Female leadership in the American Jewish community : Bessie Gotsfeld and the Mizrachi Women's Organization of America / Baila Round Shagel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shargel, Baila Round.

Series:

Studies in Judaism

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gotsfeld, Bessie, 1888-1962.

Gotsfeld, Bessie.

Mizrachi Women's Organization of America--Biography.

Mizrachi Women's Organization of America.

Jewish women--United States--Biography.

Jewish women.

Zionism.

Jews, American.

United States.

Jewish women--United States--Societies and clubs.

Jewish women--Palestine--Biography.

Jewish women--Israel--Biography.

Israel.

Jews, American--Palestine--Biography.

Jews, American--Israel--Biography.

Zionism--United States--History.

History.

Zionism--United States--Societies, etc.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xiii, 177 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, MD : University Press of America, 2007.

Summary:

Bessie Gotsfeld (1888-1962) was the inspired leader and founder of the Mizrachi Woman's Organization of America (MWOA). Gotsfeld abandoned a comfortable life in New York to live in Mandatory Palestine and conduct the MWOA's business. Gotsfeld was driven by a fervent dedication to Orthodox Zionism and modern education, especially for girls. Her innovations included the establishment of three vocational schools for adolescent girls and two large farm villages that offered religious instruction to girls and boys on an equal basis.

Every step of Gotsfeld's journey and leadership involved a struggle. To realize her goals, she had to hold her ground against Mizrachi men and women and centrist Zionists, such as Henrietta Szold. Organizational independence was crucial to Gotsfeld. The fundraising mechanism she set up in New York and her management of resources in Mandatory Palestine and Israel made the MWOA the most successful part of the Mizrachi movement. Through her leadership, she advanced the cause of religious Zionism in the United States and Israel.

Contents:

Introduction. Female Leadership in American Zionism ix

Chapter 1 Born for Leadership 1

Chapter 2 Preparations 19

Chapter 3 Bet Zeirot Mizrachi, Jerusalem, 1933 - 1935 33

Chapter 4 Challenges And New Opportunities: Youth Aliyah and A New School, 1933 - 1935 39

Chapter 5 Facing Competition, 1935 - 1936 47

Chapter 6 "Never A Rubber Stamp" 1936 - 1939 59

Chapter 7 Wartime Propaganda, Peaceful Activities, 1939 - 1942 65

Chapter 8 The Children Of Teheran 73

Chapter 9 Wartime Expansion, 1943 - 1945 83

Chapter 10 Post-War Pressures And Accomplishments, 1945 - 1947 93

Chapter 11 A Climactic Year, 1947 - 1948 103

Chapter 12 Final Years 117

Chapter 13 Personality and Principles 131

Chapter 14 Female Leadership and Empowerment 137

Appendix Two Important Speeches 143.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0761836993

9780761836995

OCLC:

150448459