Labors of Love

A visionary leader and one of history’s most influential, yet under-recognized, American Jewish women, Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark on the 20th century.

This heartfelt documentary, directed by Peabody award-winner, Abby Ginzberg and winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the SF Jewish Film Festival, brings long-overdue recognition to Szold, a daughter of Baltimore, a graduate of Western high school, and the creator of Baltimore’s Russian Night School.  The film offers a thought-provoking look at a woman who reshaped history through compassion and an unwavering belief in the power of humanity. 

Screening followed by discussion with the film’s director Abby Ginzberg, and Sally Levin, Henrietta’s grand-niece, moderated by historian Barry Kessler, curator of the Henrietta Szold exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

Event co-sponsored by the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

About the Film
Labors of Love explores the extraordinary life and lasting legacy of Henrietta Szold, one of the most influential yet often overlooked, American Jewish women in history. As a daughter of Baltimore, a graduate of Western High School and the founder of the Russian Night School, which taught English to Russian-speaking immigrants, Henrietta left a lasting legacy in her home town. A visionary leader with a rare combination of logistical brilliance and hands-on dedication, Henrietta founded Hadassah, played a central role in shaping Palestine’s healthcare system and offered refuge and healing to thousands of young Holocaust survivors through her leadership of Youth Aliyah. Despite her profound impact, Henrietta’s story has largely remained untold on film—until now. View film trailer >

About the Filmmaker
Director Abby Ginzberg has a unique family connection to the story she tells in the film. She is a distant cousin of Henrietta’s on her mother’s side and is the granddaughter of Louis Ginzberg, the Talmudic scholar who broke Henrietta’s heart when he announced his engagement to another woman.

A Peabody award-winning director, member of the Documentary Branch of AMPAS and EMMY® Silver Circle inductee Ginzberg has been producing compelling documentaries about race, gender and social justice for over 35 years. Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold, her latest film, won the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the SF Jewish Film Festival. Her film, She Dared to Dream, won Best Short Doc at the Harlem International Film Festival and is a portrait of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley from Boston. Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter (which was co-directed with Christy Carpenter) profiles Liz Carpenter, a trailblazing journalist who served as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to Lady Bird Johnson and then spent decades fighting for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The film was broadcast on public television in March, 2025 and rebroadcast in March, 2026. Her other films are available through her website at socialactionmedia.com