville, PA, Beth Israel Congregation.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made a triumphant return to Congress to cast her vote on the debt ceiling, seven months after being shot.

The first issue of the "Saturday Review of Literature," founded and edited by Amy Loveman, appeared.

Lillian Copeland won an Olympic gold medal in discus. At the previous Olympics, in 1928, she had won the silver in the same event. Her 1932 toss set a new world record.

Children's television favorite Shari Lewis, a puppeteer who created the characters Lamb Chop and Charlie Horse, died.

Noted fashion designer Anne Klein was born.

American Jewish journalist Ruth Gruber arrived in New York harbor with 984 refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe, which concluded her secret mission to escort the refugees from Italy to America.

Birth of Ariel Glaser, the child whose death inspired the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

The first woman Solicitor General of the United States becomes the fourth female Supreme Court Justice.

A quintessential American girl, Dinah Shore mixed song and talk on the airwaves for over 50 years.

Conservative intellectual Gertrude Himmelfarb was born.

Actress Sylvia Sidney, who starred in 1930s-era films opposite Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant, was born.

At the U.S. Olympic trials, swimmer Dara Torres qualified to compete in her fourth Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Eight years later, Torres made history again by competing in her fifth Olympics in Beijing.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg took her seat as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Reclaiming Jewish ceremonies and holidays for feminists, training Hebrew Priestesses of all stripes, and publishing a Siddur (prayer book) that includes earth-based rituals, the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute is a new women’s movement in Judaism.

The documentary Gloria: In Her Own Words, telling the story of the women’s movement as seen through the eyes of Gloria Steinem, premiered on HBO.

A new paperback version of Tillie Olsen's classic short story collection "Tell Me a Riddle" was issued.

Harpsichordist and composer Wanda Landowska, who was credited with the 20th-century revival of harpsichord music, died.

Phoebe Yates Levy Pember, who gained fame as a Richmond nurse during the Civil War, was born.

"The Village I Knew," choreographed by Sophie Maslow, was first performed.

The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education graduated its first class.

Writer Dorothy Parker is born

Pioneering dietician and educator Frances Stern published an article on the importance of nutrition education in the "Boston Globe."

The first issue of "Die Deborah," a German-language newspaper focused on serving women's interests, was published.

Eugenia Levy Phillips was arrested as a Confederate spy.

Three generations of activist Seaman family marched together in the tenth anniversary celebration of the New York Women's Strike for Equality.

A massive "Women Strike for Equality" march in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the 19th amendment took place in New York City and other cities.

Jackie Gothard thanks Hayley Fields for Torah scroll on behalf of Beth Israel Synagogue in New Orleans.

Hadassah activist Alice Seligsberg died.

The launch of a Virtual Archive as one of the first major public programs of the Jewish Women's Archive was described in an article in Boston's "Jewish Advocate."

Louise Glück was named poet laureate of the United States.

The first Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education began.

Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, the first female Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military, was profiled in the "Omaha Jewish Press."