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Midwifery

Content type
Collection

Doctors: Medieval

Many Jewish women practiced medicine throughout Europe and the Middle East during the medieval period, forming an integral part of the Jewish working community.
Mania Shochat and Olga Belkind

Olga Belkind-Hankin

Belkind-Hankin was a professional midwife active in Palestine in the early 20th century. Born near Minsk, she traveled to Palestine in 1886 and ended up remaining there. She settled in Jaffa with her husband, Yehoshua Hankin and became well known for her midwifery skills; she was most likely the first professional midwife in the country.

Hannah Barnett-Trager

Hannah Barnett-Trager’s involvement in the literary world began when she helped found and then worked as a librarian at the Jewish Free Reading Room in London. She published her first article in 1919 and went on to write books for both children and adults. Trager’s writing discussed Jewish culture and politics, often drawing from her own experiences.

April 17, 2008

Midwives, Oranges, and Matzah Frisbee?!

Jordan Namerow

With Passover fast approaching, now is a perfect time to think about the many roles of courageous women in historical and contemporary quests for freedom.

As a start, check out the Jewish Women's Archive's resource on Jewish midwives which highlights Shifra and Puah, two women who play a critical part in the Exodus story through their acts of resistance in sparing the lives of Hebrew male babies born in Egypt.

Topics: Midwifery, Passover, Music

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