Betsy Platkin Teutsch

Betsy Teutsch is passionate about mobilizing resources for the world’s poorest women. She has pursued Encore Careers as blogger, columnist, community organizer and eco-activist. In addition to her profession as a Judaica artist, she served as Communications Director of GreenMicrofinance, promoting affordable paths out of rural poverty. She is a founding Board Member of the award-winning Shining Hope for Communities and the Kibera School for Girls. Teutsch launched three local chapters of Dining For Women, a national network of giving circles supporting women’s grassroots initiatives. Teutsch contributed extensively, based on research from her book, to the Atlantic’s series What Works: Straightforward Solutions to Complex Problems. Married to Dr. David Teutsch, their first grandchild, Shulamit, arrived before the book’s publication. A Fargo, ND, native, she lives in Philadelphia, PA. In her career as a Judaica artist, Betsy is renowned for her captivating ketubot, ceremonial objects and book illustrations, and she remains a prominent figure in the contemporary Jewish renaissance. Her outstanding lettering and design sense, combined with a wide-ranging Judaic knowledge, result in exquisite works of art. Betsy had specialized in illuminated Judaica and Hebrew calligraphy for over 30 years and designed custom ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts) for hundreds of couples. She illustrated Michael Strassfeld’s classic, The Jewish Holidays and was the art editor and illustrator for Kol Haneshamah , the Reconstructionist movement's prayerbook series. She is the coauthor of The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols. In 1997 she created her first tambourine and eight more designs have followed.