Genre
Synopsis
LABORS OF LOVE: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA SZOLD delves into the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Henrietta Szold, one of the most influential, yet under-recognized, American Jewish women in history. A daughter of Baltimore, she founded the Russian Night School of Baltimore which became a model for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes across the country. A visionary leader with an extraordinary blend of logistical brilliance and hands-on dedication, Henrietta played a pivotal role in shaping Palestine’s healthcare system while rescuing thousands of German Jewish youth through her leadership of Youth Aliyah. Though her belief in bi-nationalism as a path to peace between Jews and Arabs never gained widespread acceptance, she remained steadfast in her conviction that coexistence was possible.
Bio
Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody award-winning director, member of the Documentary Branch of AMPAS and EMMY® Silver Circle inductee has been producing compelling documentaries about race and social justice for over 35 years.
Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold is Abby’s latest film which delves in to the remarkable life of Henrietta Szold, was a key figure in establishing healthcare in Palestine as well the administrator of Youth Aliyah which saved the lives of over 10,000 German Jewish youth. It premiered at the 2025 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary.
She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley profiles Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). it won the 2025 award for Best Short Documentary at the Harlem International Film Festival.
Her film, Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power, won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary and is available on Amazon Prime. Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter (co-directed with Christy Carpenter) premiered at SXSW in March, 2024.
Her short film, Judging Juries, (2024) has won 4 short film awards and was chosen as a 2025 Honoree by the Webby Awards.
Abby directed and produced Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa, which won a Peabody award and 4 best documentary awards.
Abby was the Consulting Producer on The Barber of Birmingham, which premiered at Sundance in 2011 and was nominated for an Oscar® in the Short Doc category in 2012.
Screening History
World Premiere - San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, 2025
East Coast Premiere - New York Jewish Film Festival-2026
South Premiere - Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, 2026
Florida Premiere - Miami Jewish Film Festival-2026
International premiere - Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, 2025
Awards History
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival-Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary
Press
""The film has been well-received by audiences, with some coming up to Ginzberg after a given screening and telling her it brought them emotions they didn’t expect or even moved them to tears. Ginzberg said that, typically, about a third of any audience has heard of Szold prior to seeing the film. Szold’s name has been lost to history for many, despite her numerous accomplishments. In addition to her pioneering feminist and Zionist work, Szold was a proponent of an equal Israel where Arabs were afforded representation just like Jews. ""
Baltimore Jewish Times
"Broadway icon Tovah Feldshuh, who has previously played Golda Meir on stage, reads passages from Szold’s meticulously kept diary, giving a highly personal touch. to a story"
Hadassah Magazine
Credits
Voice Over Actress-Tovah Feldshuh
Editor-Gina Leibrecht
Israeli Director of Photography-Avigail Sperber
Subject Matter Expert (interview subject)-Prof. Shulamit Reinharz
Subject Matter Expert (interview subject)-Prof. Shuly Rubin Schwartz
