Jewish Ledger

Ledger Online / February 16, 2012 / No Comment

Hadassah at 100: One woman’s vision, realized

Jewish Ledger | 2-17-12

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was founded by Henrietta Szold on Feb. 24, 1912. Like others of her generation, Szold’s existence was shaped — and framed — by war. Born in 1860, she entered the world on the eve of the Civil War. Eighty-five years later, in February of 1945, in the waning days of World War II, she died.
In 1909, Szold and her mother took a trip to pre-state Israel. There they witnessed the starvation and disease that afflicted the people of the region. She returned to the U.S. and soon thereafter founded Hadassah, a volunteer women’s organization whose first mission was to send two nurses to Palestine to provide pasteurized milk to infants and new mothers, and to eradicate trachoma, an easily cured eye disease, that was robbing thousands of sight.
By 1918, Hadassah had sent an entire medical unit, composed of 45 doctors, nurses, dentists and sanitary workers, to bring American-style medical care to serve all, regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity.
By the mid-1930s, it had become clear that Jewish children needed to be saved from a Europe that was rapidly darkening. Joining with a German colleague, Szold helped organize the rescue of thousands of such children, bringing them to safety in Palestine.
Today at 100 years old, with 300,000 members, Hadassah is the largest Jewish organization in America, and one of the largest women’s volunteer organizations in the world. Since its inception, Hadassah has been taken advocacy positions on public health, support of Israel, stem cell research, and a vast array of social concerns.
Hadassah founded, owns and supports two world-class medical centers in greater Jerusalem, and is rapidly expanding its campuses and facilities. In March, the $363 million Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower at Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem will open for business.
In addition, over the years, Hadassah expanded its Israeli projects to include Hadassah College Jerusalem, one of Israel’s top-ranked smaller colleges and three Hadassah Youth Aliyah villages, where young immigrants and Israel’s underprivileged youth are housed, fed, educated and nurtured. Hadassah also runs Israel’s largest touring and residency program for American Jewish youth through Young Judaea, its Zionist youth movement. The organization also supports major reforestation and water conservation programs as a strong supporter of the Jewish National Fund.
Hadassah will host a 100th anniversary rededication ceremony at Temple Emanu-el in New York, where the organization was founded, on Friday, Feb. 24. In addition, a Centennial Conference featuring the dedication of the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower will be held in Jerusalem Oct. 15 – 18.
For more information on Hadassah and the centennial celebration visit www.hadassah.org.

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Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower

Hadassah’s Rising Star:
The new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower 

On March 19, Hadassah Medical Center will move the first patients into its new one million square foot facility called the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower. The Tower will be officially dedicated on Oct. 15-18 as part of Hadassah’s centennial celebration in Israel.
At a cost of $363,000 million, the new 19-story structure features 500 beds, 20 operating rooms, a 60 intensive care beds and an ultra-modern heart Institute.

It will also feature:
• Expanded centers in: Invasive angiography, immune-mediated disorders, minimally invasive surgery and computerized assisted surgery, cell therapy, and molecular medicine
• Trailblazing research to realize the promise of stem cell treatment and unlock the mysteries of heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and gene therapy
• Advanced imaging in operating rooms, robotics and computer-guided surgery, cutting-edge monitoring and telemedicine

For more information on the celebration of Hadassah’s centennial celebration in Israel and the dedication of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower, visit Hadassah’s website at www.hadassah.org.