[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1196-S1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HADASSAH INTERNATIONAL'S 90TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, we are all, by now, too familiar with 
reports of cowardly terrorist attacks in the streets of Jerusalem. With 
each of these terrible attacks, we also hear amazing stories of 
heroism.
  I recently read a powerful account of the health care professionals 
who cared for the victims of the bombings on Ben Yehudah Street last 
December. It was written by Barbara Sofer, and it featured the work of 
the doctors and nurses of the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem who saved 
the lives of dozens of young people under the most trying 
circumstances.
  Two things were clear from the account. First, the contributions of 
Hadassah members make an undeniable difference in improving lives 
around the world. Second, in our international war against terrorism, 
the compassion and dedication personified in Hadassah will defeat 
terrorists whose only interest is destruction.
  Today Hadassah celebrates 90 years of excellence in health care and 
social justice. Hadassah started as a movement to bring health care to 
a poor people in a troubled land. It has become much, much more. 
Hadassah has energized women for nine decades. It helped build modern 
Israel. It has created world-renowned medical and education 
institutions in Israel, which provide trained medical experts not only 
for Israel, but for countries the world over. In fact, Hadassah-trained 
health professionals have responded to health care crises in Rwanda and 
Bosnia.
  We have felt the impact of its excellent work right here in America, 
as well, on issues of concern to women and to the American Jewish 
community. Hadassah has over 300,000 members in 1500 chapters across 
our Nation, and its work has benefitted Americans of all backgrounds.
  We are reminded day in and day out that there are forces who want to 
destroy Israel, weaken America and destabilize the world. But Israel is 
more secure, America stronger, and the world more stable because of the 
work of Hadassah. It is only fitting, therefore, that we celebrate 
Hadassah International's 90 years of excellence.
  I extend my congratulations to Bonnie Lipton, National President of 
Hadassah, and the women who serve on the Hadassah Foundation's Board of 
Directors. To each of them, and to each of the 300,000 members in this 
country, I say, thank you.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, this month, Hadassah, the Women's 
Zionist Organization of America, will celebrate its 90th Anniversary. 
Hadassah is a unique organization, which has distinguished itself in 
many arenas over nearly a century. With priorities that range from 
women's advocacy to developmental health care, Hadassah has 
consistently made significant contributions around the globe.
  I take great pride in the Baltimorean, Henrietta Szold, who founded 
Hadassah in 1912. Henrietta Szold was a remarkable woman, a person not 
only of high principles, great intelligence and inexhaustible energy, 
but someone with the rare and precious ability to translate principles 
into reality. It was she who set out for Jerusalem in 1918 with staff 
and supplies for a 50-bed hospital. Today that hospital is known as the 
Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem; it cares annually for more 
than 600,000 patients, sets standards for excellence in health care, 
teaching and research both in Israel and around the world, and opens 
its doors to everyone in need.
  Henrietta Szold's greatest contribution may not have been her own 
devotion to her community, but the framework she instituted for 
Hadassah members under which they could carry on the principles that 
inspired her--service, generosity of spirit, human kindness, and 
commitment. Hadassah members have acted on these principles, over the 
past nine decades turning Hadassah into the largest women's group and 
largest Jewish membership organization in the United States, with 
nearly 1,650 chapters and a membership of over 300,000.
  In Baltimore alone, Hadassah has contributed to health education and 
community outreach through a number of award-winning programs. These 
include Check it Out, a program to increase breast cancer awareness and 
prevention; Act Against Osteoporosis, a campaign to teach prevention 
and promote the early detection of osteoporosis; Prostate Cancer 
Awareness Program, a program to educate men about early detection and 
awareness of prostate cancer; and the 5K Race for Research, an annual 
race for breast and prostate cancer research. Hadassah has also 
contributed greatly to education and advocacy in Baltimore through 
programs like Reach Out and Read, a program in which volunteers read 
aloud to children in the pediatric offices at Sinai Hospital, Read, 
Write, Now! an elementary school tutoring program, and Lunch and Learn, 
a weekly women's study group. Baltimore Hadassah also offers a number 
of programs for Jewish youth, including Al Galgalim (Training Wheels), 
Wheeling On and Young Judaea, exceptional programs designed to foster 
an interest and devotion to Zionism and Jewish heritage.
  The welcome evidence of Hadassah's efforts is everywhere around us. 
The work of Hadassah has contributed very

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significantly to the vibrancy and vitality of Jewish life in America 
and Israel and has strengthened the bonds between our two countries. It 
has done this by expanding educational opportunities, funding advanced 
research and health care facilities, establishing youth programs and 
activities and defending democratic freedoms and social justice around 
the world.
