The task for this week's 100 Word Challenge over at Julia's Place is to write a poem on the theme:
The passing of 60 years.
Obviously it's to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I wish I were in the UK to experience it but as I'm in Israel, I chose to celebrate another strong woman. A woman who's life work has had a direct impact on my life and my happiness.
Henrietta Szold (1860 - 1945)
Henrietta Szold founded Hadassah Women,
Leading to the founding of Hadassah Hospital,
Where she insisted that Jews and Arabs receive equal care.
She founded Youth Aliya,
With a system of youth villages throughout the country,
They rescued over 22,000 children from Hitler.
She was a teacher, a writer, a scholar and a politician.
She was single and she was childless.
The Hebrew date of her death is Mother's Day in Israel.
She once said to a friend,
I would give it all up for one child of my own.
Sixty years later I started IVF in Hadassah Hospital.
Sounds a remarkable, enlightened woman. Realised today that half of your blog updates have been going straight into my neglected spam folder.
ReplyDeleteShe was. Btw - your updates aren't updating at all on my blog list. I always scroll down to the bottom to find you anyway. we obviously have a dodgey connection. Thanks for your comment in record time.
DeleteA.M.A.Z.I.N.G women.
ReplyDeleteI A.G.R.E.E. (I assume you're talking about the Hadassah Women.)
DeleteOne woman's amazing story comes full circle to your amazing tale :-)
ReplyDeleteWell captured in 100 words.
xx Jazzy
Thanks, I wasn't even going to do it this week. Them I was preparing an English lesson about Szold and what she said to her friend really struck me. Pure coincidence that I started IVF at her hospital exactly 60 years after her death.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a life well lived. An inspiration to us all.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. And every one of those 22,000 children was her child.
DeleteGreat 100 Words! What inspirational ladies, the pair of you! Emma
ReplyDeleteOh Emma. *blushes*
DeleteOh WOW ... that was incredible. Such a powerful piece. What an amazing woman! I found these two lines the most poignant
ReplyDeleteI would give it all up for one child of my own.
Sixty years later I started IVF in Hadassah Hospital.
A really original entry and interpretation of the prompt.
Thank you OM. I was also very moved by her comment as she achieved so much in her life and was so brilliant. It just shows how powerful that need to be a mother can be. If she had been born 100 years later she would have done it herself.
DeleteNot sure if my comment was logged so popping in again in case.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post for our Jubilee celebrations. Thank you for telling me about another wonderful woman. You are lucky to have a direct connection.
I am also lucky to have had the opportunity that was denied to Szold because she was born 100 years too early for it. Thanks for commenting Julia.
DeleteFabulous, thanks for sharing about such an amazing woman, i would never have heard of her otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThank you - she was indeed an amazing woman.
DeleteWhat a great post and a true inspiration x
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, she certainly is am inspiration.
DeleteWhat an amazing woman :-)
ReplyDeleteYup. Thanks for commenting.
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