Henrietta Szold

Henrietta Szold was so Jewish, she practically invented modern Jewish female leadership. Born in Baltimore, the daughter of a prominent rabbi, she was steeped in Jewish learning and tradition from birth. Unlike many women of her era, she had access to a serious Jewish education, which she promptly put to good use, because what else would you do with it?

Initially, Szold focused on night classes for recent Jewish immigrants, teaching them English and American civics. This sounds rather quaint, but it was groundbreaking stuff at the time. However, her real calling came after a trip to Palestine in 1909, where she witnessed the dire health conditions. Forget the romance of the Holy Land; Szold saw a healthcare crisis and decided she was just the woman to fix it.

Thus, Hadassah was born, an organization that, under her leadership, transformed healthcare and education in pre-state Israel. From nursing schools to hospitals, Szold laid the groundwork for much of what became the Israeli healthcare system. She also helped organize Youth Aliyah, rescuing thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Germany and bringing them to Palestine. Because apparently, just fixing the healthcare system wasn't enough kvell-worthiness for one lifetime.