Like many other minority groups, Jewish women faced very little political representation in history. Hidden heroines to the American political sphere, Jewish women formed a distinctive activist identity drawing on their gender, religious/ethnic identities, as well as their social class. Organizations such as the National Council of Jewish Women, National American Woman Suffrage Association, and the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods granted women a platform for their political activism while forging connections to other American political constituencies. In this talk, attendees will learn about Jewish women in local, state, and federal politics.

Jessica Solomon is an experienced museum professional specializing in curation, museum operations, and grant writing. She earned a BA in History and International Studies from Rowan University, focusing on Economic History and Globalization, and an MA in History from Monmouth University. During her studies, Jessica was inducted into several honor societies for history and leadership. She received the Rowan University History Department Chair’s List Award for outstanding academic performance and contributions to historical research. She was also recognized as the Highest-Ranking Degree Recipient in the History Program from Monmouth University in 2022. Additionally, Jessica holds a Non-Profit Management Certification from Brookdale Community College.

Jessica’s scholarly work has been featured in the Armstrong Journal of History, Portmanteau, and New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. She began her career in public history as a Collections Intern at the Gloucester County Historical Society, where she developed experience in museum archiving, appraising, museum operations, and data management. Jessica’s professional journey includes serving as the first Executive Director of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County in Freehold, where she has been for over five years.