Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women

by Julie Silverstein, Tami Schlossberg Pruwer

Embark on an extraordinary journey to discover the stories of daring Jewish women, past and present, who triumphed over darkness and went on to create a brighter world. From Abigail to Zivia, Chutzpah Girls come from diverse communities across the globe with powerful stories to awaken your Jewish pride, inspire you to explore your heritage, and, despite the odds, dream bigger than ever before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Jewish, Judaism

232 pages, Hardcover

Published November 25, 2024

Reviews

[Heidi Shertok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and its message couldn’t have come at a more poignant epoch in history. The barrage of evil that marked October 7th was unparalleled in its physical, sexual, and emotional brutality, leaving Jews around the world feeling shocked and powerless. This collection of stories is a powerful reminder of the strength, endurance, and yes, CHUTZPAH, that have come to define us Jewish women.

Here are some of my favorite lines from the book:

"Fear holds us back. Belief moves us forward." —Beatie Deutsch, running champion

"You can't fight every battle, but there are certain battles you cannot turn away from." —Deborah Lipstadt, Holocaust historian

"My methods are really methods of working and thinking, which is why they have crept in everywhere anonymously.” —Emmy Noether, mathematician

"Wonder Woman has so many powers, but at the end of the day, she's a woman. Her strength is her heart." —Gal Gadot, actress

"Inbal {Lieberman} is a heroine. Her story leaves no one indifferent - for her coolness, courage, and bravery. Thanks to Inbal, dozens of lives have been saved. Thanks to her, Kibbutz Nir Am was saved."
- Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv

"Our ability to recover depends on how we speak to ourselves. Positive talk can help you become your own inspiration." —Moran Samuel, Paralympic Olympian

"Do not let anyone extinguish the fire that burns inside you." —Ofek Rishon, Anti-bullying Activist

“We resisted.” – Zivia Lubetkin & Roni Zuckerman, Jewish Defenders (Warsaw Ghetto Uprising)

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a stunning tribute to Jewish women who embodied courage, creativity, and resilience throughout history. Each story highlights a pivotal moment of bravery, showcasing how these women overcame challenges with remarkable strength and grace. Accompanied by vibrant portraits created by 12 female Jewish artists, this book is inspiring and an actual work of art.

I was genuinely impressed by the variety of stories in Chutzpah Girls. From mathematicians and musicians to kibbutz defenders and chess champions, these women illustrate the diverse and powerful roles Jewish women have played over time. The book addresses today’s challenges while celebrating the legacy of strength in our heritage. Whether for Hanukkah, a bat mitzvah or simply as a thoughtful gift, this book is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration. It is a genuine treasure!

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful collection of 100 real-life stories of strong Jewish women who made a difference! From ancient times to the 21st century, from household names to mostly unknown women, and from every corner of the globe the reader learns about the accomplishments of these brave, intelligent, and altruistic women who overcame obstacles and embraced life.

The full-page artwork of each featured woman is amazing. A variety of artists from around the world and many artistic styles are presented. The images and colors are eye-catchingly beautiful.

I highly recommend this book for children and adults alike. It would make a great gift for any occasion.

[Yael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art and great stories of empowered Jewish female leaders and role models throughout history. I think it would make for a really nice gift for anyone with young girls!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Chutzpah Girls tells the stories of 100 amazing Jewish women from the past and present.

There is a detailed page on each woman. Plus a beautiful colorful illustrated depiction of everyone.

The book features extremely well known women/girls like Barbra Streisand (singer/actress/director), Anne Frank (diary writer), Gal Gadot (actress), Mayim Bialik (actress and neuroscientist), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Supreme Court Justice) and Golda Meir (Prime Minister of Israel).

But there were also so many incredible women that I was unfamiliar with. Some of the women in this book who I loved reading about most:

Annie Cohen Kopchovsky a cyclist born in 1870. She was the first woman to set off on a solo cycling trip around the world.

Deborah Lipstadt a holocaust historian who ended up as an ambassador to serve as America’s special envoy on antisemitism.

Eliza Davis was born in 1817. She voiced concerns about Charles Dickens’ portrayals of Jewish characters (Fagin in Oliver Twist). She convinced Dickens to revise Oliver Twist and to be more mindful in his future works.

Inbal Lieberman who lead kibbutz security on October 7th.

