Profiles
Browse this section for short profiles of some of the thousands of Jewish women found throughout jwa.org. We will be adding new profiles to this section regularly and welcome your suggestions for women to add.
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Showing 176 - 200 of 1508
Name & Description
Date of Birth
Birth Place
Henrietta Blaustein
Through her generosity, Henrietta Blaustein created and sustained a foundation, a hospital’s maternity center, and dozens of other charitable initiatives and organizations.
Through her generosity, Henrietta Blaustein created and sustained a foundation, a hospital’s maternity center, and dozens of other charitable initiatives and organizations.
January 16, 1871
Riga
Matilda and Bernice Blaustein
While 150,000 women eventually served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in World War II, Matilda Blaustein was remarkable both as one of the first to volunteer and because she was joined in the service by her daughter, Bernice.
While 150,000 women eventually served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in World War II, Matilda Blaustein was remarkable both as one of the first to volunteer and because she was joined in the service by her daughter, Bernice.
Blanche Bloch
Blanche Bloch helped open new opportunities for women in music as both a founding member and conductor of the New York Women’s Orchestra.
Blanche Bloch helped open new opportunities for women in music as both a founding member and conductor of the New York Women’s Orchestra.
December 20, 1890
New York, New York
Miranda Bloch
Miranda “Randy” Bloch not only served as a Marine during World War II, she was one of the rare women Marines to be issued flight orders, helping pilots and air crew train for radar bombing runs.
Miranda “Randy” Bloch not only served as a Marine during World War II, she was one of the rare women Marines to be issued flight orders, helping pilots and air crew train for radar bombing runs.
June 26, 1922
Jerusalem
Adele Bloch-Bauer
A wealthy socialite and salon hostess in her day, Adele Bloch-Bauer became the center of an historic legal case when her niece demanded the return of her portrait, stolen by the Nazis.
A wealthy socialite and salon hostess in her day, Adele Bloch-Bauer became the center of an historic legal case when her niece demanded the return of her portrait, stolen by the Nazis.
August 9, 1881
Vienna
Gay Block
Gay Block’s photography allowed her to explore surprising facets of her subjects, from girls at summer camp to Holocaust survivors to her own mother.
Gay Block’s photography allowed her to explore surprising facets of her subjects, from girls at summer camp to Holocaust survivors to her own mother.
1942
Houston, Texas
Anita Block
As editor of the women’s page of the New York Call, one of America’s first socialist newspapers, Anita Block ensured the section covered subjects of real social and political interest to women, commenting, “It was probably the only women’s page which never printed a recipe or a fashion note.”
As editor of the women’s page of the New York Call, one of America’s first socialist newspapers, Anita Block ensured the section covered subjects of real social and political interest to women, commenting, “It was probably the only women’s page which never printed a recipe or a fashion note.”
August 22, 1882
New York, New York
Hadassah Blocker
The first woman in her synagogue to chant Haftorah, Hadassah Blocker taught hundreds of women to take part in the Torah service.
The first woman in her synagogue to chant Haftorah, Hadassah Blocker taught hundreds of women to take part in the Torah service.
1914
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Joan Blondell
Known for playing character roles as a wisecracking, working-class girl, Joan Blondell performed in movies, television, and on stage from age one until her death.
Known for playing character roles as a wisecracking, working-class girl, Joan Blondell performed in movies, television, and on stage from age one until her death.
August 30, 1906
New York, New York
Rachel Bloom
Rachel Bloom has combined her passion for musical theater, her gift for comedy, her feminist sensibility, and her roots in Jewish humor to create the award-winning show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Rachel Bloom has combined her passion for musical theater, her gift for comedy, her feminist sensibility, and her roots in Jewish humor to create the award-winning show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
April 3, 1987
Los Angeles, California
Claire Bloom
From her first film role in Charlie Chaplin’s 1952 Limelight to her performance in 2010’s The King’s Speech, Claire Bloom has remained a favorite of many acclaimed directors.
From her first film role in Charlie Chaplin’s 1952 Limelight to her performance in 2010’s The King’s Speech, Claire Bloom has remained a favorite of many acclaimed directors.
February 15, 1931
London
Helen Abrahams Blum
Helen Abrahams Blum earned a reputation as a talented painter before discovering a passion for all aspects of theater, from set design to directing.
Helen Abrahams Blum earned a reputation as a talented painter before discovering a passion for all aspects of theater, from set design to directing.
