A Messenger of Modernity: Estelle M. Sternberger's Editorial Vision for the Jewish Woman (1921-1931)

This article examines The Jewish Woman, a magazine published by the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) from 1921 to 1931, focusing on the editorial role and personal ambition of Estelle M. Sternberger. As Executive Secretary of the NCJW, Sternberger used the magazine as a unifying medium for Jewish women, divided across religious, social, and geographical lines. Through editorials, articles, and various reports, The Jewish Woman became a tool for Sternberger to articulate Jewish women's voices and shape their public representations. Under Sternberger's editorial hand, The Jewish Woman became an enduring record of Jewish women's lives and aspirations in the 1920s. This study frames Sternberger as a significant figure in early American Jewish journalism, analyzing her editorial choices and repositioning the magazine within the broader scope of periodical studies and American Jewish women's history.