Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education

Educational Resources

Bibliographies

Selected Bibliography on Jewish Heroes
For Grades 4 - 7

Adler, David A. Our Golda: The Story of Golda Meir. New York, NY: Puffin Books, 1986.

A simply written biography of the Israeli prime minister and world leader, emphasizing her early childhood and youth in Russia and America.

Amdur, Richard. Chaim Weizmann. New York, NY: Chelsea House, 1988.

Biography of the scientist/Zionist who helped effect the Balfour Declaration, was the architect for large-scale settlement, led WZO for 20 years, tried to reconcile the goals of militant Zionists with those of the Palestinian Arabs, and was the first president of the modern State of Israel.

Cytron, Barry D. Myriam Mendilow: Mother of Jerusalem. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Co., 1994.

Tells the story of Myriam Mendilow, who started a number of programs designed to help the elderly citizens of Jerusalem. One of her programs is "Lifeline," which gives old people the chance to practice various useful crafts, which are then sold. The book includes photos, source notes and an index.

Drucker, Malka. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda: The Father of Modern Hebrew. New York, NY: Lodestar Books, 1987.

This biography tells the story of the man who almost singlehandedly revived the Hebrew language. Against overwhelming odds, he created the modern Hebrew dictionary and fulfilled his dream of making Hebrew a language written and spoken by Jews around the world.

Finkelstein, Norman H. Theodor Herzl. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, 1987.

Examines the life of the Austrian journalist who became the founder of the modern Zionist movement.

Gurko, Miriam. Theodor Herzl: The Road to Israel. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1988.

Concise biography with emphasis on Herzl's efforts to re-establish a Jewish homeland. Herzl is the Zionist thinker who said, "If you will it, it is no dream."

Kustanowitz, Shulamite E. Henrietta Szold: Israel's Helping Hand. New York, NY: Viking, 1990.

Biography of the founder of Hadassah, who also headed the effort to rescue children from Nazi Germany and was responsible for youth aliyah.

Levinson, Nancy Smiler. I Lift My Lamp: Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty. New York, NY: Dutton, 1986.

A biography of the Jewish-American poet, activist for humane causes, and friend to immigrants, who authored the noble words now inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.

McCauley, Karen. Golda Meir. New York, NY: Chelsea House, 1985.

Story of the powerful leader as kibbutz worker, social activist, politician, ambassador, and first female prime minister of the State of Israel.

Milgrim, Shirley Gorson. Haym Solomon: Liberty's Son. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1979.

A biography of the Polish-born Jew, who cast his lot with the American reblels, helped to finance the American Revolution, and later helped to save the new nation from economic collapse.

Perl, Lila. Isaac Bashevis Singer: The Life of a Storyteller. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1994.

This biography for children presents a portrait of the Nobel Prize winning author, who wrote primarily in Yiddish. The book traces Singer's roots as a boy in Poland to his life as a writer in America.

------. Molly Picon: A Gift of Laughter. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1990.

Follows the life and career of the Jewish entertainer, who performed in theater, movies, radio and television for more than eighty years.

Rabinovich, Abraham. Teddy Kollek: Builder of Jerusalem. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1996.

Clear, well-written biography of one of Israel's dynamic leaders, who was Jerusalem's mayor for almost 20 years.

Ransom, Candice F. So Young to Die: The Story of Hannah Senesh. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 1993.

In 1943 Hungarian born Hannah Senesh, who had made aliyah, accepted an offer by the British Air Force to be part of one of the most courageous rescue attempts of World War II - parachuting into enemy territory to rescue Allied pilots and Jews, including her mother. This is the story of her incredible bravery and heroism.

Stern, Ellen Norman. Elie Wiesel: A Voice for Humanity. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1996.

A biography of Elie Wiesel that goes beyond his being a survivor, emphasizing his struggle to help other people endangered by hatred.

Vail, John J. David Ben-Gurion. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.

Story of the legendary first prime minister of Israel: his arrival in Palestine in 1906 to settle in the Galilee, his moves to journalism and politics, his successful military strategy in the War for Independence, his leadership of Mapai, and his leadership of the new State of Israel.

Anthologies

Brody, Seymour J. “Sy”. Jewish Heroes of America. New York, NY: Shapolsky Publishers, Inc., 1991.

101 very brief biographical sketches of Jews who "accomplished" something - from 1654 to the present.

-----. Jewish Heroes and Heroines of America:150 Stories of American Jewish Heroism. Hollywood, FL: Lifetime Books, Inc., 1996.

Brief biographies of 150 notable American Jews, from the 17th to the late 20th century. Includes those who live(d) Jewishly, and those of Jewish descent only.

Segal, Sheila. Women of Valor: Stories of Great Jewish Women who Helped Shape the Twentieth Century. West Orange, NJ: Behrman House, 1996.

Very inspiring biographies of eight remarkable women who made unique contributions to Jewish life in the 20th century. Includes Zivia Lubetkin, ghetto commander; Nehama Leibowitz, teacher of a nation; and Yael Arad, Olympic champion.

Slater, Robert. The Jewish Child's Book of Sports Heroes. Middle Village, NY: Jonathan David, 1993.

Brief biographies of about 30 Jewish sports figures from around the world (although primarily American), from the late 18th century to the 1990's.

Taitz, Emily and, Sondra Henry. Remarkable Jewish Women: Rebels, Rabbis and Other Women from Biblical Times to the Present. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 1996.

Brief biographies of remarkable (though not always famous) Jewish women from Biblical to present times. A large selection of women from the Sephardic/Near Eastern world is represented. Most, but not all, of the women accomplished their work in the Jewish world. Contains pictures of many of the women, a bibliography, a glossary and an index.