The Jewish ‘Playmakers’ Behind Barbie, G.I. Joe and Mr. Potato Head

<p>What do Barbie, G.I. Joe and Mr. Potato Head have in common? Besides being iconic, much beloved toys, they each have fascinating Jewish figures who drove their creation and success.</p><p><br><em>Hadassah Magazine</em> Executive Editor Lisa Hostein speaks with two best-selling writers whose recent books explore the Jewish contributions to the American toy industry. Michael Kimmel, author of <em>Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America</em>, and Renée Rosen, whose <em>Let&#39;s Call Her Barbie </em>is a fictionalized account of Ruth Handler&#39;s creation of the iconic Barbie doll, will discuss the Jewish figures behind leading toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel as well as their classic products, from G.I. Joe and Mr. Potato Head to Hot Wheels and, of course, Barbie herself. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Further Resources</strong></p><ul><li>Purchase a copy of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookshop.org%2Fa%2F93390%2F9780593335680&data=05%7C02%7Csfrank%40hadassah.org%7C3c74826f2e0a4abfcc3c08df01df3162%7Cf4beb4a25c044274845d27d523c6ace3%7C0%7C0%7C639231730262326494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wWXWROyRS9210%2B8cv8UOqQEF%2BZwE43BGYRfxO9m3PoE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><em>Let’s Call Her Barbie</em></a><em>.</em></li><li>Read Renée Rosen’s story <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hadassahmagazine.org%2F2023%2F06%2F22%2Fbarbies-jewish-mother%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csfrank%40hadassah.org%7C3c74826f2e0a4abfcc3c08df01df3162%7Cf4beb4a25c044274845d27d523c6ace3%7C0%7C0%7C639231730262360733%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BqDJY5SXsUsAcPbOTi3HVhV3mIy77nLz%2FluF3az%2FHU8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">on Barbie inventor Ruth Handler</a> in <em>Hadassah Magazine.</em></li><li>Purchase a copy of<em> </em><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookshop.org%2Fa%2F93390%2F9781324105282&data=05%7C02%7Csfrank%40hadassah.org%7C3c74826f2e0a4abfcc3c08df01df3162%7Cf4beb4a25c044274845d27d523c6ace3%7C0%7C0%7C639231730262385667%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=M5f5Q6K3pIMlh1JI9nQazNJJvus0aPm6sOsevvMInPo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><em>Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America</em></a><em>.</em></li><li><a href="https://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2026/01/09/review-playmakers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Read the <em>Hadassah Magazine</em> review</a> of Michael Kimmel&#39;s book <em>Playmakers</em>.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>The show is hosted by <em>Hadassah Magazine</em> Executive Editor Lisa Hostein and produced by <em>Hadassah Magazine</em> with the support of the Engagement and Marketing divisions of Hadassah.<br>Our podcast editor is Arielle Kaplan.<br>Get more of <a href="https://www.hadassahmagazine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><em>Hadassah Magazine</em>!</a> Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hadassahmagazine/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HadassahMag/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://hadassah.gospringboard.com/secure/subscribe-hadassah-magazine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">subscribe</a> to get the latest print magazine delivered to your mailbox.</p><p><br><strong>Please send any follow-up questions or feedback to </strong><a href="mailto:engagement@hadassah.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><strong>engagement@hadassah.org</strong></a></p>