The Ida McCain Fisher Eshet Chayil Award
Nominations due February 15, 2025 | Click here for “How to Nominate”
Ida McCain Fisher (1940-2018) was a pioneering Orthodox Jewish African American woman, and the first African American female editor at Scott Foresman Publishing. In her groundbreaking role, she co-authored history textbooks and took on the critical responsibility of ensuring that accurate and comprehensive Black history was included in textbooks distributed across the United States. This work was essential at a time when Black history was often marginalized or misrepresented in educational materials. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Fisher was also a trailblazer in her personal life. In 1968, during the Civil Rights Movement, she became a pioneer of interracial marriage, choosing to marry outside of her race at a time when such unions were rare and often met with societal resistance. An Orthodox Jew, Mrs. Fisher was known for her independent thinking, resilience, work against racism, and love for Jewish communal life.
About the award: awarded annually to an individual in the Edot Midwest network who, like Mrs. Fisher, demonstrates independent thinking, resilience, work against racism, and love for Jewish communal life, the Ida M. Fisher Eshet Chayil Award presented by Edot Midwest includes a cash prize to the recipient, who is celebrated at an online event as well as a celebration in their home community. The term “Eshet Chayil,” a Hebrew phrase meaning “woman of valor,” reflects Fisher’s reputation in her Chicago community, echoing the qualities of a righteous Jewish woman as outlined in the ancient prayer from Proverbs 31.
Nominations for the award are open to all. Nominations can be submitted by peers, family members, community members, or colleagues who believe the individual’s work and impact align with the spirit of the award. Nominations must include at least three letters or videos of recommendation (including one from the nominator) that include details on the nominee’s background and achievements, and examples of how they embody the qualities of independent thinking, resilience, work against racism, and love for Jewish communal life.
A selection committee composed of Edot Midwest staff, community leaders, Fisher family members, and previous awardees reviews all nominations against the criteria described above. The winner is celebrated during online and in person events.
Nomination packets are due by email to to info@edotmidwest.org by February 14, 2025.
Nomination packets must include:
- Cover letter or video from the nominator, with information on the nominator’s relationship to the nominee, details on the nominee’s background and achievements, and examples of how they embody the qualities of independent thinking, resilience, work against racism, and love for Jewish communal life.
- Minimum of two additional support letters or videos, with up to a maximum of four (must be written by two individuals other than the nominator). These should also include information on the nominee’s background and achievements, and examples of how they embody the qualities of independent thinking, resilience, work against racism, and love for Jewish communal life.
Questions about the nomination process? Contact info@edotmidwest.org. Please note: nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for the following year’s award cycle.