Linoy Ashram an Olympic gold medalist in rhythmic gymnastics at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Lori Palatnik a Canadian woman who became an organ donor to a stranger. She works to help Jewish women worldwide.

Ofek Rishon an anti bullying activist. She was bullied herself and at 13 she had a video go viral. She was honoured as one of the top citizens of Israel.

This book features 100 original portraits by renowned Jewish female artists from around the world.

Some of the illustrations that resonated with me the most were of the following women: Chani Lifshitz, Emma Lazarus, Gal Gadot, Kira Radinsky, Michelle Farber, Miriam, Noa Tishby and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Overall I found this book to be very inspiring. I loved reading about all of these Jewish women. This book was so educational. And I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks to the authors for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As there isn't one kind of chutzpah, there isn't just one kind of Chutzpah Girl. Some are loud, and others are quiet. Some seek fame, and others prefer anonymity. Some want change, and others embrace tradition. Some win by the sword, and others by the female power of intuition. In this book, we celebrate all Jewish women and believe in the right to equal opportunities so you can create the life of your dreams, whether blazing ahead in a profession or lighting the flame of a Jewish home.” - Silverstein & Pruwer

[Israel Drazin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuppah Girls by Julie Esther Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer is entertaining and so informative that it is like taking college courses in history, psychology, Jewish women, and the contribution of Jewish women to society by attending the classes of fascinating teachers who are a pleasure to listen to.
It is an excellent companion to Jonathan Sapir’s 597-page book, A Celebration of Jewish Achievements in America and Beyond, which is also an easy-to-read, informative volume about the enormous contributions Jews made in America and the world. Jews and non-Jews need to know about this long list of Jewish involvements and their vast influences in the world. For example, between 1901 and 2023, the Nobel Prize was awarded to more than 900 people, and over 24 percent were Jewish or raised Jewish. This large number is even though Jews are only two-tenths of one percent of the world population.
The Hebrew term Chutzpah describes a person who has the daring to speak when silenced, takes action when others won’t, tries when others say it is impossible, and perseveres when there is doubt. The Jerusalem Talmud 4:5:22 quoted the ancient Rabbi Ze’ira, who said. “Come and see what chutzpah the Land of Israel has, that it produces fruit [in barren land].” This 216-page book, Chutzpah Girls, gives us fascinating and inspiring information about 100 Jewish women who persevered and helped improve the world.
The authors devote a page to each woman's tale. To each narrative's right is a colorful drawing depicting the woman. Some are black Jews. They include four pages of one line in a Glossary, each defining words used in the book, and a map showing where the women hail from. The map shows how dispersed they are, including Russia, Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, America, and more.
We read about ancient and modern women. Some are mentioned in the Bible, including the matriarch Rachel and the prophetess Abigail. Others are modern educators, sports figures, dancers, diarists like Anne Frank, writers like Emma Lazarus, female Rosh Yeshivas, rabbis, Talmudic scholars like Bruria, activists such as Bella Abzug, humanitarians, scientists, businesswomen, actresses including Gal Gadot, politicians like Golda Meir, Zionist leaders with Henrietta Szold, warriors like Judith, poets as Leah Goldberg, Torah teachers as Nechama Leibowitz, chiefs of staff, supreme court justices, inventors, doctors, philanthropists, and many more.

[Ben Rothke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creating Top 10 or Best Of lists always leads to endless debates. Questions with these lists include whether this person is really the GOAT, or even if they deserve to be on the list.
In Chutzpah Girls (Toby Press), authors Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg aren’t necessarily trying to create a best-of list. But they have gathered a list of 100 Jewish women in the span of roughly 3,500 years of Jewish history who exemplified chutzpah.
Wikipedia defines chutzpah as the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. A close English equivalent is hubris. The word derives from the Hebrew ḥuṣpāh, meaning insolence. The original Yiddish word has a strongly negative connotation, but the form that entered English as a Yiddishism in American English has taken on a broader meaning.
While parents don’t want to hear that their son is chutzpah in class, the authors here use the term to showcase 100 women who used the positive powers of chutzpah to make the world a much better place.
The list includes Biblical figures such as the Daughters of Zelophehad, Devorah, and Yael, up to modern times with marathon mom Beatie Deutsch, deputy national security advisor for cyber Anne Neuberger, and many more.
While many of the times are familiar to us, the authors list many others who are more obscure, such as codebreaker Anne Ross, computer scientist Kira Radinsky, and biomedical engineer Shulamit Levenberg.
The authors admit that their list is incomplete and will add to it in the future. Two current chutzpah girls that come to mind are activists Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll and Adina Sash, AKA Flatbush Girl.
Every one of these 100 women has added to Jewish history in this enjoyable read.
 

