The Life & Legacy of Baroness Betty de Rothschild

Book excerpt: Betty Rothschild grew up in Frankfurt nurtured in Jewish tradition and tutored in French, music, and drawing. At nineteen, she married her uncle James and moved to Paris where she presided over a salon famous for its opulence and the brilliance of its guests. Betty was a friend of Queen Marie-Amelie, the pupil of Chopin, and was painted by Ingres. She prepared her five children to assume leading roles in French society while simultaneously serving the Jewish community. She devoted her vast energy to philanthropic activities with a particular emphasis on the needs of young Jewish women.