{{Short description|American Zionist activist and leader}} '''Faye L. Schenk''' (August 17, 1909 – August 17, 1981) was an American Zionist activist and leader.<ref name="Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1981">{{cite web | title=Faye Schenk Dead at 72 | publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency | date=August 18, 1981 |url=https://www.jta.org/1981/08/18/archive/faye-schenk-dead-at-72 | accessdate=May 26, 2016}}</ref> She was the president of Hadassah (American Zionist Federation) from 1968 to 1972.<ref name="Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1981"/> She was also the president of the American Zionist Federation from 1974 to 1978.<ref name="The New York Times 1981">{{cite web | title=FAYE L. SCHENK, 72, HADASSAH PRESIDENT FROM 1968 TO 1972 | website=The New York Times | date=August 18, 1981 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/18/obituaries/faye-l-schenk-72-hadassah-president-from-1968-to-1972.html | accessdate=May 26, 2016}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Schenk was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Naphtali Herz Zeichik and Rebecca (Zeichick).<ref name="Forman 1909">{{cite web | last=Forman | first=R. Lori | title=Faye Libby Schenk | website=Jewish Women's Archive | date=August 17, 1909 |url=http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schenk-faye-libby | accessdate=May 27, 2016}}</ref> Schenk received her bachelor's and master's degrees in genetics from Drake University.<ref name="Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1981"/><ref name="Forman 1909"/>
==Life== Schenk married Rabbi Max Schenk in 1933.<ref name="Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1981"/> For ten years between 1939 and 1949, she and her husband, Rabbi Max Schenk, lived in Australia.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> During her time in Australia, Schenk was active in the Women's International Zionist Organization.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> On the couples return to live in New York City, Schenk started becoming much more active in Hadassah.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> She originated the New York chapter located in the Washington Heights area.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> During her time in the Hadassah organization Schenk at one time held every major office there.<ref name="Forman 1909"/><ref name="Varon 1992 p. 177">{{cite book | last=Varon | first=B. | title=Professions of a Lucky Jew | publisher=Cornwall Books | year=1992 | isbn=978-0-8453-4837-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0zwsumUFqoC&pg=PA177 | accessdate=May 27, 2016 | page=177}}</ref> She subsequently held the office of national president from 1968 to 1972.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> While she was the president, Hadassah began to start the restoration and rebuilding of its hospital at Mount Scopus.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> Faye Schenk testified at US Congressional committee meetings so that Hadassah could receive a five million dollar (USD) grant, in order to be used for the rebuilding of the hospital at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem.<ref name="Atkin 2005 p. 68">{{cite book | last=Atkin | first=M.D. | title=Life's Voyage: Dedicated To Making A Difference | publisher=Keller Pub | year=2005 | isbn=978-0-9674128-3-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXL4CuNouFUC&pg=PA68 | accessdate=May 27, 2016 | page=68}}</ref> Schenk moved to Israel in 1978.<ref name="Forman 1909"/>
==Other leadership roles== *President of the American Zionist Federation<ref name="Forman 1909"/> *Co-chair of Keren Hayesod–United Jewish Appeal<ref name="Forman 1909"/><ref name="Goldstein 1984 p. 223">{{cite book | last=Goldstein | first=I. | title=My World as a Jew: The Memoirs of Israel Goldstein | publisher=Herzl Press | issue=v. 2 | year=1984 | isbn=978-0-8453-4780-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCU0XsXUDOYC&pg=PA223 | accessdate=May 27, 2016 | page=223}}</ref> *Vice-chair of the National Council of the American-Israel Public Committee<ref name="Forman 1909"/> *Member of the board of governors for the Hebrew University<ref name="Forman 1909"/> *Member of the board of governors for the Jewish Agency<ref name="Forman 1909"/>
==Later years== In September 1970, Schenk survived the El Al airplane hijacking.<ref name="Forman 1909"/> Schenk said about the incident, “Life owes me nothing more. I owe life everything.”<ref name="Forman 1909"/>
The Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion gave the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters to Schenk in 1974.<ref name="Forman 1909"/>
==Death== Schenk had a heart attack and died in Israel on August 17, 1981.<ref name="Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1981"/><ref name="The New York Times 1981"/><ref name="Goldstein 1984 p. 223"/> She was buried in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives.<ref name="Forman 1909"/>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://digifindingaids.cjh.org/?pID=2916671 Guide to the Hadassah Archives on Long-term Deposit] at the American Jewish Historical Society
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schenk, Faye}} Category:1909 births Category:1981 deaths Category:Drake University alumni Category:Jewish American community activists Category:American community activists Category:American Zionists Category:Zionist activists Category:20th-century American Jews