Helping to heal the world

Joyce Toub, Collier/Lee Hadassah President

Shavuot, the festival celebrating the giving of the Torah, began the evening of June 4, and we continue to extract wisdom from the laws given to us at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago. During Shavuot, we read The Book of Ruth, upholding values that resettle refugees fleeing their homeland. Hadassah members helped resettle Afghan refugees who fled their homeland last summer and continue to do so. Hadassah is also welcoming and healing Ukrainian refugees as their plight continues.

We learn we can make a difference in a world that seems increasingly unsafe for democracy. Ukrainians are not only fighting for their lives, their freedom and their nation, but they are also defending democracy. Hadassah has been part of a global campaign to help in this effort.

I am pleased to tell you that Hadassah’s emergency Ukraine-related fund is now complete. Over $1.1 million has been raised and these funds will soon exceed the needs dedicated to these efforts.

We, therefore, again focus our resources on meeting the needs of Hadassah Medical Organization, Youth Aliyah, Young Judea and the 360° of Healing Campaign. Every contribution to Hadassah is meaningful. And when you designate your gift to Hadassah for the greatest need, your money goes to that cause, whether it is HMO, Youth Aliyah, Young Judea or our domestic programs on advocacy.

When you designate a specific gift, you are supporting high-priority projects, facilities and equipment that create state-of-the-art environments, where our medical personnel can perform their duties, offering optimal medical care and healing.

When you give to Youth Aliyah, you support at-risk youth in Israel who receive shelter, food, counseling and education. Young Judea provides summer camps and Israeli programs for Jewish youth from across the U.S. and around the world.

Hadassah’s advocacy program educates and informs us. Hadassah safeguards women’s health, empowering women with the knowledge to make the best health decisions for ourselves and our families.

Hadassah’s new policy statement on reaffirming support for reproductive choice declares, “We all deserve agency over our own bodies and the autonomy to make reproductive health decisions based on medical guidance, our own values and what we feel is best for our health, our families and our future.”

We are lucky to be in a position to help heal the world. Every little bit helps!