SELIGSBERG, ALICE LILLIE

SELIGSBERG, ALICE LILLIE (1873–1940), U.S. Zionist and civic leader. Alice Seligsberg was born in New York City. Although her parents were founders of the Ethical Culture Society, she was to identify herself fully with the Jewish community. She became an active social worker, conducting girls' clubs and working with the Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society Orphanage. To help place children leaving the orphanage, she founded Fellowship House, serving as president during 1913–18, and was also responsible for other programs to aid orphans. Alice Seligsberg's friendship with Henrietta *Szold led to her involvement with Zionist projects and Hadassah. In 1917 she helped organize the American Zionist Medical Unit and was in charge of its staff of 44 medical and administrative personnel when it embarked secretly for Palestine in June 1918. There Alice Seligsberg laid the foundations for Hadassah's comprehensive medical program in Palestine. In 1919 she became executive director of the Palestine Orphan Committee of the Joint Distribution Committee to help care for displaced and abandoned children. Upon her return to the United States, Alice Seligsberg helped organize Junior Hadassah to aid the war orphans. She served as national president of Hadassah (1920–21) and during 1924–40 was senior adviser to Junior Hadassah. In 1942 Hadassah established the Alice L. Seligsberg Vocational School for girls in Jerusalem in her memory.

[Gladys Rosen]