HADASSAH BULLETIN
FALL 2016
VOL 23
ISSUE 1
A PUBLICATION OF THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY REGION
Stephanie Z, Bonder, President
•
Rachelle Knopf, Editor
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
CALLING ALL
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS,
REGION EXECUTIVE and
ACTIVITY BOARD MEMBERS
and CHAPTER BOARD MEMBERS!!
Note: all interested members are welcome!
Mark your calendars and save the date for the next
Hadassah Northern New Jersey
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING
Date:
Time:
Place:
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Registration Beginning at 12:15pm
Meeting will begin at 12:30 pm sharp
Light lunch will be provided
JCC of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah
304 E. Midland Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652
Directions to follow
Dr. Omer Or, Orthopedist
Hadassah doctor studying in NYC will be speaking on various
treatments, medical advances and the handling of victims of terror
within Hadassah.

Election of the Region Nominating Committee
Chapter Presidents must attend this meeting or designate an officer from their
board to attend.
Please RSVP to Helane Dollinger at the Region Office:
[email protected] or 973-530-3996
Leave a detailed message.
No later than September 10, 2016
NOTE: This is a hard deadline so that we can prepare the room and refreshments accordingly.
We look forward to your participation!
1
Our President’s Message
To my dear Hadassah Colleagues,
It’s hard to believe we are coming into the High Holiday season already. It seems like we
have been running on a whirlwind schedule. Hadassah Northern NJ has not lightened up its activities at all this
summer. We held a successful walkathon to support Heart Health and Every Step Counts on July 17. We also took a
region trip to the New York Historical Society in New York City on July 21. 18 members of our region attended the
98th National Hadassah Convention in Atlanta. Chapters around the Northern NJ have held summer events.
Morristown and Livingston held pool parties. Roselle Cranford, Caldwell, Westfield and West Orange had
luncheons. Caldwell also had a very successful pottery night. Maplewood Aviva held their annual summer
fundraising dinner. If you send your chapter events and flyers to the region, we will forward it to the region
membership and you can publicize to even more women and get larger attendance at your events.
Convention was truly inspiring this year. We learned about the many initiatives Hadassah is promoting for
the rest of 2016 and 2017. One primary goal of the organization is to focus on the United States’ national health
months. We want to encourage chapters to hold events for membership, fundraising and health education in
February for Heart Health, March for Multiple Sclerosis, May for Melanoma, and October for Breast Cancer. By
partnering with the national months, chapters can get speakers geared up for these topics. Hadassah’s research and
treatments in these areas can increase your fundraising potential and bring new members into Hadassah by learning
about the many advances Hadassah has made in each medical area.
Convention also introduced us to our new Director General of Hadassah Medical Organization, Professor
Zeev Rotstein. He shared with the membership that Hadassah has been rated the number one medical center in all
of Israel. Hadassah is at over 100% occupancy and has been able to treat more patients this year than last. Now that
our new operating theaters are open, surgeries have increased and patients are requesting to go to Hadassah over
other hospitals. These are facts that are important to share with our members and those outside of Hadassah. We
should all have a goal to increase the knowledge within our wider community about Hadassah’s incredible work.
Zionism is a primary policy platform of Hadassah and the Defining Zionism web based video series
continues to be available to our membership online. Perhaps your unit could hold an evening event and show the
video of a session on a big screen TV. You could follow up the video with a discussion. Hadassah has discussion
guides available through the PRAZE department. At convention, we were part of a lively discussion between
Caroline Glick and Rob Eshman discussing a two state solution to the Arab Israeli conflict versus a one state
solution, as promoted by Caroline Glick. It is always powerful to hear strong minded right wing voices next to
strong minded left wing voices. Linda Scherzer, a former Mid- East correspondent for CNN, founder of “Write On
for Israel” and the current director of the CRC of Greater Metrowest was the moderator of this lively panel. Linda
Scherzer will also be the Hadassah Northern NJ recipient of the Myrtle Wreath Award this November 6.
I could continue to share news with you in my personal update, but I know the many coordinators of our
region have a great deal to share as well. Please read through this in depth bulletin and use the information with your
chapters. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our Board of Directors meeting on September 18 at
12:15 at the Paramus JCC. We will hold our nominating committee elections, as well as hear from the respected
Hadassah doctor, Professor Omer Or, an orthopedist currently studying in New York. Please join us and bring
members from your chapter to hear about the medical advances in orthopedics reported by Professor Or.
