Esther Jane Ruskay was a distinguished and outstanding writer and speaker in the Jewish community before the turn of the century. Her articles on Jewish life appeared in numerous newspapers, and a collection of her writings, Hearth and Home Essays, was published in 1902 by the Jewish Publication Society.

Fay Libby Schenk turned down a promising career as a zoologist to devote herself to Hadassah and other Zionist organizations. She worked her way up at Hadassah and eventually became president, during which time Hadassah began rebuilding its hospital on Mount Scopus and created its Institute of Oncology in Jerusalem.