Hadassah Southern California

What are you going to wear to the Global Gala on Sunday Feb 21?

Hadassah, the leading Jewish women’s organization, has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The organization joined 50 other members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which announced on Tuesday the adoption of the definition by those organizations on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We must be able to easily identify antisemitic acts, whether they are phy...sical acts of violence or inflammatory rhetoric. Nations around the world continue to adopt the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism, as have successive presidential administrations, but Congress has not yet written the definition into law, said Smolow. We will continue to call on lawmakers in Washington to codify the IHRA working definition into law and bring us one step closer to building a safer, more inclusive world. See more

This week's Shabbat Message from Hadassah Southern California President, Michelle Conwisar: Dear Hadassah Friends, What happens when people open their hearts? They get better. Haruki Murakami... I am excited to invite you to Coming Together to Heal Our World A Global Virtual Benefit for Hadassah Hospitals on Sunday, February 21, 2021. This is a first ever collaboration with Hadassah International, and the exciting Zoom event will be seen on the West Coast at 11:30 am. I am sure you have received email invitations or perhaps you’ve seen it on Facebook. The program features a star-studded line up of celebrities who have come together to celebrate with us. Confirmed talent includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Falchuk, Ben Platt, Jason Alexander, Lior Raz and Sharon Stone. Others we will hear from are Michael Bloomberg, Jennifer Griffin, Ramin Karimloo and Kelli O’Hara. As a special treat, Tony Award winning stars will be performing a musical number created especially for Hadassah. We will also enjoy a live performance by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and much more. I am proud to tell you that immediate past Hadassah Southern California President, Debbie Kessler, is on this exclusive Gala Committee. We will celebrate Hadassah’s work around the world through live interviews with those whose lives were saved by your generosity. The registration fee is $180 per household. Your whole family can watch the professionally produced extravaganza for one ticket price as long as you are together in the same house. Tax deductible donations above the registration fee are welcome and encouraged. Recognition opportunities are available starting at the $360 Friend level. Donors of brand-new gifts of $36,000 or more for 2021 will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive Gala Reception just prior to the main show at 11:00 am. For more information on these sponsorships please contact our West Regional Director of Major Gifts, Harriett Zeitlin at [email protected]. At this celebration, we have the rare opportunity to see doctors as they are reunited with their patients, in real time, and experience the joy of their healing touch. We will witness families leading healthy, happy lives thanks to you and your commitment. A patient who fully recovers from lymphoma, will be paired on screen with Jennifer Griffin who lived in Israel, had breast cancer, and was successfully treated at Hadassah Hospital. A mother, who knew that before birth her child would be born with a bad heart, experiences a harrowing time of uncertainty and panic. We learn the genius of the progressive pediatric cardiac surgery that enabled her child to live. Please tell me you will join me for this Celebration of Hope and Healing. For more information and to sign up go to hadassah.org/benefit. I wish you a Shabbat of hope and healing, Michelle Conwisar, President Hadassah Southern California [email protected] (310) 276-0036 Link: http://www.hadassah.org/benefit

This weeks's Shabbat Message from Hadassah Southern California President, Michelle Conwisar: Dear Hadassah Friends, "There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it." National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman... Words matter. The words we speak and write should be meaningful and deliberate. Listening to Amanda Gorman recite her beautifully written poem, The Hill We Climb during the presidential inauguration ceremony this week filled me with optimism. Her message of resilience echoed loud and proud as she offered her positivity and calls for action for a bright future ahead. Her thoughtful insight and profound poise at such a young age of 22 is inspiring. National Compliment Day is on Sunday, January 24. This is an opportunity to use your words to boost someone’s happiness and confidence. Envision the impact we can all make by building up someone with a simple yet powerful compliment. Both giving and receiving compliments are happiness boosters. Receiving a compliment can certainly brighten your day. Giving a compliment has the same attributes and can enhance your own mood. Step out of your comfort zone and compliment people you don’t even know. Grocery store workers, coffee shop baristas, bank tellers, even a grumpy person you may encounter during your dayeveryone's worthy of receiving a compliment! Just this week, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon praised the doctors, nurses and volunteers at Hadassah Hospital who are working in the COVID-19 units. Hearing his words made the staff feel appreciated and lifted their spirits. Read the story below. I wish you a Shabbat filled with using your light to ignite the flame in others. Shabbat Shalom, Michelle Conwisar, President Hadassah Southern California [email protected] (310) 276-0036 Links: https://www.hadassah.org//jerusalem-mayor-witnesses-heroic

Don’t Miss Bagels & Books THIS FRIDAY featuring Abby Stein, Author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Register at http://www.hadassah.org/events/bagelsbooks2021