Ellen Hershkin is the chair of Hadassah Israel Travel. She was the 26th national president of Hadassah. Previously, she was the coordinator of the formerly named PRAZE Division (now called Education & Advocacy). She also served on the Young Judaea Scholarship Committee. She served as the national secretary and national vice president of Hadassah.
Ellen served as national chair of Hadassah’s Membership Outreach Department, which followed her service as national chair of the Public Affairs Department and the Hadassah Office in Israel. Previously, Ellen served as chair of the 2004 Hadassah National Convention held in Phoenix. She served as the national coordinator of the Young Judaea Division and chair of the Young Judaea section of the Fundraising Division. She was the appointed liaison from HWZOA to Hadassah Israel, national chair of coordinated/leadership training and national chair of the Local Convention Committee for Hadassah’s 84th National Convention held in New York City in 1998.
Ellen has developed and facilitated numerous leadership workshops and training seminars for Hadassah units, Hadassah in Israel, Hadassah International, the senior nursing staff of the Hadassah Medical Organization and the nursing faculty of Hadassah-Hebrew University. She was called upon to facilitate a Speakers Effectiveness Training and a Speaking to the Media Workshop for the foreign ambassadors posted in Israel. Ellen initiated the concept of interdivisional/departmental national coordinated training events and created Commit to Hadassah, a program designed to orient Hadassah House staff to the organization.
The first national portfolio Ellen held was that of national Young Leaders chair. She participated in the 1979 Young Women’s Caucus, a forerunner to the Young Leaders Department, and was an original member of the National Greater Metropolitan Young Leaders Committee. In 1984, Ellen chaired the first in-house National Young Leaders Institute and served as an advisor to many Young Leaders.
Ellen resides in Plainview, NY, and has been a member of Hadassah since 1973. She is past president of the Dix Hills Chapter and past president of Hadassah Suffolk. She has held many board positions.
Ellen has been a two-time recipient of the Woman of the Year Award, from her chapter in 1977 and from the region in 1984. She was recognized by the Dix Hills Chapter with the National Leadership Award and the Love of a Lifetime Award. In May 2006, at its annual installation event, the Suffolk Council of Jewish Organizations bestowed its highest honor on her for her leadership, commitment and dedication to Jewish Life.