HIStory or HERitage?

Knowledge is power… In determining our vision for a common Jewish future we must consciously and actively encourage Jewish women to participate more in education—as our role models in leadership positions, experts in panel discussions, campus organizers and grassroots activists.” These words introduce HERitage and HIStory: Visions for an Equal Future, a sourcebook on Jewish women’s issues written and published by the Women’s Program of World Union of Jewish Students. It is one of a number of innovative and compelling educational programs and resources created in the hopes that Jewish girls and young women will feel an incentive to remain in the Jewish community.

These two new books recognize that a key to effective Jewish education is making sure that it reflects the diverse history and community that Jews make up, including the voices of women, whose experiences have often been left out of mainstream Jewish education.