For her mother’s installation as president of Hadassah’s Newton Group, a teenaged Fran Feldman composed a poem honoring her mother’s achievements. It was her mother’s deep commitment to Hadassah that influenced her own. But Feldman’s Hadassah roots are even more ingrained; her grandmother had gifted her a Hadassah life membership when she was 9.
Growing up in a Zionist home and observing her mother serve in multiple roles for Hadassah’s Boston chapter (now Hadassah Boston), Feldman knew that attending a Hadassah chapter meeting was the obvious choice for connecting with other Jewish women, which she wanted to do after moving with her husband to Palo Alto, California, in her 20s. Not knowing a soul, Feldman was approached by the chapter president.
“Long story short, I was asked by the president how I thought I could help — a great question, by the way — and from then to the present, I’ve never been without a portfolio,” says Feldman.
In fact, Feldman is one of the few women who have served as president of two regions: Central Pacific Coast and Northern New England. And that was all while working full-time, both in Palo Alto and later in the Boston area, where she’s lived since 1990.
Feldman considers her portfolio as Marketing & Communications Division co-chair as her most meaningful. Having worked as an editor of Sunset Books, she brought her professional expertise to Hadassah’s first Style Guide and contributed many of the inspiring stories about Hadassah hospitals. “What can be more impressive than reading about the research and healing being carried out by Hadassah personnel in Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem and Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus in Jerusalem,” she says.
Feldman brings to her position as vice president more than 50 years of professional and volunteer experience, giving her a unique perspective with which to reflect on Hadassah’s structure and direction for the future. “How we cultivate donors, nurture local leadership and streamline our operations are issues that I want to focus on during my final year as vice president,” says Feldman.
“The measure of satisfaction and joy I’ve received while working as a Hadassah volunteer is far greater than anything I’ve given over these many years.”
The Fun Facts:
Gefilte fish: Yes or No?
Yes
Favorite Jewish holiday treat?
Challah with raisins
Favorite Jewish author?
Dara Horn
If you could have dinner with any historical Jewish woman, who would it be?
Henrietta Szold (of course!)
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.
