The state of Texas is vast and wide. Stetsons, longhorns, windmills, and wildflowers dot the landscape. Synagogues, torahs and menorahs, not so much.
Yet since the days of the Republic, in every corner of the Lone Star State, there have been smart and determined Jewish women uniting these seemingly disparate cultural elements. These are the stories of six of those remarkable women. These are stories of GRIT & GRACE.
For almost 200 years, from El Paso to Galveston and points in between, there were Jewish women who made a significant and lasting impact, bringing light and reflection, illuminating almost every corner of the often rough and tumble Lone Star State. Collectively they battled the ravages of yellow fever, Civil War and racism; expanded educational opportunities including the first public kindergarten; introduced audiences to progressive thought and entertainment; devised innovations in surgical procedures and medical care; and contributed to the Texas literary canon. They worked to expand voting rights, fair wages, inclusion, and accessibility. And one of them was even inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Through their contributions, each woman, in her own way, helped to build a better Texas and inspired others to do the same.
About the Filmmaker
BARBARA ROSENTHAL (DIRECTOR)
For almost four decades in the video and film industry, director Barbara Rosenthal has actively sought out projects that educate, inspire and broaden our understanding of important issues. As a fairly newly minted Texan, Rosenthal’s lifelong fascination with and training in historical research and analysis, combined with her producing, directing and editing skills make GRIT & GRACE a project of a lifetime for her. Rosenthal is deeply passionate about preserving history and making it accessible and meaningful. Since this project commenced in 2022, every day has led to new discoveries, which is thrilling for the insatiably curious filmmaker.
Rosenthal’s most recent film, SEDERS & CIGARS – A HISTORY OF JEWS IN TAMPA (2019), explored a variety of themes including overcoming quotas on Jewish immigration, the challenge of maintaining extended family bonds in a competitive economic environment, cultural assimilation, the nexus of anti-Semitism and segregation, and the rise of women in politics. The film is archived in the Judaic Collection at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Rosenthal’s other films include YOU ARE THE ONE: A JOURNEY OF RECOVERY, DISCOVERY, & EMPOWERMENT (2012) and LOSING LOIS (2001).
