Celebration 2018: From Passion to Action

Be a Part of Our Year-Long Celebration
2018 is a banner year at Hadassah as we mark four major milestones. Take advantage of one — or all — of these powerful opportunities to turn your passion into action with Hadassah — in the United States, Israel and online.

Join us as we mark the State of Israel's 70th anniversary, and recognize the powerful role Hadassah women played in making the dream of Israel a reality. At the same time, help us celebrate the impact Hadassah has had on Israel and throughout the world during the first hundred years of the Hadassah Medical Organization and the Hadassah School of Nursing, as we look at the ways Hadassah innovation today is shaping the future.

From Passion to Action: #HadassahDC2018 #Celebration2018

Hundreds of Hadassah members, supporters and leaders came together during National Women's Health Week for three powerful days in Washington, DC, united by their commitment to empowering women, to Israel, to health and women's health equity -- and to advocacy. An inspiring expression of The Power of Women Who DO, attendees turned their passion to action, earned Hadassah a brief mention in POLITICO Influence, made #HealthEquity4Her trend on Twitter in the DC area, and had fun celebrating Israel's 70th and the centennials of the Hadassah Medical Organization and the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing.

The conference kicked off with a warm welcome from Celebration 2018 Co-Chairs Frieda Rosenberg and Rhoda Smolow, and a thought-provoking panel, "Privacy & Information: Women's Health and Technology" at the National Press Club, with moderator Judy Woodruff of PBS Newshour, and panelists Rear Admiral Susan J. Blumenthal, Laura Moy, Tim Sparapani and Marcy Wilder.

The Coalition for Women's Health Equity — and Hadassah — presented the 2nd annual Women's Health Empowerment Summit, with Keynote Speaker Fatima Goss Graves, CEO and President of the National Women's Law Center, and legislative keynote speaker and physician Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-36), who spoke of the importance of coming together to combat the severe inequities women face. Patient advocates Kathryn Fox and Starr Mirza moved many to tears with their personal stories of how gender discrimination in medicine impacts our lives in deeply personal ways. "Women are refusing to stay silent about misdiagnoses, the disproportionate burden of care-giving responsibilities, and the lasting scars of harassment and assault," said Hadassah National President Ellen Hershkin.

Panels featured discussions on the health impact of caregiving on women with moderator Jill Lesser, gender bias and mental health, and women & clinical trials, with moderator Fran Hawthorne.

Women's health advocates are moving the dial on women's health, said Hadassah Executive Director/CEO Janice Weinman. "We will make 2018 a year of success and progress for women everywhere."

The focus switched to Israel during the Chai-Tea event. "Thank you for everything you have done for the last century. My wish is that Hadassah will make as big a contribution in the next century as they did in the last," said U.S. Ambassador to Israel Ron Dermer, who was made an Associate by Associates President Jim Rotenberg and Vice President Louis Numkin. Then Ruth Radiano, Director of Nursing at Hadassah Mt. Scopus, shared some of her personal experiences building Hadassah's reputation as a leader in nursing, a follow up to "Nurses as Advocates: A Symposium," presented earlier by the Hadassah Nurses Council.

"We honor two nurses who mean so much to Hadassah and have done so much for the nursing profession in the US and Israel, Passion to Action Honorees Dr. Barbara Heller and Nancy Falchuk," said Hadassah National President Ellen Hershkin at the Touch of Red Gala, addressing an audience dressed in red, to honor Hadassah. Earlier that evening, Director General Zeev Rotstein of the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), wearing a red tie, talked about ensuring HMO's position as a global leader in medicine.

Broadway actress and singer Megan Hilty — star of NBC's Smash — brought her sumptuous voice to the Touch of Red Gala.

The persistent rain couldn't keep more than 250 Hadassah members and Associates from securing support for key legislation during their Day on the Hill. Representing 25 states, they met with policymakers from over 80 congressional offices to promote women's health equity, Holocaust education, gun safety, a strong US-Israel relationship, and more. Join us in urging our legislators to cosponsor and support the LINK Never Again Education Act and the Health Equity and Accountability Act, reintroduced in the House of Representatives on May 23.

As part of Celebration 2018, the Hadassah Women's Health & Advocacy Conference gave those most passionate about Hadassah the tools to engage their communities and empower women back home, particularly around Hadassah's health and advocacy efforts in the United States and in Israel. As serious as some of those issues may be, it was also time to celebrate being together to recognize how far Hadassah and Israel have come as we celebrate our milestone anniversaries.

The energy and commitment at every session of this conference made one thing clear — these Hadassah members are ready to take Hadassah's legacy into the century ahead.

See the Action: Photos & Videos

Take a few minutes to experience some of the most exciting, informative, and inspirational moments from the Hadassah Women's Health & Advocacy Conference, and you'll see why so many individuals are proud to be part of our Hadassah family.
Video Highlights, Women's Health & Advocacy Conference ›
Photo Galleries, Women's Health & Advocacy Conference ›

Where We Stand: Three New Positions

Delegates to the Hadassah National Assembly debated and unanimously passed new Hadassah Policy Statements on gun control, unwavering support for Israel, and medical marijuana.
Read our New Statement on Gun Control ›
Read our New Statement on Support for Israel ›
Read our New Statement on Medical Marijuana ›

Women's Health Empowerment Summit

This year's second annual summit, hosted by Hadassah and the 28-member Coalition for Women's Health Equity, focused on the inequities that endanger women's health and overall safety. The lineup included National Women's Law Center President/CEO Fatima Goss Graves, Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-36), and summit emcee Samantha Abrams.
Women's Health Empowerment Summit Videos ›
Speak out for the Health Equity and Accountability Act ›
Promote #HealthEquity4Her on social media ›

Celebration 2018

Turn your passion to action and join our yearlong celebration by getting involved with our Israel, health, and advocacy efforts. We've got a lot to celebrate: Israel's 70th and the centennials of HMO, the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing, and the Ophthalmology Department. Build on the momentum of the Women's Health and Advocacy Conference. You can celebrate with in Israel (From Dream to Innovation Hadassah Milestone Mission — early bird rate through June 13), help keep HMO ahead of the curve, or take action against hate and anti-Semitism.
Celebrate with Hadassah in Israel ›
Learn more about 360 Degrees of Healing in Israel  ›
Support the Never Again Education Act  ›

Thank You, Donors Thank you to all the members, Associates and donors who helped make this conference a huge success, raising nearly $900,000. We're grateful to each and every donor who contributed. Become a Keeper of the Gate, or support our efforts with an online donation.

Thank You, Sponsors

Thank you to all the sponsors who helped make our 98th National Convention such a success.

Donation Questions

donorservices@hadassah.org

(800) 928-0685

Membership Questions

membership@hadassah.org

(800) 664-5646

Israel Travel

israeltravel@hadassah.org

(800) 237-1517

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