July 2018

President’s Message

This afternoon, right before my eyes, three eagles silently soared across my path along Lake Washington.  It was an extraordinary sight. As Seattle Hadassah President, I witness the work of exceptional women whose ideas and actions contribute every day to raising us up as a community.  They exemplify the “Power of Women Who Do.” I want to call attention to three of these women.

Ricki Lee Gafter, who boldly stepped forward and launched our new website within a matter of weeks: www.seattlehadassah.org.  Note especially our Advocacy blog which currently features reflections from our three delegates to Hadassah’s Women’s Health Empowerment Summit.  Our upcoming June, July and August summer salons are prominently featured with registration at the click of a button. And, so much more.

Kindra Cooper, whose fresh energy and service as our first Chair for American Affairs and Domestic Policy, is being noticed.   It is with unbridled joy that I share the news that Kindra will be participating in Hadassah’s Milestone Mission this coming October – a gift from the Pacific Northwest Region’s Regional Board in recognition for her visionary leadership.

Ettie Davis, our exceptional VP for Membership Outreach who decided to dedicate the next several months to Chairing our November 18 Fundraiser Brunch.   With Ettie’s tapestry of organizational and people skills, the pieces are all coming into place. Volunteer with Ettie. Take on one task. Details are below.  The chance to be part of Ettie’s Committee will enhance your summer! The weeks ahead are action-paced for Seattle Hadassah.  The Board and I look forward to engaging with you.

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Events Calendar

Seattle Hadassah is looking forward to an exciting summer full of events and activities! Don’t miss out on these upcoming programs. Details and registration information are below.

Register Now

Wednesday, July 25 at 7 PM. DATE CHANGE!
Mexican Consul General Roberto Dondisch
and Cynthia Dondisch

Tickets are $18 each. To register, click here.

Roberto Dondisch, the first Jewish Consul General from Mexico, is based in Seattle! Join us on Wednesday, July 25 at 7 pm at the Mexican Consulate’s new location to hear the Consul General and his artist wife share how their Jewish culture and values influence the way they approach their representation of Mexico on the international stage. The Mexican Consulate is located at 807 E Roy Street, Seattle, WA 98102 (previously the old Harvard Exit Theater).

Monday, August 6 at 7 PM.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of 
Hadassah Hospital
and
the HadassahSchool of Nursing
with Professor Freda DeKeyser Ganz, Ph.D., RN
Suggested donation of $18 at the door.To register, email BeerShevaHadassah@gmail.com.

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Hadassah Hospital, Beer Sheva Hadassah welcomes Professor Freda DeKeyser Ganz, Ph.D., RN, Head of the Doctoral Program and of Research and Development at the Henrietta Szold Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing. The gathering will take place Monday, August 6 at 7 p.m. at the home of Cathy Reiner Godwin in Seward Park. Read More

Save the Date

Wednesday, August 15 at 7 PM.
Telling Her Stories with Pamela Lavitt          

Tickets are $18 each.Registration will open mid-July

Pamela Lavitt, 2018 recipient of the Pamela Waechter z”l Jewish Communal Professional Award, has been Director of Arts + Ideas at the Stroum Jewish Community Center since 2012 and of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival since 2005. Each year, she brings over 100 international guest artists to the Greater Seattle region to inspire and connect the community. Her vision and leadership have been key to making the film festival a unique cinematic exploration of Jewish and Israeli life, culture, identity, and history. Additional details coming soon.

Thursday, September 13 at 7 PM.
What Do You Want to Say Most to the People You Love with Rabbi Elana Zaiman
Tickets are $18 each.Registration will open mid-August.

On Thursday, September 13, Rabbi Elana Zaiman will be speaking at a first-of-its-kind Seattle Hadassah Salon Series event based around her book, “The Forever Letter: Writing What We Believe for Those We Love,” published last year. Inspired by the ancient Jewish tradition of writing an ethical will – a document historically written by a parent to leave for his or her children a legacy in the form of the parent’s beliefs, values, life lessons, and hopes for the future – Rabbi Zaiman’s book demonstrates how people of all ages and life stages can record what they value most for the people closest to their hearts. “It can be transformative,” she says. Read More

Wednesday, October 17 at 7 PM.
Translating Values into Advocacy
with Miri Cypers

Tickets are $18.Registration will open mid-August.

Join us Wednesday, October 17 at 7 pm to hear Miri Cypers, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League of the Pacific Northwest, discuss “Translating values into advocacy.” Additional details coming soon!

Advocacy Updates

Susan Adler, President of Seattle Hadassah (Center); Corinne Stroum, Co-Leader, Seattle Hadassah Young Women’s Leadership Program (EVOLVE) (Left); and Kindra Cooper, Chair, Seattle Hadassah American Affairs and Domestic Policy Committee (Right) on the red carpet at this year’s Health Empowerment Summit in Washington, DC.

Reflections on the 2018 Women’s Health Empowerment Summit, by Susan Adler

You may recall that a year ago, I had the privilege of serving as an Ambassador to the inaugural gathering of Hadassah’s Women’s Health Empowerment Summit in Washington, DC.  Hadassah was the catalyst and lead organizer of 23 national organizations that came together to change the conversation about why it is well past time to no longer accept glaring disparities in women’s health in the U.S.   As Hadassah members, we are well positioned to raise our voices and redefine how this country addresses the role women play as the CEOs of their family’s health decisions, as patients who must advocate for more women participants in clinical trials, and as caregivers whose realities call out for new policies to address the myriad of challenges we face daily. Fast forward one year.  In May 2018, two new and talented Hadassah leaders served as delegates with me at the Second Women’s Health Empowerment Summit. — Board member Kindra Cooper, the first Advocacy Chair for our Chapter, and Corinne Stroum, one of our newest Hadassah member who has just stepped forward to co-lead the launch of our Young Women’s Leadership Initiative. Read our individual reflections on this year’s Summit on the Seattle Hadassah Website.

Membership News

This month, we are proud to welcome two members who have transferred to the Seattle Chapter: Nitza Manna and Belinda Matthews Hirsch. Also, congratulations to Kindra Cooper who upgraded from annual to life membership. Finally, Congratulations to Carol Barnett for winning an Honorable Mention in a recent “The Power of Women Who Do” Hadassah national writing contest. Read Carol’s award-winning poem here!

Can you help? Volunteers Needed!

A message from Ettie Davis, Chair of this year’s Fundraiser Brunch: Do you want to do more hands-on work in Hadassah and get to know other members better? This summer I am starting to organize Hadassah’s fundraiser brunch, which will take place on November 18. Even if you only have a little time, please consider pitching in. This is your chance to get involved and not just think someone else will do it. With the Holidays early this year, it’s so important that we do what we can during these summer months. The committees will have various tasks, so no one will have to work too hard. Here are some of the committees —with some of the tasks—just waiting for you. If you are interested in volunteering, even on a very limited basis, please sign up here. Thank you in advance for your help!

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