[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ON THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF HADASSAH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

  Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, in 1912, Henrietta Szold founded the 
Daughters of Zion, an organization to meet the health needs of Jews and 
Arabs in what is now the modern State of Israel. Soon renamed Hadassah, 
the Women's Zionist Organization of America, it has grown to be not 
only the largest Jewish organization in America, but also the largest 
women's organization. I rise today to pay tribute to Hadassah and all 
of the wonderful accomplishments of its ninety-year history.
  Today, Henrietta Szold's vision lives on. With more than 300,000 
members and 1,500 chapters across the country, Hadassah is stronger 
than ever. While best known for the Hadassah Medical Organization, 
which is synonymous with expert medical care, Hadassah has expanded its 
services greatly to help so many people across the globe.
  From preventing the spread of AIDS in Africa to helping at-risk teens 
in Russia, Ethiopia and Israel, the women of Hadassah continue to serve 
the world community in addition to helping American teens develop their 
Jewish spiritual identity.
  The great accomplishments of Hadassah were recognized last year when 
Hadassah gained special consultative status as a non-governmental 
organization with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This 
enables Hadassah to participate more fully in international 
deliberations over medical research and treatment, immigrant 
absorption, refugee welfare and the status of women and children--all 
the areas in which Hadassah has earned its reputation for expertise.
  I congratulate the Women of Hadassah for reaching this milestone, and 
I commend them for their many wonderful accomplishments during the past 
ninety years.

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