2
I am inspired by the news I hear at Hadassah and I know you are too. I had the opportunity to visit
our national offices in NY at 40 Wall Street this summer. I got to meet the many important staff
members who work behind the scenes to keep Hadassah going. I also got to see our National
President Ellen Hershkin, as well as past presidents, Marcie Natan, Nancy Falchuk, Bonnie Lipton,
and Marlene Post. These women dedicate their lives to Hadassah and the work we do. Meeting
them and looking up to their achievements show me why I continue to be proud to serve as your
region president and the work you all do for Hadassah in your chapters.
Shana Tovah and may you have a year filled with much success!
Stephanie Z. Bonder
President Hadassah Northern NJ
Stephanie Z. Bonder with
National President Ellen Hershkin
Northern NJ won an award
for our Day in the District!
3
OVP REPORT
Dear Northern NJ Hadassah
As we enter the second half of our Hadassah year and the beginning of
the Jewish New Year, we should reflect on the goals that we set for
ourselves and our chapter. For me, I have not yet succeeded in reaching
out to all the chapters as I had high hopes of doing when I first stepped
up to OVP. But the year is not over yet, and I am currently scheduling
additional meetings for the fall.
This is the time for you to reflect as well. Have you met the halfway point in
fundraising and membership, advocacy and education? Do you think you will meet
Hadassah’s goals by December 31? How should you plan to achieve these goals?
Your Area Vice Presidents and I are here to help you. We want to see your chapters
succeed.
And, beginning in 2017, National Hadassah has prepared materials from all divisions
in a new
initiative. As I am sure you will read throughout this bulletin, National Hadassah
would like each chapter to highlight specific diseases with its corresponding month,
following the USA monthly disease
calendar. Beginning in February we will continue with Heart Health, March is MS,
May is associated with Melanoma and October is highlighted as Breast Health.
Chapters should hold events and incorporate membership and fundraising goals into
each program that National has already created. PRAZE Division, Member and Unit
Services, Marketing and Communications and Development will have short videos,
talking points, social media, and marketing materials, so there will be “no need to
reinvent the wheel.”
Take advantage of all that National is providing us. Spread the word about Hadassah
and all that we have accomplished in the past and all that we plan to do in the future.
But we need your help in accomplishing our goals. Unite and energize our
membership and communities which will be made easier with National Hadassah’s
materials and your Region’s area vice presidents’ assistance.
Warmly,
Gail Black
4
ADVOCACY
Advocating for Israel… why do we need it?
Israeli athletes were blocked from boarding a bus packed with Lebanese athletes in
Rio de Janeiro during the first day of the Olympic Games in what the head of the Israeli
delegation, Gili Lusting, construed as an aggressive gesture.How is it that the Olympic
Committee can let something like this happen, and on the opening night of the Olympic
Games? Isn’t this the opposite of what the Olympics represent? “It is antisemitism pure
and simple, and the worst kind of racism,” she told Israel Radio.
No matter where we are or where we go, we see exactly why we must always be
vigilant. Our Hadassah chapter leadership must share information and educate our
members to become our best advocates.
Recent events show that Israel—our Jewish homeland—continues to need our support, our
commitment, and our devotion. Hadassah members advocate for the rights of Jewish people around the world
and promote the centrality of Israel in Jewish life, in order to foster partnerships between Israel, Hadassah, and
the American Jewish community. Hadassah, the Power of Women for Israel.
Right here in our own communities, here in NJ, as Hadassah members our policy efforts must not only
support Jewish people everywhere but we must continue to support Israel’s security, a future of peace in the
Middle East and stronger US-Israel relations.
American support and strategic partnerships will always be instrumental to securing Israel’s safety. The
President's proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget includes $3.1 billion in foreign aid and security assistance to
Israel. This funding is part of the 10-year funding pledge that the United States made with Israel in 2007.
Israeli and American leaders are already in the process of discussing a new Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to be implemented when the current pledge expires in 2018.
On May 13, Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX) and Nita
Lowey (D-NY) introduced a bipartisan resolution (H. Res. 729) “expressing support for the expeditious
consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and long-term Memorandum of Understanding.” The
resolution also reaffirms that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States and that it is U.S. policy to
ensure Israel maintains its qualitative military edge to defend itself form all threats. Last month, 83 senators
also sent a bipartisan letter to the President expressing the similar support of the new MOU and a strong U.S.
Israel
relationship.
