This Labyrinth of Darkness and Light: Henrietta Szold, the Rescue of Children from Hitler's Europe and her Palestine Experience

Drawing on Henrietta Szold's letters and diary, extensive research, and historical sources of that time in Germany and Palestine, the book is a powerful narrative and spellbinding rescue story that brings to life one of the darkest and yet most inspirational chapters in Jewish history. Szold was seventy-three, founder of Hadassah, the Jewish Zionist women's organization, when she was appointed to direct Youth Aliyah, and over the next decade transported over 20,000 Jewish children from Nazi Europe to the safety of Palestine, a feat that she later considered the greatest triumph of her memorable career. David Ben-Gurion called Szold 'the greatest Jewish woman in 400 years.' Labyrinth is the unforgettable story of Szold's stamina and courage as she battled her greatest adversary, mass murderer Adolf Eichmann, for the lives of innocent children. Not only Szold, who made three perilous trips to Berlin during the 1930s under the watchful eye of the Gestapo, but also Hadassah operatives and members of Youth Aliyah stationed throughout Europe, who lived under constant danger, and many of whom gave their lives for the rescue mission. Szold would live in Palestine until her death in 1945.

About the Author :
Randy Grigsby is the author of A Train Palestine: The Tehran Children, Anders' Army and their Escape from Stalin's Siberia, 1939-1943. On a trip to Israel in 2014, he first learned of the Tehran Children and of Henrietta Szold. He lives in Shreveport, Louisiana with his wife, Joyce. This Labyrinth of Darkness and Light is his second nonfiction book.

Review :
Randy Grigsby has a knack for making history come to life in his books. He can weave the personality of a historical figure like Henrietta Szold into the historical facts so that the reader feels kinship with her. After she turned 70, Szold made her greatest contribution to humanity. She returned to Palestine to bring Jewish children to their ancient homeland, and she continued the fight, rescuing thousands from the Shoah, until her death. This is the inspiring story of her courage and persistence. “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” The Talmud." —Tom Arceneaux, Attorney, Associate Hadassah Lifetime Member, AIPAC Activist



"It is clear that Randy Grigsby understands the significance of Israel in the midst of the modern world. With this book, The Labyrinth of Darkness and Light, the story and vocation of Henrietta Szold is told from “within,” as shared from her letters, diaries, and memoirs of building a home for Jewish children in what is now modern Israel. From 1933 through 1945, Henrietta Szold pioneered Youth Aliyah, which has grown into a movement that continues to shape modern Israel. Szold’s most significant work was bringing Jewish orphans from Hitler’s Germany to safety in the Holy Land; at the age of 83. Randy Grigsby gives voice to the person, Henrietta Szold, whom most would call a Tzadeket, a righteous woman. It is history shared with the gift of accuracy and compassion; a reminder of the mark that one person might make in history." —Alston Johnson, Dean at St. Mark’s Cathedral Shreveport, Louisiana



"To many of us who are leaders in Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Henrietta Szold is a mentor, a role model and true heroine, even though we never had a chance to meet her. Her story is our story and her struggles continue to be our struggles- to do the most good we can for as many people as we can, for as long as we can. Szold saved many people, mostly children, as the head of the rescue operation known as “youth aliyah”, just like Queen Esther ( Hadassah, in Hebrew) saved many of her fellow Jews from annihilation long ago. This book takes us on a journey through Henrietta’s many accomplishments in her lifetime and shows what an amazing woman she was. The one thing she didn’t live to see was the Jewish state become a reality. She died in February of 1945, but her “children” that she saved helped bring it into being. Author Randy Grigsby brings us into her light." —Jo Reingold, former Dallas Chapter President of Hadassah and Greater Southwest Regional Vice President