Bella Abzug, 1920-1998

Abzug was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress, representing New York as a Democrat in the House from 1971 to 1977. The daughter of immigrants from Russia, she joined Zionist youth group Hashomer Hatzir in her teens and raised money for Zionism, often by speaking at subway stops. In Congress, she promoted economic and military aid to Israel. She fought to reverse the 1975 U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism.

Photo: Library of Congress