How do we advocate? Check in with our National Hadassah web site. There you’ll find letters
that you can use to be sent directly to our elected officials. American foreign aid supports U.S.-Israel
cooperation in the areas of security, intelligence, technology, and commerce. Urge Congress to fully
support $3.1 billion in foreign aid to Israel for 2017 and a swift conclusion and implementation of a
new, robust funding pledge.
There’s strength in our membership numbers…let’s use it!!
All my best, Jill Tekel
5
Membership
Membership Ideas – Beth Haiet Meyer – Membership Coordinator
This May, Hadassah held a member appreciation campaign organized by National. It has
been deemed "a smashing success" for extending the "opportunity to appreciate" women
from within our regions. National's online month-long recognition of new Hadassah
members called Women to Watch, Women Who DO show-cased extraordinary women
and will continue to do so by including existing members considered to be dedicated and
dynamic, connected to Hadassah and who put their values into action among other
qualifications.
Hadassah’s recent initiatives impacting membership involve programming and fundraising
for the 2016-2017 year. As you may be aware from information within this bulletin, specific
months throughout the year are dedicated to disease awareness:
February - Heart Health
March - Multiple Sclerosis
May - Melanoma
October - Breast Health
Plan programs with actual, measurable membership (and fundraising) goals in each area.
Target ways to connect the cause and the member, prospective and existing. Go beyond the
Chapter level and get up close and personal:








Connect the community and non-members
Promote the event online by sharing it and member stories on social media
Share photos and stories in print media
Form a coalition with like-minded organizations
Invite their members/followers
Post on their blogs, Facebook pages
Connect with Grateful Patients or Family Members
Invite them to share their story at your events.
More program instructions are on the Hadassah website to facilitate your member-driven
planning. Please look there and if needed contact NNJ Region Membership Coordinator,
Beth Haiet Meyer, for month specific planning information and Region for assistance in
accessing additional information online.
Good luck!
6
Life Membership Enrollment Set at $250 for 2017
Act now to upgrade or gift a life membership! Members receive a lifetime subscription to Hadassah
Magazine, a free listing and access to our online member-only Professional Business Directory, exclusive
travel offers, and unlimited opportunities in health and Zionist education programs and to become an advocate and make an impact at the state level or in Washington DC. Life Membership enables a lifelong
connection to Israel and support for Hadassah's breakthrough medical research that impacts the world.
Gifted members: Act now before your membership expires—upgrade to become life member for $180!
Any annual member whose membership will expire in 2016 and who has not passed their expiration
date may become a life member for $180. This includes but is not limited to the gifted members from
2015. As some of these members were not processed until January and February of 2016 they will have
expiration dates in 2017. In the case of the GIFTED members only, we will make an allowance and let
them upgrade for $180.
7
Fundraising
Dear Members of the Hadassah Northern NJ,
Following is Hadassah’s mission statement:
Mission
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, is a volunteer organization that inspires a passion for
and commitment to its partnership with the land and people of Israel. It enhances the health of people worldwide
through its support of medical care and research at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem. Hadassah
empowers its members and supporters, as well as youth in Israel and America through opportunities for personal
growth, education, advocacy and Jewish continuity.
Hadassah needs your monetary help to achieve its goal. Can you help with a generous donation? Support your
local chapter’s fundraising efforts, the Region’s activities and National Hadassah’s appeals. You can buy a
certificate celebrating a simcha, plant a tree to honor the memory of a friend or family member, include Hadassah
in your estate planning, become a Chai Society member or a Keeper of the Gate with an annual donation to
Hadassah. Another option is a Perpetual Yahrzeit in Israel
Ensure that Kaddish is recited each year for your loved one. With a one-time donation of $1000, the name will be
read in perpetuity on the yahrzeit date in the Abbell Synagogue in Jerusalem, home to Marc Chagall’s twelve
iconic stained glass windows.
Any and every donation is greatly appreciated. Please give to Hadassah.
Thank you,
Faith Kamenman
Fundraising Coordinator
8
9
Save the date!
Sunday, November 6, 2015
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
ANNUAL MYRTLE WREATH BRUNCH
Honoring
Keynote Speaker:
Linda Scherzer, New Director of CRC of Greater MetroWest
and former Mideast Correspondent for CNN and Israel TV
as well as Director of The Jewish Week's “Write On for Israel
Program”
and
Chapter Women of Valor
(previously known as “Gems” or “Women of the Year”)
With a delicious, lavish Kosher brunch
catered by Lymone Caterers
at
Congregation B’Nai Shalom
300 Pleasant Valley Way
West Orange, NJ 07052
Registration forms and additional information will be sent out
shortly.
