My Mom and I 

I saved this story from a year ago to share with you as we approach  Mother’s Day, May 8.  In this moving piece, Betsy Silverfine expresses her gratitude to her mother for giving her the guidance to stand up for herself and make a difference in the world. Read the full story at Thrive Global.

Betsy admits she did not always appreciate everything her mother did for her when she was a child.  Mother’s Day actually was founded by Ana Jarvis who believed that children often do not do enough to show their moms that they appreciate them while they are still alive.  The following year after her mother died, Ana convinced her own church in Philadelphia to hold a Mothers' Day service on May 10, 1908. Ana supplied the church with white carnations, which had been her mom's favorite flower.  After that, Ana wrote thousands of letters and held many interviews to promote a national Mother's Day. Six years later, on May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Mothers’ Day as a public expression of the love  and reverence for the mothers of this country.

In 1951, a new Israeli children’s newspaper, Ha’aretz Shelanu, launched its own Mother’s Day initiative.  They asked their young readers to suggest a date to honor Mothers across Israel. Many children wanted to honor the memory of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah.  Although Szold had no children of her own, she was considered a mother figure who dedicated her life to advancing children’s rights. This included creating Youth Aliyah villages to rescue thousands of Jewish youth —and later orphans— from Nazi Europe. In Israel, Mother’s Day, now replaced by Family Day, is celebrated on the day that Henrietta Szold died, the 30th of Shevat, just fifteen days after Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.

I am proud that those Hadassah Youth Aliyah villages continue to  rescue at-risk Israeli youth and be a refuge for youngsters from other countries, including the former Soviet Union and Ukraine:  https://www.hadassah.org/video/becoming-israelis-youth-aliyah-singing-hatikva

With gratitude for the blessing of getting to regularly support the children in Youth Aliyah through Annual Giving,

Cutting Edge: Bringing Disaster Medicine to Israel

With so much joy to be gathering in person this year, our celebration will focus on Youth Aliyah, one of the areas of Annual Giving.  Having a focus for your charitable giving makes it that much more meaningful.    

If you’re not yet an Annual Giver, find out more: call Ettie Davis 425-467-9099 (ext 1). Or feel free to contact Ian Merles, our very personable West Coast Annual Giving Officer, with questions or to set up a plan. imerles@hadassah.org  or 619-884-1475. 

HADASSAH ON CALL: NEW FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE, SEASON 3, EPISODE 7

Wed, June 1st  HADASSAH AND JERUSALEM: UNITED FOREVER. A CELEBRATION OF YOM YERUSHALAYIM

A celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem and our two hospitals on June 7, 1967, featuring music, special guests and more!

General session: Open to all
8:00 - 9:00 pm ET (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT)

Keepers Of The Gate session*: Open to Keepers only
Featuring an extra half hour of exclusive entertainment
7:30 - 9:00 pm ET (4:30 - 6:00 pm PT)

REGISTER HERE to reserve your complimentary tickets

Get moving. Connect with friends online. Have fun with Hadassah.

Hugely popular with members last year, Hadassah's dynamic health and wellness program — Every Move Counts —  is designed to help you boost your physical and mental well-being along with other Hadassah members wherever you are, and however you like.

REGISTER

Round One: The Power of Women Nationwide, May 17 – June 20 Round Two: Hadassah Moves Across Israel, June 27 – August 2 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Tax-deductible (minus $10 fee per registration) Watch our video featuring members raving about how much they love Every Move Counts! Questions? Email program@hadassah.org.

We Mourn the Passing of

• Philip Sulman, father of Lisa & Steve Weidling, Brenda & Greg Morris, Julie & Doug Myall, Linda Williams, David & Kym Sulman, Carey Fedele, Margie Orr, and Kurt Williams (z”l)
• Shimon Ben Ami, father of David (Judy) Benami.
• Gene Huppin, husband of Gerry Huppin, father of Beth (David Bennett) Huppin, Lisa (Bob) Low, Joel (Chris) Huppin, Amee Huppin (Michael) Sherer, Mark Huppin.