Sarah Kussy

Feb 23, 2022

in 1870-1889 (Born), Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Jewish Women, Religious, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1870-1956

Sarah Kussy was a prolific Jewish leader. The Jewish News wrote that her death, “is being mourned as a loss to this community of one of its most widely known and beloved leaders. Her contributions to Jewish life were felt on the national, state and local scenes and had continued since before the turn of the century.”

Sarah was prominent in many Jewish organizations in Newark and nationally. In Newark, she was the founder and first President of the Newark Chapter of Hadassah, as well as honorary president of the North NJ Region, the Jewish News called her a founder of the national Hadassah movement.

Also in Jewish work, Sarah was founder and honorary vice president of the National Women’s League of the United Synagogue of America and she was elected Newark representative to the first 1918 American Jewish Congress and served as a member of the Women’s Board of the Essex County Division. She was involved in the Miriam Auxiliary of the synagogue Oheb Shalom. She was an early member of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. She was also involved in the Newark Branch of the National Council for Jewish Women.

Sarah also was interested in writing. She edited publications and wrote articles for the national Haddasah and Women’s League and also had articles published in Jewish News, including her reminiscences of Jewish life in Newark.

Sarah founded the Newark Zionist District in 1918. She was a member of the provisional committee for Zionist Affairs during WWI and a member of the national Zionist Executive Committee. She was a three-time delegate to the National Zionist Conference in Switzerland. Trees were planted in Israel to honor her multiple times.

Sarah founded the Ladie’s Patriotic Relief Society in Newark for families who had deaths in the Spanish American War and also worked with Beth Israel Hospital and the Daughters of Israel Home for the Aged.

Sarah was honorary vice president and board member of the Jewish Education Association of Essex County, a member since its founding, and active in the United Jewish Appeal.

Outside of her civic and religious work, Sarah taught at Camden Street School for 35 years, retiring in 1925.

Sarah was born in Newark, lived at 59 Treacy Ave at the time of her death, and attended Newark public schools. She also attended the Teacher Training School at the Jewish Theological Seminary.