10
Dollar$ and Sense
Appeal Letter
Jigsaw Puzzle
Send out one puzzle piece to each member. Ask her to return the piece with a
donation in the enclosed envelope. The flyer sent with the puzzle piece may also
indicate that the completed puzzle will be displayed at a special meeting, and that for
a donation of $18 or more the donors name will be written on the back of the
puzzle. A suggested minimum donation is at your discretion.
Buy two copies of the same jigsaw puzzle. After you send out a puzzle piece to each
member, mount the second puzzle. At the final meeting or special event display the
completely assembled puzzle with the amount raised. The reason you buy two
puzzles is because not everyone will return their piece. Dollar stores sell many jigsaw
puzzles that would be appropriate. One chapter brought puzzles with babies on
them for the Mother and Child Center; be creative and see the donations come in.
You will need someone to buy and assemble the puzzle, someone to do the mailing,
and someone to collect the money.
Remember to include a return envelope. And remember to include the
disclosure statement language for each state to which any solicitation item is sent.
11
Save the date of Sunday, September 18, 12:15 PM sharp, for our next
Region Board of Directors meeting to be held at JCC/CBT in Paramus. A
light lunch will be provided. We will elect our nominating committee and
then have a presentation from Dr. Omer Or, an orthopedist from Hadassah
hospital studying on a Fellowship in NYC. Be prepared to be inspired by his
talk on the new techniques developed by Hadassah to heal bones.
Save the date of Sunday, November 6, 9:30 AM, for our Myrtle Wreath
We will again be holding the event at B’nai Shalom in West Orange. The
Guest Speaker will be Linda Scherzer, New Director of CRC of Greater
MetroWest and former Mideast Correspondent for CNN and Israel TV
as well as Director of The Jewish Week's “Write On for Israel Program”.
Save the date of Sunday, December 18, for our Region Installation. We
will be installing a new region president and are planning an afternoon tea
with a dessert reception at Congregation Agudath Israel. We will also have
musical entertainment. It promises to be an exciting and enjoyable event.
Encourage your members to attend!
12
Education
Now that the summer is coming to an end and fall will be here soon, we need to find more
time to read books and be involved in book discussions. Some recommendations include: A
Trumpet in the Wadi, by Sami Michael; and Orchestra of Exiles: The Story of Bronislaw Huberman, The Israel Philharmonic, and the One Thousand Jews he Saved from Nazi Horrors
by Josh Aronson and Denise George.
A Trumpet in the Wadi tells the story of two Christian Arab sisters, Huda and Mary, who live
in the wadi – the Arab quarter of Haifa, Israel. The author was born in 1926 to a secular Jewish family. Sami Michael fled Iraq just after WWII and headed to Iran. In 1949, he immigrated
to Israel. Arabic is Michael’s native tongue, but in Israel he writes in Hebrew. He has received
many awards for his writing.
Orchestra of Exiles was also a documentary that aired on PBS in 2012. The author Josh Aronson is an Academy –award nominated writer, producer and director of films and documentaries. The other author Denise George is also a teacher and world-traveled speaker who has
written or co-written twenty-seven books.
Both of these books would be good choices for your chapters to read and conduct book reviews or study groups. More information can be found on the Hadassah website in the
PRAZE section.
Mina Orleans
Education Coordinator
13
Programming
Dear Hadassah Programming Vice Presidents,
Throughout the region, interesting and inviting events occur regularly. Send you events to the region office
and they can be forwarded to our general membership so that you can increase attendance. Below is an event
being held in Cranford featuring Stephen M. Flatow, Israel activist and parent of a young woman killed in a
terror attack over 20 years ago.
When you plan and event, look for speakers who will engage your audience and bring in new members.
Always have a membership component to your event. Have membership forms available whenever your
chapter is present. Remind your annual members that if they upgrade to life this year, it is only $180. If they
wait until next year, the fee will be $250. You should also have a fundraising component to your events.
Mention some of the groundbreaking research Hadassah does for ALS and MS. Think about the topics that are
the main focus of your membership. Is diabetes an issue with your members? Share the treatments
Hadassah has developed to help patients afflicted by the disease. Whatever program you hold, remember you
are representing Hadassah, so make sure to have a Hadassah piece.
Most importantly, remember that we are a team and a family. We work together for the success of all chapter
events. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact the region office for assistance. You will be
directed to the right person! We want you to have an exceptional Hadassah year!
