From the Matriarchs to Glueckel of Hameln, from Henrietta Szold to Hannah Szenes, from Golda Meir to Bella Abzug and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, [Blessed Is the Daughter] is a survey of Jewish women "in all lands, from biblical times to our own." The book is organized into 20 themed chapters, featuring editorial commentary, along with vignettes of dozens of Jewish women who made important contributions to their people and to the world at large. There are black and white photos or illustrations to accompany most of the entries. The book is appropriate for middle schoolers and up. With its broad survey of Jewish history, focusing on the contributions of Jewish women, it will make an excellent Chanukah or Bat Mitzvah gift for young Jewish women who may someday be inspired by these women to make important contributions of their own to Jewish life.
Today's Librarian, September 1999
Hessel presents a compendium of the lives of notable Jewish women whose contributions have helped society, from biblical times through the present. Personalities range from Glueckel of Hameln to Bella Abzug, Golda Meir to Barbra Streisand. A persistent theme is the relevance of these women to the establishment and practice of Judaism - with an emphasis on the quality of women and their significance to the religion. The book is written exclusively for Jewish women, urging them to live their lives in a way that is consistent with their religious principles and traditions. And as it pays homage to great Jewish women of the last 4000 years, it consistently makes the point that their modern counterparts can triumph over adversity, maintain their faith, and consider themselves equal to their male counterparts. The prose is well written, and the lives of the women contribute to an interesting read.
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