A chance to view Jerusalem's newest luxury hotel the Waldorf-Astoria on King David Street, to meet the architect and to renew their Zionism brought 75 Hadassah-Israel members out to the Annual Benefactors Tea in Jerusalem. The guest speaker was National Board Member Leah Reicin of Skokie, Illinois. "All those Jewish hospitals in the United States were founded because Jews were uncomfortable and unwanted in hospitals," said Reicin.

"Today, American Jews are disappearing, because of assimilation, intermarriage and low birth rates, while in Israel the birthrate is the highest in the western world despite economic and security problems." She lauded the advanced medicine at Hadassah Hospital which includes gene therapy, stem cells , and prenatal therapies. "Why Hadassah? It's the best way for Jewish women to express their confidence in Judaism and the State of Israel."