WHEN: Sunday, September 11
9:15 AM Brunch Roselle-Cranford
WHERE: Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim
Walnut Ave.
Cranford, NJ 07016
RSVP: 908-276-3349 before Sept. 1 so that seating will be reserved. We are asking for a
minimal donation of $5 to cover the cost of the brunch.
Stephen M. Flatow, dedicates his talk in memory of his daughter, Alisa, who died in a terror attack while a student
in Israel. Funds for the Alisa Flatow Memorial Fund provide scholarships to students wishing to study religion in
Israel. More than 100 have received this award.
This program is open to other chapters and people around the Region. It is a wonderful opportunity to see and
hear Stephen, an attorney who has been a witness before U.S. Congressional committees on topics dealing with
terrorism and victim's rights.
Donations in memory of Alisa will be accepted to go to her memorial fund. Stephen and his wife reside in West
Orange, and are the proud grandparents of 16.
Adele Shafman
Program Coordinator
14
15
Women’s Health
Three-Prong Approach to Breast Cancer
Research at Hadassah
Understanding what part inherited traits play in an individual’s chance of developing breast cancer; analyzing the
specific biology of each tumor to better tailor therapy for each patient; and diagnosing cancer through blood
samples, rather than performing biopsies, are the goals that are shaping the approach the Hadassah Medical
Organization is taking to cancer research and treatment.
One current study, involving 130 breast cancer patients, is aimed at identifying founder mutations in various
ethnic groups which put people at higher risk for breast cancer. These founder mutations are found in high
frequency within a specific population---all with a common ancestor. While Hadassah research confirmed many
years ago that there is at least a 10 times greater prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations among
women of Ashkenazi descent, more recently Hadassah identified a founder mutation in Sephardic Jews and then
in Kurdish Jews. This latest finding is highlighted in Open Medicine Journal, 2015, 2: 31-36.
In another study, Hadassah’s oncology team is collaborating with members of the pathology department as well
as Prof. Yuval Dor of the Hebrew University to detect breast cancer in a person’s circulating tumor DNA
(ctDNA). This DNA, which is derived from the tumor, floats in the blood and thus becomes a specific marker
that can be detected, measured, and tracked. In addition, it is tissue/organ specific so researchers would know
which type of cancer is present.
As Senior Oncologist Dr. Aviad Zick relates: “Treatment of early breast cancer leads to a cure in more than 90%
of patients.” But, he explains, “because patients are treated with chemotherapy based on statistical models, rather
than their individual tumor’s molecular makeup, some women don't benefit from standard chemotherapy.”
Therefore, he says, “a reliable predictive biomarker for chemotherapy is urgently needed.”
It is important to note, however, that chemotherapy is not always the right choice of treatment. As Prof. Tamar
Peretz, head of Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology and Director of its Center for Malignant Breast
Diseases, explains: “Many women that are diagnosed at a very early stage with nonaggressive tumors are not
given chemotherapy. Rather, chemotherapy is indicated for those with a worse prognosis, and the chemotherapy
does improve their prognosis. Today we have more accurate tools, based on molecular evaluation, that predict
who may benefit and thus this reduces the number of women who get chemotherapy without any benefit.”
At the same time, Dr. Zick relates: “We hypothesize that ctDNA can serve as a predictive biomarker for
chemotherapy success in early breast cancer.” To date, Hadassah has established a plasma bio-bank of 400
samples from healthy individuals and over 100 from breast cancer patients. The research plan is to test the
ctDNA of the breast cancer patients and patients who have cancer in other organs to see what mutations and
markers they have in their blood. Then they will compare these samples to the plasma ctDNA of the healthy
individuals.
16
To test the effectiveness of the selected chemotherapy given to patients with early breast cancer,
Hadassah’s researchers will collect blood samples from 50 patients before, during, and after
chemotherapy treatment and surgery. The researchers will then correlate the patients’ blood
samples with the ctDNA biomarkers identified in their study to measure the success of the
treatment.
Prof. Peretz explains: “The research assumption is that if there are tumor cells in the blood, the
patient would eventually develop metastases. We expect that giving chemotherapy or other
treatments will eliminate the potential development of metastases. In some patients, we will see
disappearance of the tumor in the circulating DNA; those are the patients that should continue
with the chemotherapy. In those patients where we don’t see a reduction of the tumor in the
circulating DNA, we know that the selected treatment was not effective and another therapy needs
to be tried.”
