On March 28, Ma’ayanot’s annual Book Day featured “Ms. Marvels: Amazing Women Where You Least Expect Them!” Sponsored in memory of Jacob Grun, z”l, grandfather of Ma’ayanot students and alumnae Maayan Hirschkorn (‘19), Meital Hischkorn (‘22), Ayala Kramer (‘24) and Adi Hirschkorn (‘26), the inspiring Book Day, organized by Chani Rotenberg and Dr. Rachel Feinmark, co-directors of Interdisciplinary Programming, provided students with the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives on topics that go beyond the typical classroom curriculum.

Students enjoyed a keynote address by Paula Eiselt, an award-winning independent feature-film director and producer whose work has been shown at film festivals around the world. Students had a chance to further experience Eiselt’s work and watch “93 Queen,” her film about an all-female chassidic EMT unit. Other sessions included, “The Woman Who Changed Tanakh Learning Forever: My Rebbe, Nechama Leibowitz,” by Ma’ayanot faculty member Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz; “Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Thinking Through Inclusion in Our Jewish Communities,” with Ms. Rivka Herzfeld, Ma’ayanot alumnus and respected disability rights educator; sessions by Ma’ayanot faculty about the female heroes of the Pesach story; the kosher meat riots of 1902; Spanish antisemitism and the women who fought back; women and mentorship; cracking codes with cryptography and many more. Students chose one of three books as a gift from Ma’ayanot by and about women who made an impact: “The Woman Who Smashed Codes,” “Hidden Figures” and “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.”

Sophomore Irene Lipstein appreciated Book Day: “It’s important to learn about women who made strides and overcame obstacles.” Sophomore Nesya Bayewitz agreed: “It was inspirational to learn about women who are so connected to Judaism, and also pursue things they are passionate about. Knowing what these women accomplished gives me a lot of encouragement!”