By Carol Ann Schwartz
On Thursday night, I returned home to Cincinnati, invigorated by the 200-plus Hadassah national leaders and attendees from around the country who joined me for Hadassah’s January National Business Meetings. When I stepped up to the dais to make my first speech as Hadassah’s national president, I was humbled by the groundswell of support. But it’s the gratitude I felt during those three days that will stay with me, gratitude for the positive energy and power of everyone who’d come together in Florida.
These leaders are the lifeblood of Hadassah, always ready to roll up their sleeves to do what needs to be done, to make Hadassah what it is and always has been: the largest Jewish women's organization in America and the largest Zionist organization in America. Their passion and the scope of their impact is what draws people to us. I know of no other organization that has contributed more fully to the building of Israel, to the empowerment of Jewish women and to the expression of Jewish values. Proudly women-led. Proudly volunteer-led.
It’s the honor of a lifetime to assume a role held by women who have helped make history: from Henrietta Szold to Rose Halperin, Bernice Tannenbaum to my dear friend Rhoda Smolow. We save lives. We save souls. We are a bridge to peace. As president, I hope to help everyone — far and wide — understand that. It’s not only our purpose to build and serve Israel and to support women’s rights, but to stand up, speak out and express our solidarity especially whenever Jewish rights and lives, or women’s rights and lives, are threatened and assaulted.
What happened on October 7 was devastating. But at Hadassah, we hear in the biggest challenges a call to action. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Ohio like me or New York, Michigan or Texas, you’re part of something bigger, making a tangible difference in our communities, in Israel and around the world. And that’s been clear since Day 1, but perhaps most poignantly during the Holocaust and now in the aftermath of October 7.
We have a busy year ahead, maintaining and invigorating Hadassah’s hospitals and youth villages in Israel, sustaining our activism in America, not only on behalf of israel but for women’s health and reproductive rights, in the fight against antisemitism, in getting out the vote to ensure we have allies in the corridors of power, in empowering women and in sharing our vision. A vision of hope and healing.
I ask that you join me, that you help me bring this Hadassah message of hope and healing far and wide, that you help empower others to make meaningful change with Hadassah.