Image by Facebook

By Lilly Maier September 28, 2016

In less than two months Hillary Clinton could become the first female president of the United States. A group of challah-loving girls on the block is doing everything they can to make exactly that happen: Jewish Women for Hillary.

“Jewish women are doers. They know how to get things done,” Betsy Sheerr, one of the original JWFH members, told the Forward. “They don’t just want to feel good and have good intentions, they want to act. So we are giving them an avenue for that.”

Founded earlier this year by long time Hillary supporters, Ann Lewis, Susie Stern and Ruby Shamir, Jewish Women for Hillary (JWFH) is a decentralized group of Jewish women who are using their networking skills to get out the vote.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Instead of organizing grand conferences or publicity-ladden events, JFWH thinks the real difference can be made on a much smaller level.

“People who have not yet made up their minds are going to be influenced first and foremost by hearing from someone close to them,” explained Laurie Moskowitz, a longtime Democratic campaigner who is on the steering committee of JWFH.

“So the goal is really to get people talking,” Moskowitz told the Forward. “Especially the people who have yet to make that final decision.”

In order to do so, the group’s members are hosting individual events all over the country, with a focus on the battle ground states, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. “We are calling them ‘friendraiser’ events,” said Moskowitz. “It’s not about money, it’s about getting people to organize.”

Events range from debate watch parties and meetings with local politicians who support Clinton, all the way ro phone banking or trips to go canvassing in other states. (See JWFH’s Facebook page for more information on how to get involved.)

She won for all of us who have worked hard, studied long hours, dressed sensibly and started with little. #HillaryWon pic.twitter.com/Orf41JVJdj

— JWFHillary (@JWFHillary) September 27, 2016

Many of the members see a strong connection between their political activism and Judaism.

“Look at our history as Jews, we haven’t always had political power or the ability to influence our own destiny. Today we do,” said Sheerr, a public speaking coach who first got involved in politics through her involvement in the Jewish community. “And I think it’s really incumbent of us to play an active role.”

Especially in an election-cycle as unpredictable as this one. “I think that the Jewish vote in places like Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania is going to make a difference in this election,” Moskowitz told the Forward.

For her it’s important to “reach out to people and make sure they know about Hillary’s record on Israel, her commitment to Jewish issues and Jewish values.” 

Lilly Maier is a news intern at the Forward. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @lillymmaier

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount