Gloria Steinem: Jewish American Heritage Month

Gloria Steinem, a Jewish American woman, became one of the most influential voices of second-wave feminism, helping reshape the conversation around women’s rights in America during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in 1934, Steinem came from a family deeply rooted in activism. Her grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem, was a leader in women’s suffrage, education reform, and even helped rescue family members during the Holocaust. Building on that powerful legacy, Gloria became a journalist, columnist for New York magazine, and co-founder of Ms. magazine, using her platform to bring women’s liberation into the national spotlight.

Through her writing, activism, and leadership—including speaking at the historic 1977 National Women’s Conference—Steinem helped inspire generations of women to demand equality, opportunity, and lasting social change.

Funny MahJong Zippered Pouch

Sassy Cat Coffee Mug

Debra Messing - actress - Jewish American Heritage Month

This week, I'm saluting Emmy Award-winning actress Debra Messing.  

She launched her own podcast about social justice during the pandemic called “The Dissenters.” She shared why the surge of antisemitism and racial strife in our country made her conversation with a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor particularly poignant. “Why don’t people protest against antisemitism?” she said. “People flood the streets for racism. When you look at Charlottesville the Nazis were screaming about two groups – Black people and Jews. We really are the most natural allies in the world.

Messing has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the October 7 attacks.

Mahjong Zipper Pouch 

Black Cats Holding Mah Jong Tiles

Jewish American Heritage Month: Hedy Lamarr

Jewish American Heritage Month

In May, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States. Officially proclaimed in 2006, the month highlights over 350 years of Jewish American impact on American culture, science, government, and society. 

This week, I'd like to salute Hedy Lamarr,  an Austrian-American actress and inventor whose groundbreaking frequency-hopping technology helped lay the foundation for modern Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth systems. Born Hedwig Eva Kiesler in Vienna in 1914 to a Jewish family, she developed an early passion for innovation through her father’s encouragement.

While in Hollywood, Lamarr’s interest in science and engineering led her to collaborate with composer George Antheil during World War II. Together, they designed a secure radio communication system to prevent enemy interception of torpedo signals using frequency hopping. Though the U.S. Navy did not adopt it at the time, their invention later became essential to wireless communication technology.

Lamarr was eventually recognized for her achievements, receiving major awards for innovation and earning induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Today, she is celebrated not only as a film star but also as a visionary inventor often called the “mother of Wi-Fi.”

Learn more here

Father's Day & Elliot Handler - Barbie's Co-creator

Remember your Granddad and Saba for Father's Day and gift these coffee mugs and tee shirts. Time's running out so order yours today.

Hebrew Personalized 

New Hebrew Grandpa T-shirt

Jewish American History Month

Elliot Handler (Telegraph) a talented designer and successful entrepreneur, brought us such toy icons as Barbie and Chatty Cathy. However, his greatest contribution to the toy world for auto aficionados might be his later creation, Hot Wheels toy cars.

Golda Meir Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month 

May is Jewish American Heritage Month and I've chosen Golda Meir as an example of a Jewish woman with chutzpah. 

Golda Meir's original name was Goldie Mabovitch, later Goldie Myerson. (born May 3, 1898, Kiev [Ukraine]. [Note: my maternal grandpa was from Kiev]. 

She attended the teachers college Milwaukee State Normal School (now University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee).  

Golda was an Israeli politician who helped found (1948) the State of Israel and later served as its fourth prime minister (1969–74). She was the first woman to hold the post.

On May 14, 1948, Goldie Myerson was a signatory of Israel’s independence declaration, and that year she was appointed minister to Moscow. She was elected to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in 1949 and served in that body until 1974.

In 1956, after becoming Foreign Minister, she changed her surname from "Meyerson" to "Meir", meaning "illuminate."

Of her Jewish identity, Meir said in the 1975 edition of her autobiography My Life that: "It is not only a matter, I believe, of religious observance and practice. To me, being Jewish means and has always meant being proud to be part of a people that has maintained its distinct identity for more than 2,000 years, with all the pain and torment that has been inflicted upon it."

Today, this quote from her stands out to me: “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” ― Golda Meir, My Life

I named my Gold Pontiac TransAm "Golda" in her honor. 

This is not my car, but a lookalike image.

Jewish gifts in my shop

Please click on the images to go to my shop

For Shavuot (May 25): Torah, Star of David, Hamsa and Shabbat Candles Charm Bracelet 

 Wire Kippah

Hamsa Necklace

Star of David Coffee Mug

More info on Jewish American Heritage Month can be found at the American Jewish Committee here and at the Jewish American Heritage website.

I'll soon be adding some products against Antisemitism and hope you'll support that endeavor.