  It would be impossible to pay adequate tribute to all of Hadassah's 
achievements contributions over the years. But as Hadassah enters its 
tenth decade, I want to commend this organization for its broad and 
abiding commitments. In areas from humanitarian relief, education and 
women's health, to their partnership with Israel, Hadassah is always 
ready to lend a hand, open a door, or inspire a young mind. I look 
forward to celebrating many more years of Hadassah's impressive 
achievements.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Hadassah, 
the Women's Zionist Organization of America, who, in addition to having 
the privilege of sharing its name with my beautiful wife, have worked 
tirelessly over the past 90 years, leaving an indelible mark on Israel 
and the American Jewish community. From a small group of women who 
first gathered in February 1912, Hadassah has grown into the largest 
women's and largest Jewish membership organization in the United 
States. Today, comprised of 1500 chapters and more than 300,000 
members, who can be found in every congressional district nationwide, 
Hadassah remains committed to the worthy mission of its founders: 
promoting education, health care, and social justice to Israel and 
American Jewish women and their families.
  Today, I take a few moments to pay tribute to this institution on its 
90th anniversary by sharing with my colleagues a little bit about its 
founder. Henrietta Szold was born in Baltimore, MD on December 21, 
1860. The eldest of eight children, her father, Rabbi Benjamin Szold, 
raised Henrietta to be a scholar. After graduating high school, she 
taught French, German, botany, mathematics, and other subjects at the 
Misses Adam's School for Girls in Baltimore. At the same time, she 
taught bible history classes for adults and youth Sunday school classes 
at her father's synagogue. In 1893, she moved to Philadelphia to become 
the secretary-editor of the Jewish Publication Society. In 1902, after 
the death of her father, she moved to New York City with her mother 
where, in 1907, she joined the Hadassah Study Circle, a women's Zionist 
group.
  In 1909-1910, Henrietta and her mother visited what was then known as 
Palestine--a trip that would change her life. Over the course of 6 
months, she was moved by what she witnessed, especially the absence of 
basic medical care. Her mother suggested that Henrietta get her study 
group involved in health work in Palestine. Greatly affected by her 
mother's suggestion, Henrietta posed this idea to her group and, in 
February 1912, the Hadassah Chapter of the Daughters of Zion adapted 
this mission, dedicating themselves to the improvement of health care 
in Palestine and the promotion of Jewish education in the United 
States. Because they initially met on Purim, the group took the name of 
the holiday's central figure, Queen Esther, who's Hebrew name is 
``Hadassah.''
  Today, Hadassah's achievements in advancing health care are evident 
throughout Israel. Hadassah Medical Organization supports the most 
advanced medical center in the region, comprised of two hospitals, 90 
outpatient clinics, and numerous health centers. Each year, the 
organization provides health care to over 600,000 patients a year and 
participates in global outreach programs to developing countries.
  In the United States, Hadassah has taken on a broad range of 
initiatives on behalf of women and the Jewish community. From the 
Women's Health department's ``Check It Out'' breast cancer detection 
and awareness campaign to the family programs sponsored by the Jewish 
Education department Hadassah provides the American Jewish community 
with countless services and educational opportunities. Furthermore, the 
Government Relations Unit provides members and the general public with 
education and promotes widespread civic participation on public policy 
matters such as American-Israeli relations, church-state separation, 
and women's health.
  Additionally, Hadassah funds and maintains four other major programs 
in Israel and the United States: Hadassah Israel Education Services 
which gives Israeli citizens vocational and technical training; Youth 
Aliya which provides disadvantaged Israeli and immigrant youth with 
education and housing; Young Judea, which helps American teenagers 
build connections to Israel and Jewish life through clubs, camps, and 
programs in Israel; and the Jewish National Fund which works to 
preserve Israel's ecology and natural resources.
  Nine decades after a group of 38 women first met in New York City to 
establish a social action group, Hadassah has grown into a nationwide 
organization providing much needed services and support to Israelis and 
the American Jewish community. I am pround to wish them congratulations 
on their 90th anniversary and extend my appreciation for all their 
important work, which can best be summed up in the traditional words, 
``Mazel tov.''
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
founding of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. 
Ninety years ago on the holiday of Purim, Henrietta Szold founded 
Hadassah, a volunteer women's humanitarian organization that is 300,000 
members strong and one I am honored to have worked with on many an 
occasion. Hadassah's President, Bonnie Lipton has been a great leader 
and a friend.
