Caroline Herschel

Born in Hanover, Germany, Caroline Herschel was initially trained as a singer, a career she might have pursued were it not for her brother, William. Upon his move to England to become an astronomer, Caroline followed, transitioning from supporting his musical endeavors to becoming his indispensable scientific assistant. Apparently, stargazing and housework were not mutually exclusive vocations in the 18th century.

Her contributions were far from mere assistance. Caroline Herschel became a formidable astronomer in her own right, discovering eight comets and fourteen nebulae. She also significantly improved and corrected John Flamsteed's star catalog, a monumental task that even her brother conceded was beyond him. This kind of diligent, groundbreaking work was, of course, duly rewarded by a grateful nation — with a paltry salary that made her the first woman to be paid for science, which, you know, progress.

Despite the clear lack of any Jewish heritage, Caroline Herschel's dedication, meticulousness, and pioneering spirit certainly inspire a certain kind of kvell. She started as an uneducated assistant and ended up publishing catalogs, discovering celestial bodies, and earning royal recognition. If that's not an example of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps (or, rather, by one's telescope), we don't know what is. Just don't ask her to make a kugel.