Jewish Women💥Chutzpah Girls

antidote to Jewish female stereotypes

Today, I am sharing an interview with Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer about their inspiring new book, Chutzpah Girls, published November 2024. 

This beautiful book feels like such a triumph. Not only did two talented women collaborate to bring it to life, but it also uplifts Jewish women’s stories across time and cultures. It’s such a refreshing antidote to the tired, negative Jewish female stereotypes we see too often—like in the recent Netflix movie Nobody Wants This, where nearly every Jewish woman is portrayed as manipulative, spoiled, or selfish. I’m so over those harmful tropes weighing us down and shaping how our daughters see themselves.

Chutzpah Girls flips that script completely, shining a light on the strength, resilience, and pride of Jewish women. It’s a powerful reminder of the incredible women who’ve shaped our past and a celebration of who we are today. I can’t wait for you to enjoy this interview as much as I did!

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Introducing Julie and Tamar
To start, could you both introduce yourselves? Tell us a bit about your backgrounds, your passions, and what led each of you to work on a book that celebrates Jewish women.

Tami: I was born in Milan, Italy, and raised in Antwerp, Belgium, in a multicultural environment steeped in Jewish life and education. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up surrounded by strong matriarchs who faced life’s challenges with unwavering strength, determination, and a lot of chutzpah.

One such figure was my great-grandmother in Seattle, a single mother who broke societal norms by becoming one of the first local women to earn a driver’s license and start her own business. She devoted her earnings to ensuring her children received the highest level of Jewish education. Meanwhile, across the world, my other great-grandmother fled Nazi persecution in Belgium with her children, seeking refuge in Switzerland. Despite the heartbreaking separation from her husband, who was denied entry, she campaigned relentlessly every day for two years until he was allowed to join them. These remarkable women shaped my understanding of resilience and inspired my curiosity about the untold stories of Jewish women throughout history.

Julie: I grew up in San Francisco in a traditional Jewish home that reflected two distinct yet equally rich legacies. My father’s family were proud Jewish atheists. My paternal grandmother, an Egyptologist, dedicated her professional life to researching and teaching Ancient Egyptian history. My grandfather, a physician, famously refused to change his Jewish surname despite pressure to do so.

In contrast, my mother’s family were observant Holocaust refugees from Germany who rebuilt their lives in San Francisco with faith as their foundation. My maternal grandfather was an importer-exporter, and my grandmother, the wise matriarch of our family, sold sheitels and hosted warm, traditional Jewish meals. As a young girl in Nazi Germany, she bravely confronted the Gestapo to demand her father’s release from unjust detention, a story that left an indelible mark on me. It’s these family narratives—of courage, defiance, and devotion—that inspired me to write Chutzpah Girls. I hope this book not only honors the extraordinary women who have shaped history but also inspires readers to uncover and celebrate the stories of chutzpah in their own families.

The Motivation Behind Chutzpah Girls
What inspired the two of you to undertake this project together? What made you want to bring forward these specific stories of daring Jewish women?

Tami: When my daughter was born, we received several beautiful books celebrating the stories of remarkable women from around the world. While we loved reading them together, I found myself yearning for stories that connected us more deeply to our own history and heritage. This longing, combined with a strong determination to address the widespread historical neglect of women's achievements, became the spark that ignited my journey into this topic.

Julie: When my two eldest children—a son and a daughter—celebrated their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs just a year apart, I noticed a striking disparity. Both read from the Torah, led services, delivered a d'var Torah, and guided tours. Yet the gifts they received told a different story. My son was given sacred books like siddurim and a Tanach set, while my daughter mostly received jewelry and handbags. This stark contrast opened my eyes to the subtle yet pervasive ways we continue to treat boys and girls differently, even today.

I felt compelled to create a book that would bridge this gap—a beautiful and inspiring collection of stories that illuminate the lives of remarkable and diverse Jewish women throughout history. Chutzpah Girls features 100 true stories of proud Jewish women who shaped history, rewrote the future, and helped create a better world, accompanied by 100 original bold full-color portraits by Jewish female artists from across the globe. It was a huge project that took nearly five years from start to finish. In short, it took a lot of chutzpah!