Another avenue of study at Hadassah is examining a specific DNA change that leads to breast
cancer. Called ERBB2 DNA amplification, this phenomenon involves overexpression of a gene
and is a characteristic of aggressive breast tumors. ERBB2 amplification serves as a predictive
marker for whether treatment with HER2 inhibitors will prolong the survival of a breast cancer
patient. Although this treatment is the standard of care, explains Dr. Zick, “only a minority of
HER2 positive cancer patients (those with this specific protein) benefit from this treatment.”
To further understand this particular gene overexpression, Hadassah’s researchers established a
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) platform that allows them to study tumor amplification in
great detail. Using WGS, they examined a few patients with exceptional response to HER2
inhibitors. “Our findings suggest that the structure of the ERBB2 amplicon (the amplified
segment) is related to the exceptional response to treatment,” Dr. Zick notes. Consequently, they
plan to examine all ERBB2 amplified tumors they can find in public databases. In addition, they
will sequence 30 ERBB2 amplified breast tumors for their characteristics and see if they can
establish sub-groups based on these characteristics and then tailor treatment accordingly.
As Dr. Zick notes, the goal at Hadassah is to more precisely identify people at risk for breast
cancer, monitor how the breast cancer is reacting to treatment using these new Hadassahdeveloped markers, and identify those patients who will truly benefit from a particular therapy.
Source: www.hadassah.org
17
REGION CALENDAR 2016 (balance of year)
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
5
18
25
28
Mon
Mon
Sun
Wed
Labor Day (Office Closed)
Board of Directors Meeting
Metro Area Mets Game
Big Gifts Event
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
2
3-4
10
11
12
17-18
24
25
Sun
Mon-Tue
Mon
Tue
Wed
Mon-Tue
Mon
Tue
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Rosh HaShana (Office Closed)
Executive Board Meeting
Kol Nidre (Office Closes Early)
Yom Kippur (Office Closed)
Sukkot - Yom Tov (Office Closed)
Shemini Atzeret (Office Closed)
Simchat Torah (Office Closed)
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
7
6
24
25
Mon
Sun
Thu
Fri
Executive Board Meeting
Myrtle Wreath
Thanksgiving (Office Closed)
Office Closed
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
5
18
24
25-1/1
25
26
Mon
Sun
Sat
Sun-Mon
Sun
Mon
Executive Board Meeting
Region Installation
Hanukkah begins at sundown (first candle)
Hanukkah
Christmas
Christmas Observed (Office Closed)
PLEASE DO NOT schedule any chapter meeting or event that
conflicts with a region activity.
Note: All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the evening before.
18
REGION CALENDAR 2017
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
1
2
9
16
22-24
29
Sun
Mon
Mon
Mon
Sun-Tue
Sun
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day observed (Office Closed)
Executive Board Meeting
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Office Closed)
National Board Meetings - Orlando, FL
Board of Directors’ meeting and training
Feb
Feb
Feb
6
11
20
Mon
Sat
Mon
Executive Board Meeting
Tu B’Shevat
President’s Day (Office Closed)
Mar
Mar
Mar
6
Mon
10--11 Fri-Sat
12
Sun
Executive Board Meeting
Hadassah Shabbat Zachor
Purim
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
2
3
10
10--11
11
12
17
18
24
Sun
Mon
Mon
Tue-Wed
Wed
Thu
Mon
Tue
Mon
Ed Day (Tentative)
Executive Board Meeting
Erev Passover (Office Closes Early)
Passover Seder Nights
Passover (Office Closed)
Passover (Office Closed)
Passover (Office Closed)
Passover (Office Closed)
Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Memorial Day
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
1
2
8
14
14
29
31
Mon
Tue
Mon
Sun
Sun
Mon
Wed
Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day)
Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day)
Executive Board Meeting
Lag B’Omer
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day (Office Closed)
Shavuot (Office Closed)
Jun
Jun
Jun
Jun
1
4
5
18
Thu
Sun
Mon
Sun
Shavuot (Office Closed)
Celebrate Israel Parade
Executive Board Meeting
Father’s Day
19
REGION CALENDAR 2017 (concluded)
Jul
Jul
Jul
Jul
3
4
16-18
9
Mon
Tue
Sun-Tues
Sun
Summer Monday (Office Closed)
Independence Day
National Board Meetings - St. Louis, MO
2nd Annual Heart Health Walkathon (Tentative)
Aug
Aug
1
7
Tue
Mon
Tisha B’Av
Executive Board Meeting
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
4
5
17-18
20
21
22
24
30
Mon
Tue
Mon-Tues
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sun
Sat
Labor Day (Office Closed)
Exec - Tentative
Board of Directors (Tentative)
Erev Rosh Hashanah (Office Closes Early)
Rosh HaShanah (Office Closed)
Rosh HaShanah (Office Closed)
Kol Nidre (Office Closes Early)
Yom Kippur
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
2
5
6
12
13
Mon
Thu
Mon - Tue
Thu
Fri
Executive Board Meeting
Sukkot (Office Closed)
