Women of Faith – Mirta Ines Trupp~ Author

I had the pleasure and the honor of participating in the Jewish Book Council Network Conference. This is an extraordinary experience! It gives authors the opportunity to present their latest book in a unique forum. It provides program directors, libraries, synagogues and other venues from across the country, a more personalized, in-depth look into potential speakers and their work. The conference is done via Zoom and lasts several days. Just imagine! All that creativity, knowledge, and enthusiasm for Jewish literature!

The scope of presentations cover practically every genre imaginable. The authors themselves ranged from newbies to established, professional writers. It was inspiring to be included amongst such talent. It was intimidating as well.

Authors are given two minutes to present their book. A two-minute shpiel, if you will, to entice, intrigue, and inspire. Listening to the other presenters was a rare treat. I was moved by several authors as they talked about their journey and the body of their work. With so many great titles published this year, I encourage you to take a look at the JBC website to find the ones that speak to you.

In preparing for the event, authors are given the opportunity to be coached by seasoned professionals. Presentations are reviewed and revised with a focus on timing and content. As the saying goes: Editing is never easy, but always necessary! Being the only Austenite in the line up—or, at least, that was my assumption—I came across a “hiccup” or two in trying to explain my POV (point of view). I would have liked to have shared more about the concept of Austen devotionals or my passion about historical Jewish women; but, two minutes goes by quickly! There isn’t much time to go into detail or provide background. Here is the text of my presentation:

Hello everyone. As a woman, an immigrant, and a Jew, I found that following in Jane Austen’s footsteps helped me find my voice. She wrote about her surroundings with a keen eye. She used humor to call out the injustices of her society; and in this brilliant manner, Austen touched upon some heady subjects that are still relevant today. This form of Realism coincided with my purpose for writing Judaic storylines.

When I set out to write, “From Meidelach to Matriarchs,” I took Austen’s words to heart. She said, “Everyone likes to go their own way—to choose their own time and manner of devotion.” I found this to be very relatable to Judaism. As the old saying goes, you put two Jews together and you end up with three opinions. Judaism encourages debate and contemplation. It challenges us to cultivate habits that help connect to the Divine.

My previous books are Austenesque in nature; however my latest book is different. As a non-fiction and motivational journal, it is a form of…spiritual work. It asks the reader to interact with the text. It is a reminder that we, as Jewish women, are standing on the shoulders of giants. From athletes to actors, social workers to socialites, playwrights to pioneers—these women faced adversity, found their voices, and won! We need to emulate their strength, their courage, and compassion and walk in that light.

“From Meidelach to Matriarchs” focuses on one hundred women from various eras and diverse backgrounds. I share a snippet of each individual’s history and then provide questions for consideration. It’s a Bu-Jo (that’s a bullet journal for us Boomers) and a safe space for you to jot down your thoughts. There is no pressure, no judgement. That’s the beauty of this book. No one needs to know; it’s just between you and the Woman of Valor within.

What do you think? Was I successful in representing myself and my newest book? Let me know your thoughts and don’t forget to keep your eyes on the Jewish Book Council’s website with updates on the 2024-2025 season!

With love,

I’ve been writing about my upcoming release for a few weeks now. I’ve called it a Daily Journal, a Daily Devotional, even a Motivational Journal. I talked about expressive writing, introspection, and guidance for your spiritual journey. Are you asking yourself, “So, what is it exactly?”

With Publication Day fast approaching, I thought I’d share an example of just one of the ladies showcased in From Meidelach to Matriarchs: A Journal~ Jewish Women of Yesteryear to Inspire your Today.

Let me introduce you to Annie “Londonderry” Kopchovsky ~ 1870-1947

Annie was born in Latvia to Beatrice and Levi Cohen. When she was five years old, her family immigrated and settled in Boston. At the age of eighteen, she married Simon Kopchovsky. She had three babies within four years, yet, indomitable Annie held down a job selling advertising space for Boston newspapers. In 1894, two men placed a bet on whether a woman could travel the world alone on a bicycle. Annie was quoted as saying, “I didn’t want to spend my life at home with a baby under my apron every year,” and she submitted her name for consideration.

The mother of three—Annie had no previous cycling experience—was accepted to take on the challenge. The rules required that the contestant finish her journey within fifteen months, start off penniless, and earn $5,000 along the way. Annie put her advertising skills to work. She hung a sign on her bike advertising the Londonderry Lithia Spring Water Company. That is how Annie “Londonderry” was officially born.

Although she sailed for large portions of her journey, she fulfilled the requirements and cycled alone with a pearl revolver for protection. She returned home just under the allotted time to collect the $10,000 prize. In 1895, Annie became the first woman cyclist to travel around the world. Soon after, the family moved to New York. She wrote an article for “New Woman” that stated, “I am a journalist and ‘a new woman,’ if that term means that I believe I can do anything that any man can do.”

Now, just as I have done in the journal, I will share some questions for you to ponder:

Question Number One:

“A Jew must know that when he goes from one place to another, he is not going on his own, but he is being directed from Above.” (The Baal Shem Tov) Was Annie on a mission for G-d? Do you feel the Hand of G-d directing you?

Question Number Two:

A Chabad post postulated that, like a bike, our lives are also made up of multiple parts—most importantly, two parents and G-d. We do are best in the balancing act we call Life. But while we’re enjoying the ride, we must keep in mind that it’s not all our own doing. We must always remember who sustained us, molded us, inspired us to keep on pedaling. Who’s riding in tandem with you?

Question Number Three:

What does Annie’s story teach us about breaking barriers?

Question Number Four:

What are other “take-aways”? In other words, are you inspired to jot down any other thoughts that have come to mind?

So there you have it! An example of what you can expect when you pick up your own copy.

I’ve provided you with one hundred fabulous women. We will meet the meidelach, young women just getting started and trying to figure things out, and the matriarchs who are shouldering the burdens of life and leading by example. I will share a brief snippet of their stories, one woman for the next one hundred days. One hundred opportunities to inspire your thoughts, your creativity, your philanthropy, your Jewish observance or your Jewish identity.

What do you think? Are you interested? Are you up for the challenge?