Szold, << zohld, >> Henrietta (1860-1945), an American social worker, founded Hadassah, the largest Jewish women’s organization in the world. She established Hadassah in 1912 and dedicated its activities to improving the living conditions of Jews in Palestine. Szold served as president of Hadassah until 1926. Under her leadership, the organization built many hospitals and schools in Palestine. In 1933, she became director of Youth Aliyah, a program sponsored by Hadassah to rescue Jewish children from Nazi Germany and resettle them in Palestine.
In the United States, Hadassah helps strengthen links with Israel; informs members about issues relating to women, democracy, and the Middle East; offers educational programs for members; and sponsors Young Judaea, the largest U.S. Zionist youth movement.
Among its projects in Israel, Hadassah supports a medical center in Jerusalem, an academic institution called Hadassah College Jerusalem, and land reclamation in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund. It continues to support Youth Aliyah, now a youth rescue movement that aids disadvantaged children. Hadassah International is a worldwide organization involving people of all religious faiths who support the Hadassah Medical Organization.
Szold was born on Dec. 21, 1860, in Baltimore. During the 1880’s, she organized Americanization classes for Jews who had emigrated there from eastern Europe. From 1892 to 1916, she served as an editor and translator for the Jewish Publication Society of America. During part of that period, from 1904 to 1910, she also was coeditor of the American Jewish Year Book. In 1902, Szold became the first woman to study at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She died on Feb. 13, 1945.