August 17, 1886
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Judy Blume
Judy Blume’s books, known for their humor and their honest portrayal of the pains of adolescence, have shaped generations of young girls.
Judy Blume’s books, known for their humor and their honest portrayal of the pains of adolescence, have shaped generations of young girls.
February 12, 1938
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Florence Meyer Blumenthal
Florence Meyer Blumenthal created an arts foundation that funded hundreds of promising artists and allowed them to focus on pursuing their craft.
Florence Meyer Blumenthal created an arts foundation that funded hundreds of promising artists and allowed them to focus on pursuing their craft.
1875
Los Angeles, California
Claire Bodner
Despite having almost no training in either fashion or business, Claire Bodner ran a successful fashion design company that was featured in the top magazines and stores in the country.
Despite having almost no training in either fashion or business, Claire Bodner ran a successful fashion design company that was featured in the top magazines and stores in the country.
1903
Frysztak, Galicia
Ruth Bondy
Journalist Ruth Bondy made larger events more relatable for readers through her insightful human interest stories.
Journalist Ruth Bondy made larger events more relatable for readers through her insightful human interest stories.
1923
Prague
Batsheva Bonne-Tamir
By studying both isolated and mixed populations in Israel, Batsheva Bonne-Tamir uncovered the genetic histories and relationships between long-separated communities.
By studying both isolated and mixed populations in Israel, Batsheva Bonne-Tamir uncovered the genetic histories and relationships between long-separated communities.
July 27, 1932
Jerusalem
Heather Booth
Heather Booth helped transform the American political landscape from her early involvement in both civil rights and abortion rights through her campaign for marriage equality.
Heather Booth helped transform the American political landscape from her early involvement in both civil rights and abortion rights through her campaign for marriage equality.
1945
New Jersey
Madeline Borg
Madeline Borg dedicated her career to giving children second chances—through studying juvenile delinquency, working with child welfare and probation associations, and by founding the Big Sister movement.
Madeline Borg dedicated her career to giving children second chances—through studying juvenile delinquency, working with child welfare and probation associations, and by founding the Big Sister movement.
July 31, 1878
New York, New York
Kate Bornstein
Through performance art pieces like Kate Bornstein Is a Queer and Pleasant Danger and The Opposite Sex is Neither, Kate Bornstein questions society’s understanding of gender as a binary.
Through performance art pieces like Kate Bornstein Is a Queer and Pleasant Danger and The Opposite Sex is Neither, Kate Bornstein questions society’s understanding of gender as a binary.
March 15, 1948
Neptune City, New Jersey
Sivan Borowich-Ya'ari
Using Israeli innovations in solar technology, Sivan Borowich-Ya’ari created Innovation: Africa to bring more reliable electricity to developing communities throughout Africa.
Using Israeli innovations in solar technology, Sivan Borowich-Ya’ari created Innovation: Africa to bring more reliable electricity to developing communities throughout Africa.
June 23, 1978
Anna Pavitt Boudin
Anna Pavitt Boudin defied expectations throughout her career, both as one of the first women dentists in America and as the founder and president of the Women’s American ORT, one of the largest Jewish women’s organizations in America.
Anna Pavitt Boudin defied expectations throughout her career, both as one of the first women dentists in America and as the founder and president of the Women’s American ORT, one of the largest Jewish women’s organizations in America.
July 15, 1883
Mariampol
Jane Bowles
Admired for her darkly comic wit by writers like Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and John Ashbery, Jane Bowles became the center of an avant-garde circle in Morocco.
Admired for her darkly comic wit by writers like Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and John Ashbery, Jane Bowles became the center of an avant-garde circle in Morocco.
February 22, 1917
New York, New York
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer earned a reputation as a powerful voice for liberal causes by leading the charge on issues like sexual harassment, the Iraq War, and marriage equality.
Barbara Boxer earned a reputation as a powerful voice for liberal causes by leading the charge on issues like sexual harassment, the Iraq War, and marriage equality.
November 11, 1940
Brooklyn, New York
Esther Brandeau
The first Jew known to set foot on Canadian soil, Esther Brandeau disguised herself as a boy to gain freedom and independence.
The first Jew known to set foot on Canadian soil, Esther Brandeau disguised herself as a boy to gain freedom and independence.
1718
La Rochelle
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How to cite this page
Jewish Women's Archive. "Profiles." (Viewed on February 19, 2019) <https://jwa.org/people>.
