Harriet Leder - Jewish Women's Studies

Harriet Leder was born in New York in 1923 and lived through the Great Depression. She had three sisters, though she was the only one who attended a high school for girls in the Bronx, Walton High School, for which she had to pass an entrance exam. There, she learned academic subjects, including Latin, but had to drop out in her senior year in order to supplement the family income by working as a sales representative at Bloomingdales. She always regretted not having a high school diploma.

Upon her 70th birthday (displayed image), Harriet was very proud that her three children finished college; though they all went into very different fields.

She sat in on several Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies classes/programs at Nassau Community College as a guest of her daughter who taught at the College and encouraged her to participate. At one program, entitled “The Good Mother,” she offered the opinion that mothers of more than one child should remember that each child is different and shouldn’t be measured by one standard. She didn’t believe in playing favorites.

The winner of this award should listen to his/her own drummer in doing college work beyond Nassau Community College.

The Harriet Leder Jewish Women’s Studies Award is given to a deserving student who has expressed an interest in Jewish and/or Women’s Studies at NCC.

For more information on how to apply for this reputable award, please contact Professor Sara Hosey, Coordinator, Women’s Studies Project at 516.572.7082.