Sarah Goodman

Sarah (Wolf) Goodman (March 25, 1886 – November 4, 1975) was the first woman to hold the position of president of a Jewish Federation organization in the United States, a patron of the arts, and philanthropist for Jewish organizations.

Life Sarah Wolf was born March 25, 1886, in Vienna, Austria. Her family moved to the United States and settled in Ashland, Kentucky. She attended and graduated from St. Louis Teachers College. After graduating she taught kindergarten. She moved to Indianapolis in 1924 after marrying Jack Goodman, the founder of the Real Silk Hosiery Mills. The couple had 3 kids, and three grandchildren. The family also hosted other notable figures, including the first Jewish faculty member of Dartmouth College and Golda Meir.

Goodman was a member of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. She was a trustee for the congregation and also a member of the National Council of Jewish Women. In honoring her work as a philanthropist, the B'nai B'rith and the Indianapolis Community Chest named her the Woman of the Year in 1956. The Jewish Post described her as "the most prominent Jewish woman in the state" and in 1956 named her the Jewish "Man of the Year."

The Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation maintains an award in recognition of student creativity and artistic achievement in her name.

In reflecting on her life, Goodman, the recipient of an award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, observed: "Anything one does that helps in any way to make the life of another more livable is the greatest reward one can reap. My interest is in the dignity of man – regardless of his denomination."