Celebrating women

JSU and Feminist Club host Women’s History Month commemoration meeting

Audrey Han

JSU President and senior Daniella Schneider presents the significance of historical Jewish women to members of the Feminist Club and Jewish Student Union. The JSU will continue meeting on Wednesdays after Passover.

Sophia Li and Audrey Han
Apr 6, 2023

To conclude the end of Women’s History Month, Feminist Club and Jewish Student Union members gathered in the library’s Makerspace on Thursday, March 30 to honor powerful Jewish women through a presentation led by JSU president and senior Daniella Schneider.

In the library’s Makerspace, students occupy all the seats and listen attentively to Schneider speak. Ramirez said the meeting was “a good way to meet different people and to see different backgrounds.” (Audrey Han)

Schneider’s presentation highlighted figures such as Yael, whose killing of the enemy general of the Jewish army is immortalized in the Hebrew Bible, Rachel, wife of the Rabbi Akiva, and Miriam, who saved her brother Moses’ life when the pharaoh decreed all Jewish boys be killed.

“Schneider was a really good candid speaker, and it didn’t feel too formal,” sophomore Addison Wolf said. “The most interesting part of today’s meeting was learning about Yael, who used her feminine charm to defeat her oppressor. That’s something a man couldn’t do, and it played to her strengths; she’s definitely a hero.”

Following the presentation, librarian Kaitlyn Carpenter introduced books with collective themes of women empowerment and walked students through the process of creating decorative pins. The decision for the two clubs to work together came naturally.

Librarian Kaitlyn Carpenter introduces a cartload of books related to women empowerment. One book she mentioned was “Moxie,” which was written by English teacher Jennifer Blessington and sponsor of the Feminist Club. (Sophia Li)

“I think it’s something that Feminist Club and us mutually discussed before, and then over time, it just happened,” Schneider said.

For Feminist Club member and junior Priscilla Ramirez, Women’s History Month gives people a reason to listen to women and their voices.

“I think some people can say that they’re a feminist but don’t really see a call to action unless they’re given the opportunity,” Ramirez said. “We’re still paid less than men – even though it’s a small percentage, that still compounds very fast. And also lots of our thoughts are dismissed just because we’re women, so I’d like to see more women take charge of their own voices.”

Hoping to bridge the divide between men and women, Wolf supports legislation such as Roe V. Wade that highlights women’s rights.

Students who attend the meeting make decorative pins after listening to Schneider’s presentation. The pins were decorated with slogans about women empowerment. (Sophia Li)

“Roe v. Wade is a protection in case of the unimaginable happening,” Wolf said. “We’re seeing far too many cases of women having to wait as their pregnancy brings them to the brink of death before they can get an abortion.”

JSU will meet every Wednesday in Room 2616 after Passover, those interested in joining can check out their Instagram @bellaire.jsu. To join Feminist Club, join their Remind at @yayfemclub or follow them on Instagram at @bhs.femclub.