Henrietta Szold meets Gluckel of Hameln - Critical Essay - Brief Article

Judaism, Spring, 2002 by Roberta Hanfling Schwartz

Henrietta's opinion was solicited regarding the selection of a president for the newly organized Jewish Theological Seminary. Her strong recommendation for Schechter read,

He has such command over his knowledge that he can popularize it in the best sense of the word. If the Seminary is to be a real factor in the upbuilding of Judaism in this country, it must have a man at its head whose influence will make itself felt to the uttermost ends of the land. I think he illustrates all the essentials that you require in your leader. (7)

In late 1901, Schechter confirmed to her from Cambridge that he had accepted the position and would come over the following April and "as soon as I can snatch a moment, I shall come to Baltimore to see your dear Father and Mother." (8)

Following the death of Rabbi Benjamin Szold in 1902 there were a variety of reasons which drove Henrietta and her mother to move from Baltimore to New York City--the great grief she suffered, her connections to Schechter, the desire to study rabbinics and Bible, and the shabby treatment accorded Sophie Szoldby Oheb Shalom Congregation. They took up residence at 538 West 123rd Street, across the street from the Seminary, and the youngest Szold sister, Adele, joined them. Since the Schecters lived in the nearby area, at 501 West 113th Street, and they saw each other at Sabbath services and other times, there was little need for an exchange of letters. As a result, their correspondence is small; most of it came when Schechter was out of town or out of the country. Nevertheless, based upon that small cache and observations Szold recorded in her journal a fascinating story begins to emerge.

To trace the friendship of Schechter and Szold over a period of two decades (1895-1915) is to observe their agreement on many goals for American Jewry, the growing closeness of their families, collegial work in the realm of Jewish learning, intimate exchange of ideas, shared confidence, and support in time of crisis. Even before Henrietta Szold settled in New York City, in the fall of l903, (9) the Schechters were already extending dinner invitations to her, which would be followed by luncheon gatherings, sedarim, and other events. Dr. Schechter urged her to present one lecture in a popular series at the Seminary scheduled for winter, 1904. (10) She declined the invitation, explaining that her desire was to concentrate on her studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary. The first female to apply for admission to the Seminary, her request was granted, with the understanding that there would be no ordination bestowed upon completion.

Henrietta's relationship with the school's small faculty was symbiotic. The majority were born abroad and recent arrivals in the United States, ill at ease with the new language. She, the experienced writer and editor, graciously offered English lessons at her home on Saturday evenings. At first Dr. Alexander Marx and Dr. Israel Friedlander were the only students; subsequently, they were joined by Dr. Louis Ginzberg. "I was doing the same sort of services for Dr. Marx, Dr. Friedlander, and Dr. Schechter, and Dr. Schloessinger and half a dozen students," (11) Szold noted somberly in her journal.