Trailblazing Jewish Democrat #2: Belle Moskowitz

Jason Attermann — May 3, 2011 – 2:28 pm | Jewish American Heritage Month 2011 Comments (0) Add a comment

Belle Lindner Israels Moskowitz (1877-1933) was born in New York City to immigrant parents and rose to become a prominent labor leader and advisor to New York Governor Al Smith.

Moskowitz received her education from Horace Mann High School for Girls and Teachers College, Columbia University. Her lifelong commitment to social services began in 1900, when she began working at the Educational Alliance, a Jewish settlement house for new immigrants on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. When she married her first husband, Charles Henry Israels, in 1903, Moskowitz left the Educational Alliance and became a volunteer with a number of organizations, including the United Hebrew Charities, and the National Council of Jewish Women, New York Section. Following her first husband’s untimely death, Moskowitz went to work for the Dress and Waist Manufacturers Association and eventually headed the association’s labor department. She married her second husband, Henry Moskowitz, in 1914.

In 1918, Moskowitz forged an alliance with New York gubernatorial candidate Al Smith and became the chair of the women’s division for his campaign. Moskowitz helped Smith reach out to female voters, who had received the right to vote in New York in 1917. During Smith’s two terms as governor, Moskowitz was among his closest advisors on a variety of issues, including labor issues and the economy. When Smith ran for president in 1928, Moskowitz managed his campaign.

Moskowitz died in 1933 and over 4,000 people attended her funeral. Upon her death, The New York Times wrote that Moskowitz “wielded more political power than any other woman in the United States” in its account of her life’s work. Moskowitz remains an icon and an influence to many women in politics, especially Jewish women. In particular, the National Jewish Democratic Council presents the Belle Moskowitz Award for political leadership to an outstanding female who has made great contributions to progressive causes and social justice. More can be read about the award here. 

More about Moskowitz can be read in the book Jews in American Politics, which was edited by L. Sandy Maisel and Ira N. Forman.

 

Comments

There are no comments for this entry