San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah

The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah is a non-profit Zionist organization supporting the improvement of health services in the Jewish homeland of Israel. The San Antonio organization also seeks to educate Americans on Jewish traditions and culture. Henrietta Szold (1860-1945), founder of the national organization of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, was the guest of honor at a preliminary meeting to organize the San Antonio Chapter in 1920. Szold, a Jewish American dedicated to the Zionist movement, forged a strong identity for American Jewish women as the providers of health care and social services in Israel. The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah was formally organized April 9, 1921, with a charter membership of 20 women and Mrs. Max Goot (Leah) elected as the first President. Mrs. Goot remained President for the next 10 years.

A primary function of the San Antonio Chapter is raising money to support the Hadassah Medical Organization and Medical Center in Jerusalem. During the first fund-raiser in 1921, women went door to door around San Antonio and stood on street corners with tin cans to collect change. The women also held 'linen showers' to collect sheets and towels for the hospital. Later, the San Antonio organization started the annual Donor Dinner, which quickly became a popular event in the community and was the largest fund-raiser of the San Antonio Chapter. Fund-raisers in later decades included special beauty clinics and fashion shows in San Antonio. During World War II, the San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah rolled bandages, saved tin cans, and helped the Jewish Welfare Board with their projects for Jewish soldiers. Rose Treiman became a prominent member for her work during that time.

The San Antonio Chapter also raised money locally for Youth Aliyah, a program originally for the rescue of Jewish children in Germany during the World War II era. Youth Aliyah evolved into sponsoring disadvantaged youth in Israel by raising funds to provide these youth with food, clothes, and education. One fund-raiser involved selling napkins for a dollar, on which the buyers' names were embroidered. All the napkins were sewn together into a tablecloth that was used at meetings and events of the organization for many years. The Silver Tea is an annual fund-raiser of Youth Aliyah.

The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah is committed to a dynamic program of Jewish education and guidance of Jewish American youth. Junior Hadassah was started for the younger generation of women in Hadassah, and a business and professionals group was organized for working women. The San Antonio Chapter also sponsors the Young Judaea Camp in Wimberly, Texas, for children from eight years old to high school age. Oneg Shabbat, a monthly meeting of study and discussion to celebrate the holidays and review Jewish culture and literature, is another educational effort of the San Antonio Chapter.

The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah is composed of three meeting groups: Aviva, Leah Goot, and Rose Treiman, totaling 685 members as of 1987. The San Antonio Chapter publishes an annual yearbook and regularly issues a newsletter of the latest news and events in Israel and America.