March 2019

President’s Message

Esther had a cousin
And his name was Mordechai,
He asked her, “Can you help us?”
And she said, “Of course, I’ll try.”

Hadassah, Esther’s Hebrew name, was founded during Purim 1912.  Mordechai  was asking her to go before the king without being summoned and to reveal to the King that she was Jewish. This was against the law.  Yet, this was the only way to save her people in Shushan and the world.  So she didn’t feel alone, Esther, in turn, asked all the people to fast for three days and pray for her.  The story of Esther emphasizes Jewish women’s pivotal role in our communities.  Ah, to be asked….

 “No one asked me.”

That is the explanation a new friend in Philadelphia gave me years ago when I put the question to her, “You care so much about Israel and women’s advocacy—how is it you don’t belong to Hadassah?”  Apparently, she was simply waiting to be asked.  We all can do the asking, reaching out to our friends.  Let me know who you are asking. Click here to email me.

“I paid my dues and became a member—now what?”

Looking for some local opportunities to get involved in Hadassah?  Look for information in this newsletter.

  • Hadassah’s Thrive Series starting Thursday, February 21
  • Join the Zionist Book Club
  • Support our Annual Giving Campaign
  • Attend Advocacy training and go to Jewish Lobby Day
  • Support SJFF and see the Hadassah-sponsored film, “93Queen,” and more.

 “Did you notice ask is inside of mask?”

Esther’s Hebrew name means “hidden”. She kept her Jewish identity and her courage hidden until the right moment.  I believe that each one of our members has passions and talents that I am asking you to unmask in order to find your unique way of contributing to Hadassah.  Consider yourself asked:  What do you enjoy doing?  Let me know and I’ll look for a Hadassah connection.  I’m waiting to hear from you. Click here to send me an email.

Warmly,


Ettie Davis, President, Seattle Hadassah

Events Calendar

Zionist Book Club

Professor Troy’s book examines Zionism through six lenses, each corresponding to a school of Zionist thought: Political, Revisionist, Labor, Religious, Cultural and Diaspora. Book club members will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on what Israel and Zionism mean in the context of their daily lives.

This book will be discussed on March 6, April 3, 17, May 1, 15 and 29th.

Signup  Here

Sunday, March 24, Advocacy Training 101

This class will include practical advocacy skills including how to identify your representatives and strategies for effectively communicating with elected officials. We will also present sample email and telephone scripts and describe how typical day-in-the-district meetings — involving elected officials, their staff, and constituents — unfold.

Signup Here

Thursday, March 28, 93Queen


Seattle Hadassah is proudly sponsoring the Film 93Queen in conjunction with the Seattle Film Festival.

93QUEEN follows RACHEL “RUCHIE” FREIER, a no-nonsense Hasidic lawyer and mother of six, who is determined to shake up the “boys club” in her Hasidic community by creating Ezras Nashim, the first all-female ambulance corps in NYC.

Interested in dinner with the director before the movie? Signup Here.

Get your ticket to the movie here.

Sunday, April 7, 2019 7:30-9:00 PM, The Light of Hope

Two Seattle Hadassah members—Janice Kaplan-Klein and Ellen Rose Kret—are sponsoring a powerful drama, “The Light of Hope”, which focuses on the inspired work of a young Red Cross nurse, Elizabeth Eidenbenz, who saved mothers and babies during the Holocaust.  All of us in Hadassah can appreciate her can-do spirit:  “Where there is great suffering, you don’t ask questions.  You help.”

For more information about this film and to sign up click here.

Advocacy Updates

Join Seattle Hadassah in Olympia for Jewish Community Lobby Day!

Please join members of Seattle Hadassah and Hadassah Pacific Northwest for an advocacy-packed day in Olympia! Each year, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle organizes a fun and satisfying Jewish Community Lobby Day in our state capital. Last year, three members of Seattle Hadassah participated. This year, we are hoping to take a much larger crowd. Lobby Day will take place on Tuesday, March 26. Cost (to cover a light kosher breakfast and lunch) is $18 per person. Bus transportation from Seattle and Mercer Island is also available for an additional $18. To register for Lobby Day or for additional information click here.

In Preparation for Jewish Lobby Day, we will be holding an Advocacy 101 Class. The class will be held Sunday, March 24 at the Bellevue Library. Prior registration is required. Signup for this class here.

PLEASE NOTE: Regional Advocacy Chair Kindra Cooper will be organizing a carpool from the Seattle area to Olympia on Lobby day in order to remain in the state capital for dinner with members of Tacoma Hadassah. For additional information on carpooling and a cross-chapter dinner out, email Kindra.

From Action to Hope

Hadassah Annual Giving- Become a Chai Society Member Today!
Chai Society: “I love being an Annual Giver who pays monthly.  It helps me manage my budget and it lets Hadassah know I am committed to my giving.” Elaine B.
These incredibly special members make annual, recurring gifts to Hadassah. Many Chai Society Members divide their contributions into monthly gifts of $15 or $30 per month.
 
Join us today and transform lives every day by funding Hadassah and the causes of medical research, patient care, Youth Aliyah Young Judaea scholarships, as well as health and wellness initiatives in the United States.

Chai Society level ($180-$359.99)
Silver Chai level ($360-$999.99)
 
Volunteer today – From Action to Hope, Sunday, Oct 27, 2019- Annual Giving Event
We are assembling a terrific volunteer team for this special event.  Deni Hirsh, our amazing Fundraising Vice President, promises a fun and enriching volunteer experience.  Please reach out to Deni Hirsh for more information here.

Membership News

Welcome to our New Members

  • Liz Caldera
  • Marci Nemhauser

Welcome New Life Members

  • Connie Rock

We Mourn the Passing of

  • We Mourn the passing of Alan Rappoport, husband of Hadassah member, Barbara Rappaport.

Tributes to Hadassah can be made online here.

Do you have news of family events to share with us? We are happy to include announcements about weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, birthdays, births, and passings in the Membership News section of our monthly newsletter. Please send notices to Seattle@hadassah.org.

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