Henrietta Szold American-Jewish Zionist leader Date of Birth: 21.12.1860 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in Education and Advocacy
3. Zionist Movement
4. Hadassah Women's Organization
5. Immigration to Palestine
6. Legacy and Honors

Early Life and Education

Henrietta Szold was born on December 21, 1860, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Benjamin Szold, a rabbi, and Sophie Schaar. She was the eldest of eight daughters. Szold graduated from Western Female High School in 1877 and attended public lectures at Johns Hopkins University and the Peabody Institute.

Career in Education and Advocacy

Szold taught at Miss Adam's School and Oheb Shalom Religious School and led Bible and history classes for adults. She also established the first American Evening School, which taught English and vocational skills to Russian-Jewish immigrants. In 1893, she joined the Jewish Publication Society, where she worked for over twenty years.

Zionist Movement

Szold's commitment to Zionism grew after a visit to Palestine in 1909. In 1896, before the publication of Theodor Herzl's "Der Judenstaat," Szold had already articulated her vision of a Jewish state in Palestine. In 1898, she became the only female member of the Federation of American Zionists' executive committee.

Hadassah Women's Organization

In 1912, Szold founded Hadassah and served as its president until 1926. Hadassah hired American Jewish women to assist in improving healthcare in Palestine, with its first project being a visiting nurses' training program in Jerusalem. It later funded hospitals, medical schools, dental clinics, soup kitchens, and other services for both Jewish and Arab residents.

Immigration to Palestine

Szold immigrated to Palestine in 1933 and helped lead the Youth Aliyah Zionist organization, which rescued around 30,000 Jewish children from the Nazis. She died at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem on February 13, 1945, at the age of 84.

Legacy and Honors

Szold's work in education, healthcare, and Zionism left a lasting impact. Public School 134 in New York City bears her name, and she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2007. In Israel, Mother's Day is celebrated on the anniversary of her death.