Wow! This mission surpassed everyone's expectations. For first-timers and those that have been to Israel dozens of times — everyone experienced something new, made new friends and felt a connection to Israel like they never could have imagined.

Led by Mission co-chairs, Freida Rosenberg & Rhoda Smolow, together, we celebrated the 100th anniversaries of the Hadassah Medical Organization, the Henrietta Szold-Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing, the Department of Ophthalmology, and Israel's 70th. As part of the celebration at the Mission Gala we honored our US and HMO nurses, and presented the Henrietta Szold Award to Dalia Itzik, the first woman Speaker of the Knesset. Mission participants met world-renown doctors and nurses who shared Hadassah medical miracles and new research during a visit to our two hills of healing—Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem and Hadassah Mount Scopus as well a hard-hat tour of the early renovations of the iconic Round Building.

Volunteers experienced the work of Hadassah at the Meir Shfeya Youth Aliyah village — including a stop at the winery and vineyards where 11th and 12th grade Meir Shfeya students are a vital part of every step of the wine-making process. Everyone witnessed the dedication of the Marlene Post Health Center, with a moving rendition of "Over the Rainbow" played by the Youth Aliyah orchestra.

Participants embraced Mission Scholar-in-Residence Gil Troy's challenge, to define our Zionist identities and stand up, speak up, celebrate and visit Israel again! We experienced the amazing growth of Israel's infrastructure and start up companies at the Taglit Innovation Center, had a wonderful dinner and wine tasting at the Barkan Winery, heard from US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Jewish Agency President Yitzhak Hertzog, toured Ammunition Hill and the Atlit Detention Center, danced at the Kotel, ate lots of falafel, shawarma, hummus and other Israeli delicacies as well as supported Israel's economy with shopping in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The photo galleries and videos below capture just a glimpse of experiencing Israel with Hadassah. If you haven't been yet, please check out Hadassah's roster of 2019 upcoming missions and sign up today!