Jewish American Contributions

PART 1
Louis Brandeis: The People’s Lawyer
Video (0:00-3:54)

PART 2
Estee Lauder: The Innovator
Video (3:55 – 6:36)

PART 3
Barbara Walters: The Trailblazer
Video (6:37 – 13:04)

PART 4
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Icon
Video (13:05 – 17:10)

PART 5
Sandy Koufax: The Legend
Video (17:11 – 20:42)

PART 6
Daveed Diggs: The Visionary
Video (20:43- 24:06)

Jewish Americans have made significant contributions to society across a wide range of fields. While each individual’s story is unique, in each case, their Jewish identity shaped their experiences and impact. This video and its accompanying resources highlight the stories of six extraordinary Jewish Americans whose achievements have left a lasting mark on American society and beyond. Through these materials, students will gain a deeper understanding of the vital role Jewish Americans have played in shaping the nation while also reflecting on the concept of identity—both in their own lives and in the lives of historical figures.

How to use this guide
This guide is designed to enhance your students’ engagement with the video. You can pause at the suggested “Stop/Do/Discuss” points to explore key concepts through discussion and reflection questions provided for each section. Alternatively, you may prefer to show the entire video without breaks and use the discussion questions and activities at the end of this guide (“Summative Activities & Reflection”) for a comprehensive post-viewing discussion.

You can also utilize a flipped classroom approach, assigning the video (in full or in segments) for students to watch at home, then using class time to unpack ideas together through reflection, discussion, or hands-on activities. Choose the approach that best fits your students and classroom setting, whether it’s real-time engagement or a deeper dive after the video.

Discussion Questions

1. Breaking Barriers: As a female entrepreneur in the 1950s and 1960s, Estée Lauder faced significant barriers. How did she challenge societal expectations, and what lasting impact did she leave for business executives and entrepreneurs?
2. Lived Experience and Storytelling: How did Daveed Diggs’ own experiences with a multifaceted identity shape his career? How might his background help him portray characters who also grapple with identity and belonging?
3. Leaving a Legacy: Despite facing antisemitism, Brandeis became the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice. What impact did he have on the U.S. court system, and how did he help pave the way for future Jewish justices?

Learning Activities

1. Comparison Web: Create a visual comparison web between the six Jewish Americans discussed in the video. Identify at least one significant connection between each figure, considering their contributions, challenges, and legacy. Use the Comparison Web as a tool to help students engage in comparative thinking and recognize patterns in their stories.
2. Journal Entry: A First-Person Perspective Research one of the famous Jewish Americans from the video or another notable Jewish American not featured. Write a first-person journal entry that explores a specific challenge they faced in their life or career. Consider choosing a challenge that reflects their multifaceted identity as both Jewish and American. The journal entry should capture their thoughts, emotions, and responses to the challenge. Encourage creativity—students can set the scene, include historical context, and reflect on how the figure might have felt.

1. Amazing Jewish Americans (AJC)
2. Jewish American Heritage Month
3. The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (Hebrew Union College)
4. The American Jewish Experience through the Nineteenth Century: Immigration and Acculturation (National Humanities Center)