The Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel — The Middle East (West Asia)
Female Entrepreneurship in the Jewish Quarter
Daughters were destined to be wives and mothers, and their preparation began at a very young age. Girls and women were exempt from Torah study and did not train for industry or trade. Rather, they stayed at home and assisted their mothers in food preparation, cleaning and washing, so that in time they would have the skils to be good housewives (Balbia in Ladino or Balbusta in Yiddish).
As Jerusalem moderenized towards the middle of the 19th century, women's rights to formal education began to take hold. Ashkenzai women in the Jewish Quarter took an interest in supporting their families by running businesses outside of their own homes. They wanted to enable their husbands to continue their Torah studies at the Yeshiva without distraction.
Along "The Jewish Street" and near the 'Hurva' Synagogue entrance, women opened shops and stores: Gittel Dinowitz ran a specialty store of European food imports, Malka Yedler had a dairy shop, and Chesha opened a bakery specializing in (European) "Lekach" cakes. Krisha Berman started a bakery that specialized in mini pastries that grew into one of the largest chain of bakeries in Israel, still known as Berman Bakery.
Further down "The Jewish Street", Pesha Peltz ran a "hospitality house" offering free food and accommodation to the many poor and needy visitors of Jerusalem.
(Hebrew transcription not transcribed)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Women.
Location. 31° 46.531′ N, 35° 13.866′ E. Marker is in Jerusalem, Jerusalem District. It is in The Jewish Quarter. Marker is on Ha-Yehudim Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Ha-Yehudim Street 91, Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Ashkenazi courtyard (here, next to this marker); Memorial Room Commemorating the Victims of the Jewish Quarter (a few steps from this marker); The Hurva Synagogue (a few steps from this marker); Moshe Rusnak Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker in Israel); Western Cardo (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Western Cardo (within shouting distance of this marker); Jerusalem's Architectural Tradition (within shouting distance of this marker in Israel); Architectural elements from the Jewish Quarter (within shouting distance of this marker in Israel). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jerusalem.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.