350th Anniversary Programming at the Boston Public Library
North America's first Jewish settlers arrived in New Amsterdam 350 years ago. JWA is celebrating this milestone by highlighting Jewish women's historic roles in pioneering and building communities across the continent.
This spring JWA is bringing an exciting 350th anniversary program of exhibits, discussions, films, and events to the Boston Public Library (BPL). Please join this celebration and exploration of the pioneering past and creative present of the American Jewish community.
All events are free and open to the public. Boston Public Library hours and directions.
Stories Untold:
Jewish Pioneer Women 1850 – 1910 Exhibition
April 8 – May 26, 2004
The centerpiece for this celebration of Jewish women is the artwork of Andrea Kalinowski. Kalinowski's work opens a window to the lives of Jewish women in the American West. Applying computer technology to traditional quilt patterns, Kalinowski interweaves photography, textiles, historic quilt patterns and the pioneer women's own words into nine large-scale mixed media paintings.
April 8, 5–6:30 pm
Opening Reception with Stories Untold artist Andrea Kalinowski
BPL, Boston Room
May 5, 1:30–3:30 pm
A special Stitch-In hosted by the Greater Boston chapter of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework.
Docent tours
The Jewish Women's Archive has organized volunteers to act as docents for the exhibit. For special tours of the exhibitions, please contact us.
This exhibition has been organized by the Museum of New Mexico, a division of the Office of Cultural Affairs, with generous support from the Dobkin Family Foundation. The exhibition is touring nationally under the auspices of of TREX: the Traveling Exhibitions Program of the Museum of New Mexico.
Women of Valor Poster Exhibit
April 8 – May 26, 2004
Discover the lives of trailblazing Jewish women: artists, reformers, activists, politicians, scientists, and athletes. All had the courage and conviction to overcome social, cultural, and religious barriers to achieve their goals. In the BPL Atrium.
Fanny Goldstein, (1895 – 1961)
A Boston Treasure
April 8 – May 26, 2004
The BPL's Department of Special Collections honors Ms. Fanny Goldstein with a display of artifacts culled from her extensive archive. Located in the floor display cases in the Boston Room, the exhibit illuminates Fanny's life-long contributions to the community. Goldstein was the first female Judaica librarian, and the first woman to direct a branch library in Massachusetts, the West End Branch Library. She is best known as the founder of Jewish Book Week, which later evolved into National Jewish Book Month.
And Now About My Mother
Mother's Day, Sunday May 9 2:00 pm
Celebrate with Congressman Barney Frank (at right, with his mother Elise), attorney Arthur Waldstein, and businessman Alan Morse as they share appreciations of the public and private accomplishments of their amazing moms. This event in the Rabb Auditorium will be followed by a Mother's Day champagne reception at 4:00 pm at the second floor of host Neiman Marcus.
Jewish Women on the Screen
Monday Film Series
April 26 Hester Street
May 3 Crossing Delancey
May 10 Driving Miss Daisy
May 17 Kissing Jessica Stein
May 24 Funny Girl
Tuesday Film Series
featuring special guests
April 20 Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House
April 27 Blue Vinyl
May 4 A Time to Dance
May 11 Thunder in Guyana
About the Monday Night Series
The Boston Public Library presents a series of popular feature films with Jewish women at their center. All films will be screened in the Rabb Auditorium at 6:00 pm.
About the Tuesday Night Series
Curated by the Boston Jewish Film Festival, this is a series of four documentary films about contemporary American Jewish women who have broken new ground and forged new frontiers.
Each screening will be followed by a discussion with guest directors and film subjects. For more information, Please see Documentary Film Series: Pioneering Jewish Women for film descriptions and a listing of special guests. All films will be screened in the Rabb Auditorium at 6:00 pm.
JWA/BPL Events Committee: Susan Berk, co-chair; Karen Secunda Levy, co-chair; Joyce Antler, Ellen-Deane Cummins, Beth S. Klarman, Pam Shain, Susan Snider, Liz Tapper, Merle Tarnow, Jeane Ungerleider
The Jewish Women's Archive 350th anniversary programming at the BPL is made possible, in part, through the generous support of the Klarman Family Foundation.
