For the past four years, National President Rhoda Smolow has shared her pride, passion and purpose with Hadassah, inspiring those around her to do the same while ensuring Hadassah’s powerful voice as the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. As she prepares to hand the reins to incoming president Carol Ann Schwartz on January 1, 2024, we are looking back at some of Smolow’s many accomplishments and the significant impact she made in the US, Israel and around the world through her leadership:
- March 2020: Only a few months into her presidency, Smolow oversaw the transition to an all-remote operation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and led an emergency philanthropy effort that raised $9 million for the Hadassah Medical Organization’s COVID-19 response. To keep communities and members around the country connected, she oversaw the launch of Hadassah@Home, bringing new national programs to members and supporters to advance Hadassah’s mission.
- May 2020: Smolow pushed for the passage of the Never Again Education Act, helping to educate our communities, mobilize grassroots advocates across the country and secure key legislative support. The act became law on May 29.
- October 2020: Hadassah sent an urgent appeal to the leadership of the World Zionist Organization regarding the proposed new Agreement of Principles for the World Zionist Congress, expressing concern that the proposal would negatively impact pluralism in Israel. Days later, Smolow released a statement on the compromise that was reached. “Inclusivity, proper representation and unity are principles that Hadassah cherishes and advocates for, and we are proud to support the revised Agreement of Principles for the World Zionist Congress,” she said.
- January 2021: Smolow helped push support for and adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. “We cannot eliminate antisemitism without first defining what it is. In reaffirming Hadassah’s support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, we are saying to organizations, institutions and government leaders both here at home and around the world what we believe the standard ought to be,” she said after Hadassah adopted a new policy statement at our January meeting.
- January 2022: Five months before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Smolow participated in the Hadassah-hosted “The Road Beyond Roe: Advocating for Reproductive Rights.” Alongside CEO Naomi Adler, she continued to advocate for women’s reproductive rights throughout her presidency, reaffirming Hadassah’s unwavering support for complete access to reproductive choice and health care.
- February 2022: As Russia escalated its invasion of Ukraine, Smolow spearheaded a joint humanitarian effort among Hadassah, Hadassah International and the Hadassah Medical Organization to send Hadassah physicians and nurses to the Poland-Ukraine border and displaced Ukrainian teens to Hadassah’s youth villages in Israel and raise nearly $1.7 million in emergency relief funds.
- August 2022: Smolow and Hadassah Medical Organization Board Chair Dalia Itzik convened a meeting in Tel Aviv of influential women in the Israeli health sector and government who discussed the growing lack of Israel-trained physicians, nurses and auxiliary personnel, chronic shortages in government allocations and areas of inequality. "This was the first time such a conference was held and brought together women to make important positive changes in the health system," said Knesset Health Committee Chair Idit Silman. "Thank you to Hadassah President Rhoda Smolow for initiating it."
- August 2022: In a Letter to the Editor published in The New York Times, Smolow and Hadassah CEO Naomi Adler urged the International Olympic Committee to ensure that the victims of the Munich Massacre would be remembered with a minute of silence at the start of every Olympic Games.
- January 2023: Hadassah is among the Jewish activists and organizations awarded the Genesis Prize, known as the Jewish Nobel, for its response to the crisis in Ukraine.
- September 2023: Smolow was named one of The Jerusalem Post's "50 Most Influential Jews.” “Hadassah and all it represents — a love of Zionism and Israel, a determination to provide the best that medicine has to offer, a belief in the importance of women’s empowerment – have been my passion for 40 years. By honoring me, The Jerusalem Post honors Hadassah,” said Smolow
- October 2023: When war broke out in Israel on October 7, Smolow was one of the first to visit wounded patients at Hadassah’s hospitals. She came back and shared her story widely, helping to show the important work happening at Hadassah.
- Today: Smolow continues to lead Hadassah’s war response efforts, providing updates to members and spearheading an emergency campaign that has so far raised nearly $14 million.
Thank you, Rhoda, for your leadership. Your extraordinary contributions will continue to have a lasting impact for our 300,000 members and associates in the US and our efforts to bring healing where it is needed most.