Ruth Abusch-Magder Papers

Collection

Identifier: P-841

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This collection documents Abusch-Magder's involvement in Jewish student and Jewish feminist groups. Included is Abusch-Magder's senior Bachelors of Arts thesis written for Barnard College titled "The First National Jewish Women's Conference: a Study of the Early Jewish Feminist Movement" and a Jewish Feminist Resource Book that Abusch-Magder compiled with Abigail Weinberg from various published sources. Articles within the Jewish Feminist Resource Book relate to abortion, anti-Semitism, Arab women's liberation, domestic violence, infertility, intermarriage, poverty, sexuality, sexual stereotypes, and Zionism. Among the organizations represented in these papers are American Zionist Youth Foundation; National Jewish Council of Jewish Women, New York Section; North American Jewish Students' Network-Canada; and World Union of Jewish Students. Abusch-Magder was active in Soviet Jewry protests, demonstrations against Ernst Zundel, support for Israel, and discussions on intermarriage. Materials include North American Jewish Students' Network Annual Central Region conference held in 1982 and the North American High School Organization-Network's Second Annual Leadership Convention held in 1987. Also included is a publication issued by the Jewish Education Service of North America in 1987: "First Census of Jewish Schools in the Diaspora 1981/2-1982/3, Canada."

Dates

Creation: 1978, 1984-1992

Creator

Abusch-Magder, Ruth (Person)

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.

Use Restrictions

No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.

For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org

Biographical Note

Ruth Abusch-Magder is a rabbi and educator. She grew up in Ontario, Canada. As a teenager, she was involved in Jewish youth leadership organizations, such as the North American High School Organization-Network (NAHON) and the Jewish Students' Network. She attended Barnard College as an undergraduate and earned her doctorate at Yale University. As of this writing (2016), she is the Director of Education and Rabbi-in-Residence at Be'chol Lashon.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains the papers of Ruth Abusch-Magder, mostly documenting her Jewish feminist and activist work as a high school and college student from 1984-1992.