With gratitude and thanks

By Diane Schwartz Collier/Lee Hadassah President

As my two-year term as president of the wonderful Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah is coming to an end, it feels strange to leave the office I have been honored to hold, but I am also happy to reflect on all of the fabulous Hadassah women, associates and generous donors I’ve met and with whom I have worked.

All of this began in an unforeseen way. I was very impacted at a point in 2017, when all our lives exploded with crisis events in Charlottesville, VA. It was appalling to see Neo-Nazis carrying torches through American streets and screaming anti-Semitic screeds. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2018, the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh happened. Totally appalling!

I was frightened and angry for all of us after those two events, but I didn’t know they would change my life.

I said to my husband, “I am going to do something. We have to do something and not let these terrible events stand in the way of our Jewish lives.”

He asked, “What are you going to do?”

I said, “I don’t know.”

Then, as if it was “bashert,” shortly thereafter, in November 2018, I attended a Hadassah luncheon meeting and noticed that there was no president listed on the slate of officers. I spent lunch thinking about whether I could offer myself as a candidate — should I do it? Do I want to do it? Will I do it? Those were the thoughts that ran through my mind.

Then I had an epiphany!

I had wanted to “do something” for our Jewish people and I am here at this moment, when there is this need. I think I am supposed to do this!

I offered to take the presidency and, obviously, they elected me.

Now, after a wonderful two years for me and, hopefully, for the Collier/Lee Chapter, I can say they were filled with challenges, fun, creativity and friendship. Years spent doing the “work” we need to do for Hadassah, and the people around the world impacted by that work, is so gratifying.

I am personally proud of HMO and what Hadassah has meant to the development of Israel’s health care and its larger impact as world-class hospitals.

I am proud of Youth Aliyah, born at a time when Jewish children in Europe needed to be saved and Henrietta Szold, our founder, went to Europe and brought 30,000 children back to Israel as the start of this special program. We now have three Youth Aliyah Villages. And today, two million people, out of Israel’s over 8.5 million, can trace their Israeli origins to a Youth Aliyah village.

I am also proud of Young Judea and the role it plays in creating Jewish experiences for young people. I am proud to be a Hadassah Life Member and proud to be a Zionist!

This is an organization that is much needed in the world, in our communities, in our lives and in our hearts.

I extend my best wishes for success to our Board of Directors and incoming president Joyce Toub. Moving forward, I am happy to be a resource for her and the Board.

I close with affection and gratitude to all the Collier/Lee Chapter Board members, who were tremendously supportive of my effort. We worked so well together in our common cause. We really are The Women Who Do!