5 Incredible Nonprofits Run by Jewish Women

The world is full of amazing women doing incredible things, but in honor of Women's History Month, we thought it would be fun to shine a spotlight on some women who have started some wonderful nonprofits. We're celebrating the month by naming the most amazing charities started by Jewish women.

5 Nonprofits Run by Jewish Women

Women have been involved in charitable organizations from the beginning but have often been left out of the spotlight. That's why we've taken it upon ourselves to give these female founders their due!

The charities on our list have had a significant impact on the world, and they're all run by women who just so happen to be Jewish.

Hadassah (founded by Henrietta Szold)

Today, we're shining our spotlight on the nonprofit organization Hadassah, founded by Henrietta Szold in 1912. The name "Hadassah" is the Hebrew word for "myrtle," an ancient symbol of joy and healing that perfectly describes this organization's mission.

Hadassah is an organization that supports health care initiatives in Israel. The charity currently has two hospital campuses in Israel and youth villages to protect the children. Hadassah Medical Organization received a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Keren Yousef (founded by Mrs. Doris Mainzer)

What made a retired English teacher so dedicated to saving lives? Humanitarian cause, nothing else.

Mrs. Doris Mainzer founded the nonprofit to help the residents of Beit Shemesh in times of medical emergency. The organization saves lives by providing medical training and professional supervision to volunteers.

In fact, the organization provides all kinds of safety training to its volunteers. It also has an ambulance service to serve when the city's hospital transportation is busy.

Ezras Nashim (founded by Rachel E. Freier and Leah Levine-Freier)

Many Hasidic women in Brooklyn were uncomfortable being treated by men outside of their immediate family. And while they could call 911, they might not be able to share information they feel is too personal to disclose to a male stranger.

This is where Ezras Nashim comes in. The name translates loosely to "women's help," and this all-female EMT corps has become a valuable service for thousands of women who might not have been able to access emergency care otherwise.

This nonprofit organization has a profound impact on the lives of many Orthodox Jewish women with their service.

AMIT Children (founded by Bessie Gotsfeld)

It's an education network that has changed the lives of over 40,000 children. AMIT is an American-Jewish nonprofit that runs separate operations in the USA and Israel.

Bessie Gotsfeld founded it in 1925 to provide education for religious girls in pre-Israel. That initiative has proved to be life-changing for thousands of Jewish children with time.

Innovation Africa (founded by Sivan Ya’ari)

Sivan Ya'ari's charity organization has changed the lives of over 1 million people. Established in 2008, the nonprofit worked to bring electricity and safe water to the most unprivileged people in Africa.

The charity provides Israeli technologies to rural villages in several African countries. It has drastically improved the everyday lives of the least privileged people.

Although Yad Ezra V'Shulamit was founded by a male founder, he not only named his organization after his mother, but also started running it in his own home, feeding the poor thanks to his devoted wife. Click here to read more about the inspirational founder of Yad Ezra V'Shulamit.