St. Louis’ Women with Chutzpah, a new weekly feature, builds on our recent story about “Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women” by Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer, which highlights 100 bold Jewish women.
Ross Sonneschein
Rosa Sonneschein wasn’t just ahead of her time—she was working to change it. An advocate for women’s rights, a trailblazing journalist and a force in Jewish activism, she carved out a space for Jewish women at a time when few others did.
Born in Austria, Sonneschein moved to St. Louis in 1869 when her husband Rabbi Solomon Sonneschein became the first rabbi of Congregation Shaare Emeth. But Rosa was never content to sit quietly in the background. She pushed for greater roles for women in Jewish life long before it became common practice. She was also a strong supporter of Jewish nationalism, advocating for the creation of an independent Jewish state—ideas considered radical at the time.
In 1895, she founded The American Jewess, the first English-language magazine for Jewish women in the United States. Through its pages, Sonneschein championed women’s suffrage, Jewish education and social justice, giving a voice to issues that were often ignored. Her publication became a platform for progressive thought, proving that Jewish women weren’t just part of history—they were shaping it.
Sonneschein’s chutzpah didn’t stop there. During the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, she took a practical approach to innovation, running a concession stand that rented folding chairs to exhausted fairgoers for just a nickel. It was a simple yet brilliant business move that combined entrepreneurship with a keen understanding of what people needed.
“Fairgoers could drop a coin in a slot and the chair would unfold, offering them a much-needed rest,” historian Koenig explained. “Rosa’s entrepreneurial spirit combined with her vision for social progress made her a true legend of St. Louis.”
A journalist, activist and businesswoman, Rosa Sonneschein embodied chutzpah in every sense. Her legacy lives on in the fight for Jewish women’s voices to be heard—both in St. Louis and beyond.
