Rosa Sonneschein

Content type
Collection

The American Jewess on Liberation and Freedom

Investigate what it means for American Jews to celebrate Passover and the Fourth of July in the context of religious and national freedom, by reading an editorial from the April 1897 issue of The American Jewess.

Beauty Exercises, 1897

We've Come A Long Way, Rosa: Title IX and The American Jewess

Gabrielle Orcha

You didn’t think Title IX would reach its 40th birthday and go unrecognized here at JWA, did you?

Annie Londonderry

Annie Londonderry and the bicycle as a vehicle of social liberation

Leah Berkenwald

Over the past couple years, we have witnessed the rise of an eco-friendly, politically progressive bike culture in the US.

Topics: Sports

Household hints from the "American Jewess"

Leah Berkenwald

Take a look at these "household hints" published in American Jewess in January, 1896. Published between April 1895 and August 1899, The American Jewess was the first English-language publication directed to American Jewish women. I wonder what household hints American Jewesses would share today?

Topics: Journalism

Electricity applied in a "strictly scientific manner"

Leah Berkenwald

I recently began a fun Twitter project, tweeting tidbits from American Jewess, the first English-language publication directed to American Jewish women (and this blog's namesake), edited by the original Jewess, Rosa Sonneschein.  Today I came across this ad from the October 1895 issue, and almost fell out of my chair.

"The American Jewess" begins publication

April 1, 1895

Published between April 1895 and August 1899, The American Jewess was the first English-language publication directed to American Jew

Pioneers convene in St. Louis, forming early Jewish women's literary society

January 25, 1879

The Pioneers, a St. Louis literary club for Jewish women, met for the first time on January 25, 1879.

Rosa Sonneschein

Rosa Sonneschein created and edited the American Jewess, the first English-language magazine for Jewish women in the United States, where she advocated for the expansion of women’s roles in the synagogue and the Jewish community and expressed her strong support for Zionism.

National Council of Jewish Women

In its early years, the National Council of Jewish Women concentrated on combating assimilation by educating Jewish women about Judaism. In contemporary times, the Council continues to play an important role as a bridge between traditional motherhood and political activity, between the Jewish community and other women’s organizations, between Judaism and politics, and between diverse segments of the Jewish community itself.

Leisure and Recreation in the United States

In the late nineteenth century, Jews started creating their own spaces to vacation, as a reaction to the discrimination and exclusion they faced at many established leisure spots. While vacationing was initially criticized for the lack of modesty it supposedly fostered, particularly in women, over time Jewish vacation spots and summer camps incorporated religious practices into the leisure environment.

Die Deborah

Die Deborah was an influential American Jewish newspaper published in German from 1855 until 1902 specifically aimed at German-Jewish middle-class women. The paper’s writers and editors viewed women in high esteem as keepers of moral and spiritual values, and toward the turn of the century they came to support the values of the American feminist movement.

The American Jewess

Published between 1895 and 1899, The American Jewess was the first independent English-language magazine published by and for Jewish women in the United States. Founded by Rosa Sonneschein and closely tied with the National Council of Jewish Women, the magazine discussed issues of fundamental importance to middle-class Jewish women.

The American Jewess: Zionism before the State of Israel

Jordan Namerow

By Rebecca Honig Friedman, cross-posted on Jewess. This would have been an appropriate post for last week when we celebrated Yom Ha'azmaut and commemorated Yom Hazikaron but ...

Topics: Zionism, Journalism

Donate

Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women.

donate now

Listen to Our Podcast

Get JWA in your inbox

Read the latest from JWA from your inbox.

sign up now