National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)

08/28/2026

This week, we’re saying goodbye to Dolly Parton, one of our greatest mensches.

A singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose warmth and generosity knew no bounds, Dolly spent her life doing exactly what she once said she hoped to do: leaving something good behind. Her songs became anthems, with “9 to 5” as a timeless rallying cry for working women everywhere; her financial support helped bring the Moderna vaccine to the world; and her voice was one of the earliest in country music to stand beside the LGBTQ+ community.

Her dedication to ensuring no child grew up without books is its own chapter. Dolly’s Imagination Library has placed over 300 million free books in children’s hands worldwide and directly inspired the creation of PJ Library, which today brings Jewish stories and values into hundreds of thousands of Jewish homes.

But beyond the songs and the books and the business empire, Dolly gave us something harder to quantify: the permission to be exactly who we are. In a world that often asks women to shrink, she expanded: in sequins, generosity, and joy.

As we welcome Shabbat, may we carry Dolly’s light into this weekend and every one that follows. Shabbat Shalom! ⭐️ 🎶

08/28/2026

63 years ago, Jewish advocates were at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington.

Today, NCJW is marching again, still showing up for the same fight. Tap through to see the history of Jewish activism in the movement for civil rights and why the work for voting rights isn't finished.

08/28/2026

Our decisions about our bodies and our futures should be in *our* hands — not the hands of politicians.

NCJW is proud to be working for reproductive and religious freedom with Virginians for Reproductive Freedom calling on Virginians to vote YES on Amendment 1 this November!

Pledge to vote for reproductive freedom at https://www.ncjw.org/act/action/vote-yes-to-protect-reproductive-freedom-in-virginia/?source=va-pledge-social&utm_source=va-pledge-social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=election-2026

08/27/2026

Medication abortion is safe and effective. Period. No amount of anti-abortion misinformation will ever change that.

08/27/2026

At just 20 years old, Rebecca Gratz helped found one of Philadelphia's first women's charitable organizations. Then, she helped build the institutions of American Jewish education and community life from scratch — work that's still standing centuries later.

As we continue to reflect on America 250, we cannot talk about the women who helped build this nation without mentioning Rebecca.

Do you have someone you want to add to the archive? Share your story now: ncjw.org/she-built-this

08/26/2026

“We decided we had to do something about it.”

Hoosier Jews for Choice ’s Amalia Shifriss remembers exactly where she was when Roe v. Wade was overturned. “I was actually in the waiting room of a Planned Parenthood because I needed to get a biopsy and there was a shortage of OB-GYNs in my hometown at the time … I got a CNN notification about the Dobbs decision and I started crying. After that, I got to talking with some friends, and we decided we had to do something about it.”

That’s how Hoosier Jews for Choice was formed. From the initial meeting at Amalia’s synagogue came the plan: they would use Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act to fight for abortion access.

Get the full story of how we’re fighting for religious and reproductive freedom in Indiana — and how you can help — here! https://www.ncjw.org/news/were-not-giving-up-ever-how-ncjw-is-fighting-for-abortion-access-in-indiana-with-hoosier-jews-for-choice/

08/26/2026

106 years ago today, the 19th Amendment secured women's right to vote. Now, anti-voting advocates are trying to make it harder for us to make our voices heard. Exercise your girl power: pledge to vote this election!

Sign the pledge at ncjw.org/pledge26!

08/25/2026

Marlene Hammerman, a leader from National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, has spent decades fighting for reproductive freedom. For 22 years, she counseled patients at Missouri's first abortion clinic and helped overturn the state's abortion ban in 2024 by notarizing hundreds of signature sheets for the ballot initiative that year.

Her work is part of NCJW St. Louis's long-running Jews for Reproductive Access Initiative. Check out her reflections in the Missouri Independent:

“I was 25 when I started. I can’t believe I still have to fight for women’s reproductive rights at 75,” Marlene Hammerman told me. Marlene notarized hundreds of signature sheets as a volunteer for the 2024 citizen-led ballot initiative that overturned Missouri’s criminal abortion ban. She....

08/24/2026

BREAKING: The Supreme Court just cleared the way for new mail-in voting restrictions, described by Pres. Trump’s executive order. While this case works its way through the Supreme Court, one thing remains perfectly clear: we need to work even harder to make sure our communities have a plan to get out and VOTE.

We've got the tools you need to help get out the vote at https://www.ncjw.org/election-2026-toolkit/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=election-2026

08/24/2026

Time to add "lobby Congress" to our summer bucket lists... ✍️

Catch up on our intern Tori's experience advocating for the Vote Without Fear Act on Capitol Hill this summer!