Hannah Trager

Her father, Zerah Barnett, was born in Lithuania in 1843 and came to London in 1864 to marry Rachel Leah Ha'Cohen and settled there establishing a successful factory for fur products, gaining British citizenship in October 1871.

Sarah had suffered from malaria and neuritis after nursing in Palestine and later been diagnosed with consumption, had spent time in a mental hospital, and was determined to take her own life.

[1] During World War I Trager helped to arrange care for Jewish refugees arriving in London with severe illnesses.

In 1917 she founded the Jewish Free Reading Room, despite advice that such a venture could not succeed: it did, and served the Jews of East London for many years.

[1] Pioneers in Palestine is a memoir covering the foundation of the city of Petah Tikva, and other aspects of the period including a description of young women campaigning in 1886 for the right to vote.