Henrietta Szold

(born Dec. 21, 1860, Baltimore, Md., U.S.—died Feb. 13, 1945)

She is most famous for starting the Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization. She also developed Youth Aliya and became a famous writer. She is considered one the most important Jewish women of America.

Early life

Henrietta was the eldest of eight daughters.

She grew up in Baltimore and became a teacher. In those days women were not allowed to attend univerisity. she taught French, German and algebra.

She also taught English to many Jewish refugees from Russia to help them become American citizens.

In 1920, Henrietta Szold moved to Jerusalem where she directed the Hadassah Medical Organization. That led to the development of a medical school, a nursing school, a dental school and the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem. 

A few years later she opened Israel’s first school of social work. That school is today the school of social work at the Hebrew University.

In 1927 she was elected to the Zionist Congress and then became the first woman member of the Zionist executive.

After World War II there were many Jewish children who were orphans and had no family to take care of them. Henrietta became the director of “Youth Aliyah”which was funded by Hadassah.

Henrietta Szold helped create a strong connection between the Jews of America and Israel even before Israel achieved independence. She was a major force in bringing about American financial support for Israel.