JERUSALEM (Press Release) – As Hadassah’s much anticipated Centennial Convention in Jerusalem nears, thousands of people from across the United States will travel to Israel, where they’ll honor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as hear remarks from President Shimon Peres.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, almost 2,000 people are expected to come together in Israel for the October 15-18 convention, which includes the formal dedication of one of Hadassah’s most significant projects in its history and its crowning achievement in advancing health care, the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower at Hadassah Medical Center’s Ein Kerem campus.
As part of the convention’s opening ceremonies on Tuesday, October 16, President Peres will present the stamp created by the Israel Postal Company to honor Hadassah’s and Hadassah Medical Center’s combined contributions to and accomplishments in Israel. On October 18, at the convention’s closing gala, Prime Minister Netanyahu will be presented with Hadassah’s most prestigious accolade, the Henrietta Szold Award.
Hadassah, founded in 1912 in New York City by Henrietta Szold and 30 other women, today has more than 330,000 women members and men associates in the United States, as well as supporters around the world. Since its founding, the organization has had more than a million members and supporters.
“This moment is the culmination of 100 years of achievement,” said Hadassah National President Marcie Natan. “I cannot wait to begin our second century alongside almost 2,000 of my fellow Hadassah members as we commemorate our shared Judaism and love for Israel. Together, we will embark with renewed focus on our critical work advocating on behalf of women’s health issues in the United States, training young women to become the next generation of leaders, and leading the medical research making Israel one of the world’s most significant innovators in healthcare today.
“In honor of our centennial year, we will present our centennial gift to the people of Israel – a state-of-the-art medical tower that is but the first step in the next century of innovations in medical treatment and research. This convention will surely be an event to remember, something that happens but once in a lifetime.”
Highlights will include:
- Festive parade through the streets of downtown Jerusalem to kick off the convention and bring home the centennial torch, which was relayed from Israel through communities across the United States, and will be returned to Israel
*Will be live-streamed at hadassah.org/centennial
- Opening ceremonies at Safra Square
*Will be live-streamed at hadassah.org/centennial
- Dedication of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower, during which Hadassah delegates will be joined by President Shimon Peres as well as Hadassah Medical Organization management and staff
*Will be live-streamed at hadassah.org/centennial
- Presentation of the Henrietta Szold Award to Prime Minister Netanyahu during the Gala Centennial Celebration at the Israel Convention Center
*Will be live-streamed at hadassah.org/centennial
- Tours of the new hospital tower and opportunities to get to know staff
- Visit to Hadassah Neurim, Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah Village on the Mediterranean Sea, where delegates will celebrate the organization’s incredible accomplishments in education, youth work and land reclamation
- Tours of Hadassah sites in Jerusalem, including Hadassah’s Mount Scopus hospital, Hadassah College, Beit Ar-El, the renovated headquarters of Young Judaea
A full schedule is available at Hadassah’s website at http://tinyurl.com/98dzxot.
The year leading up to the convention has been a year of celebrations for Hadassah – locally, nationally, and in Israel. Hadassah national and its chapters and regions across the United States have marked the organization’s 100th anniversary through various activities including a rededication ceremony at Temple Emanu-El in New York, where the organization was founded; an online exhibition, “Art at Hadassah,” featuring artworks at Hadassah sites in Israel; and the production and publication of Thin Threads – Real Stories of Hadassah Life Changing Moments, a compilation of the stories of 101 individuals whose lives have been irrevocably, positively changed through their connection to Hadassah.
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Preceding provided by Hadassah