Chutzpah Girls:
Stories of daring Jewish women on display across Chicagoland “

RACHEL EDRI

Illustrated by Shiri Algor

On October 7, 2023, while distracting terrorists in her home by offering them food and drink, Rachel Edri secretly communicated with Israeli police using hand signals.

If you’re seeking some inspiration to tackle life’s challenges, find your way to the latest exhibit from JCC Chicago. Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women, based on the book by the same name, is coming to libraries, synagogues, schools, and more across Chicagoland from now until November. 

“These stories talk about women who experienced some kind of adversity and met it head on,” said Ilene Uhlmann, Senior Director of Community Engagement for JCC Chicago. “Maybe they experienced something that’s similar to what you’re experiencing. It gives you the courage to think about how [you’re] going to meet adversity.” 

The book’s authors, Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer, are based in Israel. They commissioned 12 artists—all Jewish women from around the world—to provide illustrations. 

“Some of the stories are about biblical women. We really don’t know what they look like. And it’s wonderful to see their interpretation of these women,” said Uhlmann. She and her JCC team are turning the stories and artwork from the book into large-scale displays. 

“We’re really trying to bring it to life as much as possible,” said Carolyn Boord, JCC Chicago Assistant Director of Marketing Operations. “Whether it’s a canvas that hangs on a wall or a three-dimensional paneled exhibit that you can walk around, we are just trying to work with each individual space.” 

“We’ve worked intentionally with our partners to choose which women fit best, for the time of year or what the community’s focused on, so each location will have different exhibitions,” added Anita Denes-Meador, JCC Chicago Chief Program Officer. 

While the displays include stories of high-profile women like late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and actress Gal Gadot, viewers will also learn about less familiar people like Beatie Deutsch. Known as the “marathon mom,” Deutsch is an Israeli Orthodox Jewish mother of five and marathon champion. “She runs in her skirt, in tights, and with a scarf,” Uhlmann said. “She doesn’t use her children as an excuse. She doesn’t use her religion as an excuse. None of that stops her, and that inspires me.” 

Uhlmann hopes the exhibit will make a difference in places where you don’t typically expect to see Jewish stories, such as the Aurora Public Library. “If you come from a community that’s undergoing a lot of adversity, it’s an opportunity to see that everybody, every culture, has adversity. I hope for them, it heals a little bit,” Uhlmann said, adding that she also sees the exhibit as a way of creating connection between groups. “I hope they see the good that the Jewish community brings.” 

Chutzpah Girls will be on display at the Northbrook Public Library from March 9-April 29, the Bernard Weinger JCC beginning March 12, and the Aurora Public Library from May 4-29 with other locations and dates to be announced.  

Also, stay on the lookout for an opportunity to nominate your own Chicago Chutzpah-nik. What defines such an individual? “It’s somebody who is willing to be creative, take action, be a speaker for their community, or stand up for what they feel is right,” said Denes-Meador. 

JCC Chicago’s Chutzpah Girls exhibitions are part of the organization’s Growing Hope project, a movement focused on positivity, kindness, and the desire for a better world. It launched in 2023 with Violins of Hope, a series of concerts featuring 70 string instruments that were played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. 

“We really do want to repair the world,” Uhlmann said. “That really is our mission.” 

To learn more about Chutzpah Girls, visit jccchicago.org/chutzpah-girls. 

Julie Mangurten Weinberg is a Chicago-based freelance journalist with 25+ years of experience in broadcast, print, and digital media.