[Rebecca B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful and varied book covers Jewish women across thousands of years of history. It opens with a timeline that sets you up perfectly for what's to come, with its beautiful illustrations highlighting the contribution of Jewish women throughout our history. Organized alphabetically, you will be reading the ancient story of Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law and to Judaism on one page and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's commitment to modern-day justice on the next. It was a great choice to organize it this way rather than chronologically because it encourages you to experience the full breadth of its stories every time you pick it up. I loved the variety of women showcased and the different styles of the illustrations throughout. I knew I wanted this book for my daughter, but I didn't realize how much I'd learn from it myself! I was offered a digital copy to review and will be buying a physical one to read with her at bedtimes.

The book handles the discrimination faced by many of its women gently. However, you can't tell their stories without referring to the antisemitism, sexism, and more that impacted them, and for that reason I plan to read this *with* my seven-year-old, rather than giving it to her to read on her own.

[Moshe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a e-ARC of this book from the authors.

I loved reading this book and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it. I feel like when people think of Jewish women and girls that there are like a top 10 that come to mind, but this book highlights so many Jewish women and girls from different cultures and places and it was great to learn about them all. There were Jewish women that I was so glad were mentioned in the book because I always feel like I’m the only person who has ever heard of them before. Whether you’re interested in history, science, mathematics, the arts, or whatever there is a person in this book that will inspire you. There is truly so much history in one book.

Now let’s talk about the illustrations. The illustrations are so beautiful. Even the cover is gorgeous, but when you open the pages it’s just a gorgeous spread of styles and colours.

This book is seriously such a great gift to give to not only the Jewish women and girls in your life, but any Jewish person in your life. I'm excited to purchase a hard copy for my bookshelf.

[Linda Bernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chutzpah Girls is a brand new, dazzling and impactful book about 100 Jewish women who made a mark during their lives. Each written page is accompanied by a beautiful, original portrait of the subject created by immensely talented illustrators from across the world. The stories are compelling, well written and inspirational for young girls, boys and adults! These strong women were not afraid to overcome hardships, discrimination, and life challenges often under impossibly difficult circumstances. I would highly recommend this book for B'Nai Mitzvahs, birthdays, graduations or any time you want to give a meaningful and engaging gift to a Jewish young person that will give and give over the years. No doubt the pages will become well worn reflecting the countless times it will be picked up and read. Mazel tov to the authors, Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Prewer for a job well done!

[Laura Shovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Hanukkah! This collective biography is so much fun to read. Each entry is a short vignette about a Jewish woman who made history -- whether her name is familiar to us or not. The women and girls profiled range from heroes of the Bible like Deborah to modern day celebrities like Gal Gadot. My favorite chapters are about women whose stories I didn't know: tennis player Angela Buxton who won doubles at Wimbledon with her partner Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Wimbledon Championship (in the 1950s!) My favorite quote is from the entry on 20th century feminist educator Alice Shalvi: "Many women, even those like Alice, struggle with the f ear that they don't belong or c an't be successful... With determination, resilience, and a commitment to her principles, Alice learned to overcome the negative voices and develop the internal strength to forge ahead."

[Elisheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chutzpah Girls is beautiful, inspirational, informative and a joy to read. The variety of women included - from biblical stories all the way through to October 7 heroines - is impressive. I had no idea there was a female teacher at a yeshiva in the 1600's (Asenath Barazani) or who Bruria really was, and I appreciated the reminders of the great women I was already familiar with. Each woman's portrait is gorgeous, and the artists have all done a wonderful job of captivating each individual while creating a singular, beautiful theme throughout the book. This is truly an amazing collection.

[Michal Babay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating compilation of stories about strong women throughout history! No matter where they were born, or what difficulties they faced, these women rose to their full strength and found their purpose in life. I learned a lot and can't wait to share this book of amazing women with all the people in my life. Very interesting!

[Rachel (bookstowineto) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about these women, their stories and their strength. It gave insight to their lives and all the things they overcame, and fought for. I have gone back a few times to re-read some of my personal favorites. 💙

Thank you to Julie and Tami for the advanced copy of this book. It was an honor and pleasure to read it and be able to share it out!  

[alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully written and wonderful illustrations. Although it is especially inspiring for young women, perfect gift for bat mizvah, I find it very interesting and inspiring for all ages.
It is also esthetically beautiful, perfect as a coffee table book.
I recommend it for all, young, grown ups, women, men!

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read about proud Jewish women, some I knew and some I did not. The summaries of the women discussed are not very detailed (each chapter is extremely short) but I still had a good understanding of who they were/are and their importance.

[Cindy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding collection of 100 inspiring and memorable Jewish women throughout history. Informative and engaging text copy with ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS illustrations. A stunning piece of art and literature. A perfect gift for any occasion. A MUST OWN for every home! Can’t wait for volume 2😁

[Lady B of house Sefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book for Jewish girls. My 11 year old daughter and I read this together and she loved it!
100 inspiring stories about Jewish women from different time periods. Mini biographies. The book comes in Hebrew and English.

[Dahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. 100 stories about daring Jewish women from all eras and all over the world. I knew about 1/4 of the women written about, and learned about so many more proud and brave Jewish women. I look forward to a second book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An increasing number of books are offering female role models for Jewish tweens and teens to emulate. However, that doesn’t mean that adults won’t also find much to enjoy in “Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women” by Julie Esther Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer (Toby Press). The work not only features one-page biographies of each woman, but artistic interpretations of each woman’s achievements.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...

[Jennifer Srour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, the while family enjoys

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about strong Jewish women. Every Jewish girl should have this in their bookcase

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed and engrossing one page stories geared more towards teens about inspiring Jewish women, some of whom I was already familiar with and others not. The illustrations are stunning.

[CYBILS Awards]

Spotted in Heidi's review at the Sydney Taylor Schmooze https://www.inoreader.com/article/3a9...

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chutzpah Girls is a fantastic book with 100 tales of Jewish women with the chutzpah to overcome obstacles to help people. the Yiddish word "chutzpah" means hubris or nerve. But having a lot of nerve isn't always a bad thing. It takes a lot of nerve to speak up for yourself and your people.
The women featured span through the ages from biblical times through modern and come from diverse backgrounds that cover the globe. Most of these women overcame sexism and/ or antisemitism. Others had to overcome poverty or war. But they each followed their faith and made a difference. Authors Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer hope to inspire the next generation of Jews to have the chutzpah to succeed. They have introduced strong Jewish role models and provided a glimpse at Jewish history, By choosing women from throughout the world, they have also shown the diversity of the Jewish people. This is reinforced by the choice of illustrators. Each one page biography is paired with a beautiful portrait created by Jewish women from across the world. Although aimed at middle grade readers, this anthology is perfect for any Jewish family. Adults will find the book interesting too. Although I had read about several of these women already, I learned about many more and the art was captivating. This book would make a great Hanukkah or Birthday gift and would be an ideal choice for a Bat Mitzvah present.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yiddish word chutzpah has Hebrew origins and is often used to describe a person’s brazen arrogance, fearless daring, audacity, or boldness of character. Authors Silverstein and Pruwer have gathered a wide expanse of courageous and confident women of Judaica globally from ancient times to the present. “Chutzpah Girls” is a non-fiction bedtime storybook with one-page biographies written in a narrative style similar in feel to “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls” (Cavallo, Favilli, Timbuktu Labs, Inc., 2016). Bold illustrations by six unique Jewish female artists highlight all 100 diverse women. Besides religious figures, activists, athletes, political figures, and run-of-the-mill individuals from ancient times to the present, Silverstein and Pruwer include Tunisian resistance fighter Gisele Braka, Margaret Rey, author of the “Curious George” books, chess champions like Hungarian Polgar sisters, and other well-known figures like Anne Frank. Non-Jewish readers will also learn about vital historical women often overlooked, such as Spanish Inquisition converso turned philanthropist Dona Gracia Nas, Estellina Conat, an Italian Jew from Mantua who was likely the very first woman involved in the book printing industry, or Austrian cynologist Rudolphina Menzel. “Chutzpah Girls” includes a timeline, a glossary with Judaic vocabulary, and space for writing and illustrating your own chutzpah story. Although young girls will be instantly attracted to “Chutzpah Girls,” this work should easily be embedded into larger historical, political, or social events studied in schools. #MulticulturalChildrensBookDay #ReadYourWorld