  The holiday of Purim celebrates the story of Esther, who saved the 
Jews from annihilation by the Persian King Ahasuerus. Esther was 
Ahasuerus' wife, and when she learned that Ahasuerus' advisor, Haman, 
convinced him to kill the Jews, at great personal risk she intervened 
to save the Jewish people. In celebration of this event, Esther, whose 
Jewish name was Hadassah, instructed the Jewish people to give gifts to 
the poor. It is appropriate that Henrietta Szold created an 
organization dedicated to Esther, Hadassah, and Purim: ensuring Jewish 
continuity and giving the gift of a better life to the poor.
  Ms. Szold was inspired to create Hadassah when she learned of the 
conditions of impoverished Jews living in the slums of Turkish-ruled 
Jerusalem in 1912. By convincing nurses in New York to help in pre-
state Israel, Henrietta Szold created a women's institution dedicated 
to public service and community responsibility. Hadassah continues 
today to help bring hope to the less-fortunate across the United States 
and abroad.
  Through educational programs, including vocational training and 
exposure to the arts and athletics, Hadassah helps disadvantaged youth 
realize their dreams and potential. Hadassah's Youth Aliyah program 
offers teenagers from around the world who are struggling with 
depression solace, support and hope. Hadassah members also work with 
local elementary schools to help ensure that children are given every 
opportunity and helping hand to learn to read.
  Hadassah offers a positive experience for its members and those who 
they help. They volunteer their time to assist in soup kitchens, 
nursing homes, day care centers, libraries, hospitals, clinics, 
domestic violence shelters, schools, and synagogues. Its members 
recognize the importance of mentoring and provide many opportunities 
for young women to learn about the importance of commitment, charity, 
leadership, community, and individualism, qualities of character that 
our children need to learn.
  Beyond its charitable mission, Hadassah has been a key advocate of 
women's health issues and led efforts to warn Congress of the dangers 
of genetic testing. Best known for its medical facility in Jerusalem, 
Hadassah offers the most advanced medical care in the Middle East, to 
Jews and Arabs alike, and has helped build hospitals in the poorest of 
countries. Hadassah has been a leader in medical research, especially 
in women's health.
  For years Hadassah was prevented from gaining special consultative 
status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC. I 
am happy to say that Hadassah was finally admitted in May 2001. This 
``status'' should have been a simple thing. ECOSOC oversees the World 
Health Organization, UNICEF, UNESCO, the

[[Page S1198]]

Commission on the Status of Women, and the Human Rights Commission. It 
seemed logical that Hadassah would gain this status, routinely given to 
many organizations, given its leadership for 90 years in medicine, 
education, welfare, and women's rights abroad. Hadassah, however, had 
to fight a long battle with the anti-Semitism present in the United 
Nations in order to gain this status.
  I salute Hadassah for its 90 years of charity and leadership as a 
humanitarian organization both in America and Israel and look forward 
to continue to working closely with its membership.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today Hadassah, the Women's Zionist 
Organization of America, a wonderful organization that exemplifies a 
spirit of volunteerism and commitment to others is celebrating their 
90th anniversary. With more than 300,000 members nationwide, Hadassah 
is one of the largest women's and the largest Jewish membership 
organization in America.
  Hadassah was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold as a group of women 
``interested in the promotion of Jewish institutions and enterprises in 
Palestine.'' What began as an attempt to provide health and social 
services to both Jews and Arabs in Palestine has grown into myriad 
undertakings.
  Today, Hadassah's major activities in Israel and in the United States 
span the arenas of health, education, social services, and 
environmental preservation. For instance, the Hadassah Medical 
Organization supplies quality medical care to individuals in the Middle 
East, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The Youth Aliya 
Program provides housing and support for disadvantaged and immigrant 
youth in Israel.
  Additionally, the Jewish National Fund helps to build parks and 
preserve Israel's natural resources, while Young Judea helps U.S. 
teenagers build connections to Israel and Jewish life. In all of its 
endeavors, Hadassah has fulfilled its mission to promote a peaceful and 
prosperous Israel, ensure Jewish continuity, pursue social justice, and 
provide for the health, education, and well-being of individuals both 
in Israel and in America.
  Over its 90 years of existence, Hadassah has touched the lives of 
millions of individuals in a tangible manner. In a time when the Middle 
East remains embroiled in controversy and violence, it is comforting to 
find a group whose commitment has not changed over time. Even today, 
Hadassah provides lessons that we can all learn from. I am proud my 
home state of California boasts more than 25,000 members, people 
devoted to improving the world around them. As a lifetime member, I 
would like to thank Hadassah for its efforts, and look forward to 
celebrating future milestones with them.

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