Sukkot (Office Closed)
Shemini Atzeret (Office Closed)
Simchat Torah (Office Closed)
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
6
12
23
24
Mon
Sun
Thu
Fri
Executive Board Meeting
Myrtle Wreath - Tentative
Thanksgiving Day
Office Closed
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
4
12
13-20
24
25
31
Mon
Tue
Wed-Wed
Sun
Mon
Sun
Executive Board Meeting
Hanukkah begins at sundown
Hanukkah
Christmas Eve
Christmas (Office Closed)
New Year’s Eve
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Hadassah Policy Statements
(following 2 pages)
Hadassah's Policy Statements represent the organization's official
stance on a wide variety of issues facing our nation, Israel and
other international matters of concern. Policy Statements are
debated and voted on at national meetings by Hadassah’s national
board and delegates from our membership. Once approved,
statements become official policies of the organization and serve
to define Hadassah's overall agenda and advocacy priorities.
Hadassah, as a charitable organization classified under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is strictly non-partisan
and is prohibited from any direct or indirect support or opposition
of candidates for public office.
www.hadassah.org
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Zionist Affairs
UNITED NATIONS REFORM
Jul 2016
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc., reaffirms its commitment to upholding
the founding principles of the United Nations and is proud to be a non-governmental organization
(NGO) in special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Hadassah remains deeply concerned that the U.N.'s integrity and effectiveness have been compromised.
While recognizing some recent strides toward Israel's acceptance at the U.N.—such as the recent
election of Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon to chair the Sixth
Committee, and the recognition of Yom Kippur as an official United Nations holiday—Hadassah is
outraged by the bias against Israel that continues to pervade the institution.
In 2006, Hadassah welcomed an initiative for U.N. reform and in 2014 reaffirmed calls for significant
reforms that will lead to a more productive U.N., where bias against any state, and against Israel in
particular, does not occur.
In 2012, 138 member nations of the United Nations General Assembly approved Palestinian non-member
observer state status— using the opportunity to demean and delegitimize Israel while enabling
Palestinians to circumvent international pressure for direct bilateral negotiations.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has become a mockery of its intended goals. The council
includes, and frequently appoints to leadership roles, the very nations who have the worst human rights
records, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Cuba, and Sudan. Since its founding eleven years ago, the
Council has passed 73 resolutions against Israel—over one-third of all country-specific resolutions—and
Israel is the only country singled out, with a dedicated Special Session on the Council's permanent
agenda.
As a member organization of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations,
Hadassah supports its recent campaign to unite the Jewish community and friends of Israel in response
to the intensifying anti-Israel activity at the U.N. with the obsessive bashing of Israel. Hadassah reaffirms and expands its U.N. Reform Policy Statement to support the Conference of Presidents'
Declaration Opposing Discrimination Against Israel at the United Nations.
Hadassah urges the U.N. to implement broad and substantive changes to its institutions and bodies,
specifically:
 to eliminate redundant and anachronistic resolutions and committees, specifically the four
 committees on Palestinian affairs that have only served to exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
and waste the time and resources of the General Assembly;
 to implement clear conditions for membership and leadership positions within the Human Rights
Commission that require countries to abide by the highest standards of human rights, and cooperate fully
with the Commission and its mechanisms;
 to evaluate and increase transparency in the nomination, selection, and appointment process of
 United Nations Special Rapporteurs and other mandate holders;
 to establish a permanent mechanism within the Secretariat to develop objective criteria for assessing
the fairness of the resolution processes throughout the various UN bodies and to monitor, evaluate and
report annually on the results of the application of those criteria;
 to adopt a clear and comprehensive definition of terrorism that condemns it in absolute terms.
Additionally, Hadassah calls upon the United Nations Secretary General, President of the General
Assembly, and High Commissioner for Human Rights to condemn any remarks by international leaders,
U.N. officials or independent consultants that include false statements, promote anti-Semitism or
delegitimize Israel.
