A letter handwritten and signed by Henrietta Szold to the American Zionist activist Elisha Friedman; written on the official stationery of RMS Carmania. November 16, 1927. English.
In 1927, Henrietta Szold was elected a member of the Zionist management in Palestine and was the first woman to hold this office. Shortly after she was elected, she found out that the educational system was facing the danger of a severe budget cut and decided to travel to her homeland – the USA – to raise funds. This letter was written on her way back from the trip, before learning about the donors' decision, to one of her friends in the USA – the banker Elisha Friedman, a member of the JOINT organization and The American Economic Committee for Palestine.
Szold writes: "If my efforts to meet the situation in Palestine will be crowned with as great success as yours to give one pleasure and encouragement, my most sanguine hopes will be fulfilled… I can't recall whether I told you that Dr. Berkam is with me in the capacity of my personal advisor on educational problems. The drastic cut of over one hundred thousand dollars in the Education budget has been particularly upsetting to me… we are putting several hours each day on the problem, in the hope that we may be half-way prepared to meet it on the spot".
When Szold arrived in Palestine, she was informed that the donors approved her request.
[1] folded leaf (two written pages), approx. 17.5 cm. Good condition. Horizontal fold line. A few stains.