The shining light of Hadassah

Joyce Toub, Collier/Lee Hadassah President

Having recently celebrated our holiday of Purim, with its heroine of Queen Esther, Hadassah as an organization is once again where it belongs — a hero in today’s international fight. We are about to celebrate another major holiday, Passover. The relationship from the past to the present is uncanny.

Passover tells us to remember the past as if we, ourselves, were participating in the Exodus. Do we find it difficult to imagine plagues today, considering the hunger and homelessness in our cities, snow and ice in Texas, insurgency in Mozambique, famine in Nigeria, attacks on aid workers in Syria and the international terror of COVID-19? It is all too real and terrifying.

In this uncertain time, there is the shining light of Hadassah, whose work centers on Israel, but whose research and humanitarian work resonates throughout the world. Our Hadassah Global Response Team has reacted to COVID-19 in many different ways internationally.

In Argentina, with the help of Hadassah International, the Jewish community has come together to fight COVID-19. Business leaders have donated $100 million to the CV-19 Argentina Fund, which provides a volunteer network to support the elderly and establish temporary clinics. Jorge Diener, Associate Director of Hadassah International, is in daily contact with the community leadership to implement this program.

The Mexican Jewish community approached Hadassah Mexico, requesting advice from HMO and Hadassah International as to how it should protect its community. There’s now a website, https://Jerum.org, that is a resource for the Jewish community.

In Chile and Ecuador, discussions were held regarding the handling of COVID-19. Jorge Diener reports daily on COVID-19 in Spanish and has a regular column in the Argentinian Jewish News, serving all of Latin America.

In France, the Jewish community turned to Hadassah for advice and information. A program with Professor Yoram Weiss, director of Hadassah Ein Keren, aired on Shalom Radio, the Jewish radio station.

Hadassah Australia has been facilitating contact between medical professionals at HMO and major hospitals in Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne and the Alfred hospitals, to discuss best practices.

In the hope of Tikkun Olam, Hadassah sets a positive example for the world — leading in healing, inspiring kindness and giving. We all continue to help Hadassah build on what has already begun, so we can continue to see the fruit of our labors.

Hadassah happenings

This month, we hope all our members will join us for these Expanding Horizons programs:

• April 5, 2021 – “Remember the Ladies” will offer insights and interesting facts about the writings and education of several of America’s first ladies. Our presenter is Jeff Margolis.

• April 12, 2021 – “The Art of Fused Glass & Mosaics” will feature Judy Belmont from her studio, Naples Glassworks.