“We have to take care of the world, take care of the people and take care of each other,” said Deborah Wiskind.
That’s why Wiskind, a Hadassah national vice president, likes being involved in a humanitarian organization. It’s why she loves Hadassah.
“I like going to bed at night knowing I did something good, even if it’s just a tiny little piece of my world. It makes me feel fulfilled.”
It was fortunate for Wiskind that both her grandmother and sister had already discovered the appeal of Hadassah — connection and community — before she did. So when she was looking to make new friends, Wiskind knew exactly where to turn. In the early ‘90s, after getting married and moving back to her hometown in Westchester County, New York, she gave her local Hadassah unit a call.
“I came for the friendships. I stayed for the mission.”
From her first role at the chapter level, her portfolio developed quickly, with stints as membership chair and treasurer, before representing Westchester in the national young leaders’ group. This catapulted her into a range of regional positions, including region president, and the national arena.
“I’m proud of my region presidency. I loved being a region president. I worked hard, but I loved it. I felt like I was doing something important, and I felt really good about the job I did.”
Throughout her 30-plus years of dedicated service to Hadassah, Wiskind had learned to step outside of her comfort zone.
“Hadassah helped me grow.”
Wiskind credits her service to Hadassah with helping her become more comfortable with public speaking, traveling alone and even being confident enough to run for the vice presidency.
“When I won, that was probably one of the greatest days of my life,” she said.
Wiskind is now enjoying the behind-the-scenes work of steering Hadassah into the future. She says she looks forward to creating stronger alignment among Hadassah’s various departments and divisions. She aims to encourage the effective collaboration between different talents and skills.
“I like thinking outside the box. I like the togetherness, the brainstorming and the thinking [about] how to make things better.”
The Fun Facts
Gefilte fish: Yes or No?
Absolutely
Favorite Jewish holiday treat?
Matzah brei
Favorite Jewish author?
Robert Balson, Fiona Davis, Faye Kellerman + 20 more
If you could have dinner with any historical Jewish woman, who would it be?
Henrietta Szold (What kind of VP would I be if I didn’t mention my hero?)
Hadassah vice presidents play a critical role in setting organizational priorities, raising funds and serving as representatives for Hadassah at the national level. There are six vice presidents on the Hadassah National Board at any one time, and each brings her own unique experience and skill set to the position. In this series, we invite you to get to know these Hadassah vice presidents.
