A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah

This picture book biography of Jewish activist Henrietta Szold tells the story of a woman who devoted her life to helping others. It begins with Szold’s childhood in Baltimore and quickly moves to the actions she took to support others in need, from founding night schools for Jewish immigrants to establishing a women’s social justice organization.

Students in grades K-5 examine how Szold was inspired by the Purim story of Queen Esther to create an organization she named Hadassah – Queen Esther’s name in Hebrew. They learn that through this charity, Szold helped provide healthcare, food, clothing, and education to individuals in what was then called Palestine and is today called Israel. Students also learn that through a Hadassah program called Youth Aliyah, Szold played a key role in saving 11,000 children from displacement during the Holocaust.

With facts, data, and eye-catching colorful illustrations, this story captures Szold’s powerful character, the challenging times in which she lived, and the lasting impact of her humanitarian work.