Gratz, Rebecca.

Rebecca Gratz of Philadelphia (1781-1869), the daughter of a Philadelphia merchant family of German origin, associated with Philadelphia’s leading social and cultural personalities and was active in many non-sectarian benevolent organizations. Recognizing the need for distinctly Jewish organizations, she later emerged as the pioneer of Jewish social work and a leading promoter of Jewish education. She helped found the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (1819), the Hebrew Sunday School (1838) and the Jewish Foster Home (1855). Gratz’s contribution to American Jewish life was singular since her trailblazing efforts were studied and emulated in other communities.