Hadassah Celebrates 100 Years of Service; National Leaders Tout the Relevance of Multi-Generational Organization
This year, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, celebrates 100 years of groundbreaking medical breakthroughs and other contributions to the well-being of Israel and women and children worldwide.
Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, Hadassah is the largest women’s, largest Zionist and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States, and has a worldwide presence.
Szold saw widespread starvation and disease during a trip to pre-state Israel in 1909, and upon her return to the U.S., organized Hadassah as a volunteer women’s organization with the biblical mission of Aruhat Bat Ami, the healing of the daughter of My people. The new organization’s first mission was sending two nurses to the region to provide pasteurized milk to infants and new mothers; and to eradicate trachoma, an easily cured eye disease. By 1918, Hadassah had sent an entire medical unit of 45 doctors, nurses, dentists and sanitary workers to bring American-style medical care to serve all in the region, regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity. That was the beginning of the Israeli healthcare system that today includes some of the world’s leading research and treatment hospitals and schools of medicine and nursing. For example, Hadassah founded, owns and supports two world-class medical centers in greater Jerusalem, and the new $210 million Sarah Westman Davidson Tower was recently dedicated at Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem near Jerusalem.
Over the years, Hadassah has expanded its Israeli projects to include Hadassah College in Jerusalem, three Youth Aliyah villages where young immigrants and Israel’s underprivileged youth are housed, fed, educated and nurtured, and Israel’s largest touring and residency program for American Jewish youth through Young Judaea, the Zionist youth movement. Hadassah also supports major reforestation and water conservation programs to protect Israel’s natural resources.
In the U.S., Hadassah promotes health education, social action and advocacy, Jewish education, volunteerism and leadership skills, Young Judaea and connections with Israel.
Marcie Natan, Hadassah’s national president, and Marlene Post, centennial co-chair and a past national president, spoke to www.AtlantaJewishNews.com about the continuing relevancy of the 100-year-old women’s organization.
“We’re generational families – moms and grandmothers. That keeps us going,” said Post. “They may have a different focus, but there is something for everyone,” Post said, adding that Hadassah’s diverse programs keep members “current about issues that people face in today’s world.”
Interest in Hadassah takes some women by surprise, according to Natan. “Many women say, ‘I never thought I would come to a Hadassah meeting. It’s what my mother did,’” Natan said, adding that skeptics discover that “Hadassah is relevant to their lives because the issues [Hadassah focuses on] are relevant to their lives.”
Greater Atlanta Hadassah (GAH), just four years younger than the national organization, has nearly 3,100 members and associates. Groups are organized primarily around location, age, day or evening meeting preference, and profession. GAH sponsors a number of community-wide projects, programs and study groups including, among others, Act Against Osteoporosis, Check It Out! breast cancer detection program for high school girls, Chesed award program for Jewish day school and synagogue students, Date With the State annual meeting with Georgia legislators, Training Wheels Jewish education program for preschoolers, and an annual Mitzvah Day. GAH works in partnership with other Jewish and community-based agencies on a variety of programs.
Hadassah maintains up-to-date communication with its members by keeping up with new technology. For example, taking a cue from the food shows Natan’s husband and millions of others enjoy watching on television, cooking lessons now appear on the organization’s website. “We look at what is out there in the real world that is connecting women,” Natan said.
While Hadassah takes pride in its relevance to women of all ages, leaders understand the importance of nurturing new generations of active members.
“We need to focus on the young women who will carry us into the new century with new ideas,” said Post.
Natan said that younger national board members are already being tapped, but also points out that recently-retired women also bring valuable ideas to Hadassah. “When they were working, they didn’t have time to devote to organizations. They say, “Now is the time of my life when I can give back,” Natan said.
Greater Atlanta Hadassah will celebrate Hadassah’s 100th anniversary from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, with an event at Greenfield Hebrew Academy featuring chef Tina Wasserman, author of the cookbook “Entrée to Judaism: A Culinary Exploration of the Jewish Diaspora.” The event will honor GAH Life Member Florence Kaplan Nathanson, one of the early Hadassah volunteer nurses who served in the new State of Israel for nine months in 1950. The community is invited. Tickets are $36.00. For tickets or information about GAH, call (678) 443-2961 or visit www.atlanta.hadassah.org. The Hebrew Academy is located at 5200 Northland Drive, Atlanta, Ga., 30342.
By Fran Memberg exclusively for www.AtlantaJewishNews.com. Photos provided.