The Relevance of Chutzpah Girls Post-October 7

In light of the recent events of October 7, what new significance does Chutzpah Girls hold for each of you? How do you feel these stories of resilience speak to the Jewish community today?

Tami & Julie: The project took on a profoundly new dimension after October 7th. This date marked a pivotal moment in history, and the book had to reflect its significance. We realized that these stories would now serve a purpose far beyond addressing gender bias—they would become an intergenerational anchor, inspiring our youth, connecting us to our heritage, and highlighting strength and resilience. They would illuminate the power of women who, in facing darkness throughout history, not only survived but thrived.
To ensure this vital message was captured, we delayed the book's printing to include the stories of heroines from October 7th. This decision became even more critical in light of the silence—or outright absence—of feminist organizations worldwide regarding the atrocities committed against Jewish and Israeli women. At a time when our visibility is being denied, this book stands as a powerful reminder of the strength of Jewish women and a testament to their enduring legacy.

Jewish Womanhood Through the Lens of Chutzpah Girls

What aspects of Jewish womanhood did you aim to highlight in Chutzpah Girls, and how does this representation challenge or contrast with the ways Jewish women are often stereotyped in popular culture? Jewish women have frequently been portrayed through narrow stereotypes, such as being overly assertive, materialistic, hyper-ambitious, or solely as overbearing mothers and wives. How does your book work to expand the view of Jewish women’s lives, contributions, and identities beyond these antisemitic stereotypes and harmful misconceptions?

Tami & Julie: Our book opens with our own definition of chutzpah: “A Jewish superpower: the daring to speak when silenced, to take action when others won’t, to try when they say it’s impossible, to persevere in times of doubt, to be yourself when it’s easier to conform, to stand tall when made to feel small, to believe when it all feels hopeless, to shine your light in the face of darkness.”
We wholeheartedly believe that, just as there isn’t one type of chutzpah, there isn’t one type of Chutzpah Girl—and that’s the beauty of it. Some are bold and outspoken, while others are quiet and steadfast. Some chase the spotlight, while others find strength in anonymity. Some champion change, while others hold fast to tradition. Some fight with the sword, while others harness the power of intuition. This book celebrates all Jewish women, affirming the right to pursue your dreams—whether blazing trails in a chosen profession or kindling the flame of a Jewish home.
This spirit of diversity is reflected in the women portrayed in the book. Our Chutzpah Girls come from across the Jewish world—Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, Persian, Ethiopian, Indian, and Bukharan—making invaluable contributions in a variety of fields. We hope every Jewish woman will feel seen within these pages and be inspired by the stories of women from different backgrounds, dreams, and aspirations.
It’s also vital to recognize the unique challenges Jewish women have faced, enduring dual discrimination as both women and Jews. The women featured in this book confronted these obstacles with chutzpah, rising to meet adversity with courage and grace. That resilience is what makes them Chutzpah Girls. By embracing our individuality, we each have the power to shine our own unique light, even in the darkest of times.

Jewish Geography 

You included a timeline, a world map, and a glossary of Jewish women’s history and culture in the book. Can you tell us about the thought process behind these features, and what you hope readers will take away from them?

Tami & Julie: The women selected for this book are not just incidentally Jewish—they are proudly and openly Jewish. Their achievements were driven by their Judaism, not accomplished in spite of it. With this in mind, we wanted the book to be unapologetically Jewish.
To honor this, we created an illustrated timeline of Jewish women’s history, showcasing the arc of Jewish history through the lens of women’s extraordinary milestones. We also included a world map to highlight the incredible diversity of the women featured in the book. Representing over 30 countries, they embody the vast range of the Jewish experience, from Bukharian and Ethiopian to Persian and Indian backgrounds.
Each story in the book also introduces a Jewish term—a value, tradition, or event—defined in a glossary at the back. This approach not only enriches the narratives but also helps readers develop a deeper Jewish literacy, empowering them to connect with their heritage on a meaningful level.

Get your copy of Chutzpah Girls here

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Chutzpah Girls is a powerful tribute to the strength, resilience, and diverse contributions of Jewish women throughout history and today. This book is not only a celebration of Jewish womanhood, but also a call to honor and share the stories that have shaped us. Today, we need Jewish pride and to stand tall and strong—and this book helps remind us of who we are.

✡️ Am Yisrael Chai 🕊️

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