Women – Wise and Otherwise

Mrs. Randolph Guggenheimer, Editor

The depression which was so disastrous to many welfare organizations, forcing them to curtail their work or even to forego it altogether, has left Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America whose special field is the conduct of a system of medical and public health work in Palestine, remarkably unscathed.

What is the secret of this success? What has made Hadassah invulnerable to the depression pall?

When one speaks to Mrs. David Greenberg, chairman of the Palestine Committee, one understands why this one organization has so splendidly weathered the economic storm. Mrs. Greenberg says very frankly:

“Where only money is asked, money becomes of paramount importance, and the public hesitates to give when times are bad. But though we ask for money, knowing that without material help we could not do anything, we ask for more: we ask for service. Unselfish, efficient, intelligent and, above all, voluntary service. We are all a group of voluntary workers, giving four or five days a week to intensive activity for Hadassah.

EDUCATIONAL WORK IMPORTANT

“Thus, anyone contributing knows that what he gives is really used only for the health work in Palestine. More than that. Here in America we do important educational work in bringing the ideas and ideals of Zionism to the consciousness of the younger generation. A generation which makes through us the first vital contacts with the national life of its own people, which learns through us that Judaism is not a theological formalism but a philosophy of life: something vital and sustaining, coloring the actual every-day existence and expressing itself in an ideal of service, the very rock on which Hadassah rests.”

Then she speaks of the curative and preventive work done in Palestine with a glowing enthusiasm that must kindle in every listener an equally warm response.

EXPERTS GUIDE WORK

“Our whole work,” she says, “is based on closest cooperation. While we give the leaders in Palestine a free hand in administering duties, we direct the general policies right here. Of course, this direction is not arbitrary. We have experts in every line to help and guide us. Our public health board consists of men like Dr. Louis I. Harris, Dr. Goldwater, Dr. Golub; our nursing expert committee, of specialists like Professor Stewart and Professor Burgess. In short, we are not ashamed to ask for advice and we are not afraid to insist that the advice of the best minds here should be followed over there. When difficulties arise we see that they are overcome. In keeping up this intimate contact, in receiving several times a week detailed reports, in having physicians visit Palestine and study conditions there, and finally in going ourselves, as many of us and as often as possible, to Palestine we prevent the work becoming standardized and mere routine. Instead of that it grows into something truly living, something constantly developing, something so clearly and so intensely worth while that every one interested in belonging to the Jewish race cannot resist helping us and cooperating with our aims.”

The woman who speaks thus is quite as vital and interesting as her views. Brimful of energy, she radiates health and enthusiasm. She is a graduate of Cornell and if she cared to she could sport the coveted Phi Beta Kappa key.

But life to Mrs. Greenberg is by far more important than scholastic triumphs. She taught high school in Philadelphia and her approach to the Zionist movement was first of all intellectual. She understood its importance in the life of the Jewish race. Now she both understands and feels it. Her emotional warmth, her intellectual insight, and her genius for organization have been tremendous assets to Hadassah and perhaps the ultimate secret of the success of this organization rests in personalities such as Mrs. David Greenberg.