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Bess Myerson

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Bella Abzug at a New York Press Conference, 1972, by Diana Mara Henry

Queen Esther and Bella Abzug: Costumes, Leadership, and Identity

Discover how two remarkable Jewish women: The biblical figure, Esther, and the historical figure, Bella Abzug, both fought for justice and liberation by adopting personas that helped them achieve their goals.

https://jwa.org/teach/golearn/feb07
Miss America Pageant, 2014
February 24, 2016

Pageant Problems

Abby Richmond

Bess Myerson, the one and only Jewish Miss America, was crowned winner in 1945. Jordyn Rozensky’s 2013 JWA blog post, Here She Comes….Miss America, discusses the influence Myerson had on America and on the Jewish community following her big win. Myerson was the first Jewish woman to win the pageant, and she experienced significant antisemitism as a result. Despite these challenges, Myerson channeled her fame into doing good—she became active with the Anti-Defamation League and launched a successful political career. 

Topics: Feminism, Television
https://jwa.org/blog/risingvoices/pageant-problems
Bella Abzug at a New York Press Conference, 1972, by Diana Mara Henry

Queen Esther and Bella Abzug: Costumes, Leadership, and Identity

Throughout history, activists have chosen different costumes and personas as strategic tools to help them stand up against injustice. Examine how the biblical figure Esther and the historical figure Bella Abzug fought for justice and liberation by adopting personas that helped them to achieve their goals. JWA staff will demonstrate ways to use the stories of these women in your classrooms as you prepare for Purim.
https://jwa.org/teach/profdev/webinars/2014/purim
Bess Myerson, 1957
September 8, 2012

Esther to Bess: We are Crowned by Fate

Deborah Fineblum Raub

Sixty-seven years ago today, Bess Myerson was crowned Miss America, the only Jewish woman ever to be so honored.

Topics: Activism, Jewish History, Antisemitism
https://jwa.org/blog/esther-to-bess-we-are-crowned-by-fate
Bess Myerson, 1957

Bess Myerson Crowned First Jewish Miss America

September 8, 1945

Just months after the shocking revelations of the Holocaust's devastation of European Jewry, Bess Myerson was crowned the first (and still only) Jew

https://jwa.org/thisweek/sep/08/1945/bess-myerson
"Women Strike for Equality" August 26, 1970

"Women Strike for Equality"

August 26, 1970

Ten thousand women marched down New York's Fifth Avenue on August 26, 1970, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

https://jwa.org/thisweek/aug/26/1970/women-strike-for-equality
Bess Myerson, 1957

Bess Myerson

When Bess Myerson encountered anti-Semitism as the first Jewish Miss America, she used her new-found fame to fight hatred through the Anti-Defamation League. Myerson stayed close to the Jewish tradition and people throughout her career, always presenting herself as a Jewish public figure.
Rosalyn Yalow

Hunter College

Hunter College of the City University of New York was founded as a public, tuition-free secondary and teacher-training school for women that admitted students solely on the basis of academic merit, at a time when many institutions of higher education were implementing policies of selective admissions designed specifically to deflect disadvantaged students.

September 12, 2008

Beauty and Power

Lily Rabinoff-Goldman

You may have noticed a former beauty queen in the news lately, but I'm not going to write about her. Instead, I'd like to focus on Bess Myerson, the first and only Jewish Miss American, who won her title on September 8, 1945, just four months after V-E Day. Ms. Myerson's victory was seen as a symbol of America's post-war rejection of Europe's anti-Semitic horrors.

Topics: Civil Service
https://jwa.org/blog/beauty-and-power
September 8, 2006

Ms. JewSA

JL

This day, sixty one years ago, Bess Myerson was the first (and so far, only) Jewish woman, to be crowned Miss America.

Topics: Antisemitism
https://jwa.org/blog/JewSA

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