Finally, Hadassah urges the U.S. to continue its strong and vocal support for Israel at the United Nations
and lobbying for broad and significant U.N. reforms. As a signatory of the Declaration Against U.N. Anti
-Israel Bias, we look forward to working with the Jewish Community and the United States government,
as it leads an intensive effort within the United Nations to achieve the goals of this campaign and finally
end the injustices, indignities, and discrimination towards Israel.
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American Affairs
LGBTQ Equality
Jul 2016
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, reaffirms its support for equality and equal protections
under the law for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the United States.
Hadassah proudly advocated for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and signed
amicus curiae briefs for United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges—Supreme Court rulings which extended
federal rights and benefits to same-sex couples.
Despite this progress, LGBTQ Americans continue to face numerous forms of discrimination, bullying,
harassment, and violence—as employees, students, parents and families, customers, patients, and in all roles as
citizens.
Mandates on the use of facilities based on assigned sex at birth, regardless of gender identity; overly broad
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts and other religious exemption policies are used to justify discrimination
against transgender persons and same-sex couples. While Hadassah remains deeply committed to the American
ideal of religious liberty, it also reaffirms that the protection of individual civil rights—regardless of sex, race,
creed, sexual orientation and gender identity—must, in many circumstances, take precedence over personal
religious beliefs.
Caregiving
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc., which is deeply committed to the health and
economic equity of American women, reaffirms and expands its support for women as caregivers—for their
own families and for others.
Women are often the primary caregivers for their families, sometimes juggling the responsibilities of caring for
both children and aging parents. Approximately 40 million Americans, three-fifths of whom are women,
provide unpaid care for an adult relative or friend—exacting a professional, financial, emotional, and physical
toll on caregivers and their families.
Over half of employed caregivers report that they reduced work hours or left the workforce in order to
accommodate the added responsibilities. Employees who remain in the workforce may jeopardize their career
advancement due to missed time or face financial hardships if they lack access to adequate paid family and sick
leave options. Female caregivers are more likely to experience stress, depression, and chronic health problems,
and also report forgoing their own preventive health care and prescriptions due to cost and lack of time.
Paid care workers—about 90 percent of whom are women—provide an essential life-line for their patients and
patients' families. It is essential that families have access to quality and affordable in-home care services, while
also ensuring that care workers are afforded the necessary compensation and benefits for their own economic
security.
Therefore, Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.:
 Encourages the medical community to recognize and value the integral role of caregivers—paid and
 unpaid—in supporting the health and dignity of America's aging and disabled population
 Supports efforts within the medical community and by government to continue assessing unpaid caregiver
needs and ensure that they are provided with adequate information, training, counseling, support, quality and
affordable supplemental services.
 Reaffirms its support for paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and flexible workplace policies to
support unpaid caregivers;
Welcomes the implementation of the Department of Labor Home Care Rule to extend minimum wage and
overtime protections to paid home care workers without affecting the total number of home care workers
nor reducing employees' hours, and encourages the extension of other economic equity policies to caregivers, as
well as investment in training for the home care industry.
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Shabbat Dinner and Technology? Doesn’t sound like these two topics go together.
However, like JDate, Uber, and AirBnb, GRAPEJUICE.buzz helps us find what we
need, when and where we want it. Would you like to attend a Shabbat dinner, a Passover seder, a Yom Kippur break-fast and most importantly, connect with people to
celebrate. Let all who are hungry come and eat: GRAPEJUICE.buzz empowers us
to welcome and to be welcomed wherever we are, geographically, demographically,
spiritually, or Jewishly. We’re reviving hachnasat orchim, welcoming the guest, and
facilitating tikkun olam, with one small act of hospitality at a time.
As Hadassah members, you can help make this incredible new website live. We need
you to work with it! On Erev Shabbat, Friday night September 16, 2016, we hope to
have an opening Grapejuice.buzz Shabbat event in each of our homes. Each of us
should sign in and register on Grapejuice.buzz. We should invite a few guests: maybe friends we have been meaning to see but just never could make the time, maybe
family, or maybe friends of friends. Ask them all to respond YES to your event on
Grapejuice.buzz. Register on the website, and then simply enjoy Erev Shabbat together. Your Shabbat dinner can be anything you want it to be – the only requirement is a welcoming table.
Let’s make this happen.
Lisa Lisser
[email protected]
Hadassah Life Member since 1982
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