Rebekah Kohut, Noted American Jewish Women’s Leader, Dies; Was 86 Years Old

Rebekah Kohut, noted American Jewish communal, educational and cultural leader and an authority on women’s and unemployment problems, died here last night after a long illness. Mrs. Kohut was 86.

Born in Hungary in 1864, Mrs. Kohut came to this country with her parents when she was three and received most of her education on the West Coast. Early in her long career in Jewish life she lectured on Jewish subjects, taught at New York City’s Educational Alliance and founded the Kohut School for Girls. After she became established in Jewish educational work, Mrs. Kohut turned her attention to welfare problems and in 1897 became the first president of the New York section of the Council of Jewish Women. Later, she reorganized and headed the Young Women’s Hebrew Association Employment Bureau and, during World War I, served in the Federal Employment Clearing House as a “dollar-a-year man.” For many years afterwards, although she continued her educational activities, she also served on various New York State commissions dealing with employment problems.

In 1942, Mrs. Kohut became president of the World Congress of Jewish Women. She was also a vice-president of the Jewish Conciliation Court of America, vice-president of the Vocational Service for Juniors, member of the executive board of the Bureau of Jewish Social Research, trustee of the American Women’s Association and of the Jewish Institute of Religion. She was an honorary president of the New York section of the National Council of Jewish Women.