February 2020

“There’s some Jew here who wants to take your child!” yelled the daycare worker on the phone to Mohammed Aguani, a Palestinian Israeli living in Jaffa.  He was grateful his friend, Neta Weiner, an Israeli Jew, could pick up his son. Their beautiful friendship is told in episode 14 of The Branch podcast. Presented by Hadassah and hosted by Dina Kraft, The Branch shines a light on the stories of people living in a shared society. Together. Even though it’s complicated. You can find The Branch podcasts here.

The context for such building-bridges-to-peace stories is the meeting I attended with Israeli Consul General, Shlomi Kofman, on a snowy January day.  Kofman said it’s important to know what Israelis and Palestinians are doing together and the reality is not found in the headlines. He was proud of the large number of social NGOs in Israel.

That’s when I opened my mouth because I had something to proudly contribute: that daily, at Hadassah, patients are served, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, and doctors, nurses and staff work together, Arab and Jewish, building bridges to peace through medicine.  I’d add that Hadassah’s humanitarian initiatives extend well beyond the hospital doors.

Thanks to your support, Hadassah’s life-saving research benefits all of us.

With “pride, passion, and purpose” adopted from the installation speech of our new National President, Rhoda Smolow. Read Rhoda’s speech here.

Ettie Davis, President

Jewish Community 2020 Lobby Day Tuesday, February 25
	Join Hadassah and other Jewish organizations in Olympia to ensure our Washington Sate Legislators understand the important issues of concern to the Seattle Jewish Community. Sign up here so that we can keep you updated with information about this event. The Jewish Community 2020 Washington State Legislative Priorities can be found here Details coming soon! This Event is Organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Let us know you will be going
Thrive: Be the CEO of Your Life presents: Breast Cancer Awareness for all of Us Sunday, March 1, 10:30am-12:30pm
	Formerly Gilda’s Club Seattle – named in honor of Gilda Radner, who, when describing the emotional and social support she received when she had cancer, called for such places of participation, education, hope and friendship to be made available for people with cancer and their families and friends everywhere. Anna will be the Moderator of our Panel of Hadassah members who are breast cancer survivors.  They will share their very personal stories as they respond to: What do you wish you had known before you were diagnosed and right after? What do you wish your family and friends had known to better support you? Read More about this wonderful program Register Here

Jewish Community 2020 Washington State Legislative Priorities

1. COMBAT ANTISEMITISM, HATE, AND DISCRIMINATION
   Antisemitism and hate crimes overall have been on the rise for the last several years. We need to be vigilant to ensure the safety of our Jewish community as well as that of other communities who are targets of increasing hate.
2. PROTECT AND SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
   Supporting immigrants and refugees is an issue of major concern to the Jewish community. The Jewish people have a lengthy history as immigrants, so we have an important voice in efforts to support those who have immigrated to this nation in search of a better future for the next generation.
3. WORK TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY
   The stronger and more equitable our society is as a whole, the stronger the Jewish community will become through working with our coalition partners to address systemic challenges. These bills affect members of our own community as well.
4. PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
   The Federation has long been a partner of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Based on our community’s history with this issue, we are a powerful ally in continuing to support common-sense legislation to protect our community from gun violence.
5. STRENGTHEN CIVIL LIBERTIES AND MINORITY RIGHTS
   Protecting civil liberties and minority rights is one of the major cornerstones of our democracy.  We must do all we can to secure the same rights we hold so dear for generations to come.
6. DEEPEN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET FOR VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
   Our Jewish tradition teaches that we must care for the most vulnerable members of our society. These measures to reduce homelessness and support families in need, including Jewish families, are a direct reflection of those values.

Questions? Contact Deni Hirsh, Advocacy Chair by email or call 425-467-9099 

Would you like to join us at Lobby Day? Let us know here

Take Action

It’s a Hadassah priority to support the Never Again Education Act. Please let Ettie know if you took action. Read more about Hadassah’s position here.

Celebrate Hope & Make a Difference Sunday, February 9, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Tu B’Shvat is Coming! Sunday, February 9, Sunset – Monday, February 10, Nightfall
	Hadassah has had a partnership with Jewish National Fund since 1926. Did you know JNF donated the land for Hadassah Ein Kerem? Hadassah’s newest initiative, in partnership with Jewish National Fund (JNF-KKL), is the Hadassah Shade Tree Garden at the Eshkol Resilience Center.  Read More
Hadassah-Microsoft Team Diagnoses Parkinson’s, Raising Ethical Dilemmas
	In a recently published article in the prestigious journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, Hadassah Medical Organization doctors, working with Microsoft researchers, reported they were often able to diagnose Parkinson’s disease simply from the way people seeking information about the disease typed on their computer and moved their mouse. Read More

What People Are Saying About #MeToo
“It was lovely meeting you at yesterday’s Hadassah Meeting.  Diana was a wonderful Hostess. Everyone was warm & welcoming.  I can understand why your Group is so dynamic. I enjoyed Sharona’s talk; so timely and meaningful. I look forward to the March 1 meeting.” —  Ilene Bernik
“Dr. Sharona Gordon’s presentation was informative and inspiring, providing her perspective on harassment in academia. It was sobering to hear, though not surprising to me, as I have worked in health care administration at the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Centers and UW School of Medicine. I deeply appreciate Dr. Gordon’s approach, helping to mentor and cultivate a deeper understanding within her profession, and the larger world, about the ways gender disparity and sexual harassment and violence are damaging to both women and men. Her careful attention to presenting her message with a spirit of compassion and collaboration bode well for success in changing society.” — Patti Simon, guest of Diana Brement
”I was impressed!!  Sharona is a real ‘Woman of Valor’. Her efforts to reduce the amount of sex-based bias and educate those in her department and the larger UW School of Medicine are brave. Her focus on the importance of communication & collaboration gets my vote!! I was also very impressed by her ability to recognize her own personal struggle to be non-judgmental. Her empathetic story about the student she interviewed who was experiencing homelessness was touching for me as someone whose work centers around providing care to this population.”  — Cheryl Berenson.

Welcome to our New Members:

• Mushka Levitan

Mazel Tov to

• Janine and Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum on the marriage of their daughter, Shani Rosenbaum, to Aaron Press Taylor

Welcome Members New to our Chapter:

• Perry Blankenship
• Deborah Kaminetzky