Twersky, Jenya (born Ginzburg)

Jenya Twersky (Rahel, née Ginzburg) was born on 16.8.1904 in Baranowitz, the Russian Empire, and died on 6.4.1964 in Haifa. First, she studied statutory law at the University of Warsaw. In the spring of 1923, she emigrated to Palestine. Between 1929 and 1931, she went back to Germany to study social work at the ‘Sozialpädagogisches Seminar’ (Social pedagogical seminary) of the Verein Jugendheim in Berlin-Charlottenburg. After her return, between 1932 and 1942, she headed the department of social work in Haifa, and between 1942 and 1948 she headed the department of social work in Jerusalem. Jenya was a central figure in the Histadrut (official workers' union) and Moetzet ha-Poalot (women workers' union). She was also a member of the Mapai Party (the labour workers' party in Israel) and later became a member of the Israeli Knesset parliament and initiated social legislation for the poor and the elderly.