Books Henrietta Szold: Hadassah and the Zionist Dream (Jewish Lives)  by Francine Klagsbrun (Author)

Henrietta Szold: Hadassah and the Zionist Dream (Jewish Lives) by Francine Klagsbrun is a detailed biography of Henrietta Szold, an influential American Jewish Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. Born in Baltimore in 1860 to Hungarian immigrant parents, Szold was raised with a strong emphasis on education and Jewish values. She became a pioneering figure in American Zionism by organizing immigrant aid programs, night classes, and advocating for Jewish women's leadership.

Szold’s visit to pre-state Israel deeply affected her, inspiring her to focus on improving healthcare, education, and social services for Jewish communities under harsh conditions. She led Hadassah to send nurses and health aid to Palestine starting in 1913, particularly combating diseases like trachoma and malnutrition. In 1942, she co-founded Youth Aliyah, successfully rescuing thousands of Jewish children from Nazi-threatened Europe and bringing them to safety in Palestine.