President’s Message

This Saturday, January 21st, I am proud to serve as a “Connector” at the Womxn’s March on Seattle.   I will be part of a cadre of diverse and amazing women who met last week to understand the plans underway for all who choose to meet at Judkins Park, 2150 South Norman Street, at 10 am and walk in silence to the Seattle Center.

Impressive women leaders from across our greater Seattle community have stepped forward to organize this complex undertaking.  Connectors will be wearing very distinctive green hats.  Our role is to connect women to the organizations whose missions they support and embrace.  Were it not Shabbat, Hadassah would have a more visible organizational presence on Saturday.  The notable list of local and national organizations that will be participating on Saturday grows daily.

Hadassah’s values and actions align directly with the messages emanating from this march.   From our leadership in launching the Women’s Health Equity Task Force last fall, to our historic role in fighting against gender discrimination in research, Hadassah’s advocacy positions are strategic and strong.  I have just signed on to receive Hadassah’s Advocacy alerts.  I encourage you to do so as well.

This newsletter highlights three artistic programs that will come quickly in February.   Join us at the:

•       Bellevue Art Museum on February 5
•       Paramount for the Batsheva Dance Performance on February 11
•       The Beer Sheva Hadassah Group on February 22^nd for a Purim salon titled “Queen Esther Goes Baroque”  

There is one additional salon that I encourage you to attend, because the powerful story that will be told is the story of our Hadassah sisterhood, across the generations.

 
Come to my home for brunch on Sunday, February 26^rd and meet Ellen Weiser and David Weissman.  It will be an evening to long remember.  The Board and I hope to see you there.

I deeply appreciate your engagement in our Seattle Hadassah community,

Susan Adler, President                                                        
Hadassah Seattle

Seattle–Be'er Sheva Sister City and Seattle Hadassah Present:
Daring Design, Scintillating Creativity and Artistic Expression from Tel Aviv to Seattle!

 
@ Bellevue Arts Museum
Sunday, February 5, 2017
1:00 – 3:00pm

Program begins at 1:30 pm

Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Have you been cloistered away in your busy life and work (or absorbed in politics!) and missed the latest and cleverest new concepts in arts and design? This program is your chance to "get with it" and see what's new from Seattle to Israel.

Two great Seattle organizations have combined forces with the Bellevue Arts Museum to present an intriguing display of stunning design and artistic enrichment. Our program, led by Israeli curator Jennifer-Navva Milliken, noted curator and arts writer, will explore connections between Seattle and Tel Aviv's vibrant design cultures. She will be dedicating much of her talk to Israeli artists and Israel-cited work.

Jennifer and Education Director Eileen Herbert will also be our docents as we explore BAM's latest installation by Electric Coffin, opening February 3.

The exhibition, titled Electric Coffin: The Future Machine, is bright, charming, and dynamic. It will urge visitors to consider the role of art and design through progressions and advancements in technology and society, while underscoring the importance of collaboration in the creative enterprise. Whatever your tastes in art, you'll love the bold use of symbol, color, and metaphor. 

Established in 1977, Seattle—Be’er Sheva Sister City is hosting Hadassah members and community guests with free admission.  Men are welcome!  Join us for kosher refreshments provided by Hadassah’s Beer Sheva Group and meet local leaders of both organizations at 1:00 pm.. The program begins at 1:30 pm. The event is an opportunity to enjoy the arts and learn about the global impact of Hadassah and the Seattle—Be’er Sheva Sister City Association.  

BAM offers free parking in the garage beneath its building.

Please RSVP by email to

seattle@hadassah.org

Great Seats Remain for Batsheva Dance’s February 11^th Performance
HADBS is Hadassah’s Code 

Seattle Hadassah is proud to be among 19 community wide Jewish organizations to offer tickets to our members for this much-anticipated February 11^th evening performance at the Paramount.  20% of the proceeds from every ticket purchased supports Hadassah’s work.  Sign up especially for the post program reception.  It would be wonderful to visit with you there.

visit www.stgpresents.org/groups/hadassah and enter Promo Code: HADBS 

Click on Seattle Hadassah’s Facebook page for details.  Share this link with friends and family and like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/seattleHadassah/

February 22^nd Salon:  Queen Esther Goes for the Baroque:  A Beer Sheva Hadassah Celebration of Purim at 7:30 pm. in Seward Park  

Trumpets! Drums! Choruses! And the book of Esther, adapted for London audiences in 1732 by the wily showman and consummate musical artist George Frideric Handel.  Never before had something called “an oratorio” been seen or heard.

After “Esther”, the “oratorio” took off like a rocket, and so did Mr. Handel’s legacy.  Hear some exciting music, and marvel at how much of the whole megillah does, or doesn’t survive the journey.

Come join Hadassah Life Member Gigi Yellen-Kohn, who hosts classical music on Northwest Public Radio, for this magical presentation at her home.

Please RSVP to: BeershevaHadassah@gmail.com for exact address. 

$18.00 suggested donation

February 26th Salon Brunch at 11 am:   The Power of Connection – From Philly to Fairbanks to Seattle

On Sunday, February 26^rd Ellen Weiser and husband David Weissman will be flying in from Fairbanks where today’s temperature is 40 degrees below zero.  It is my honor to invite you to my home in Madrona to hear their story; it embodies the essence of Hadassah’s sisterhood across the generations. 

I met Ellen and David at the Burn Unit at Harborview.  It was the Friday of Seafair Weekend.  A propane leak in their Fairbanks cabin exploded while David was showing family guests how to light the stove.  They were both placed in medically induced comas and flown to Harborview.  David’s burns were the most severe. 

Ellen was awake when I was escorted to her room.  It was hard to visualize her face through the heavy gauze bandages.   I came because Ellen’s Hadassah mom, Bea Tannenbaum, age 93 and frantic, contacted the Hadassah Philadelphia Chapter President who found her way to me.  Ellen and I connected instantly.  Within the first few minutes we discovered that she and I had grown up in the same small New Jersey town.  And, being from New Jersey, Ellen told me exactly how I could help! 

Ellen’s East Coast relatives were flying into Seattle to support them and needed beds to sleep; none were to be had on Seafair weekend.  I reached out to Cathy Godwin, President of our Hadassah Seward Park group; within a few hours, we had offers to house everyone.  The Adler Shabbat table that night included Ellen’s son and grandson.  As it happens, our family was leaving for a 10-day Canadian vacation, allowing Ellen to move into our home and heal while cabbing back and forth to Harborview to be with David.

A large box arrived at my doorstep on Ellen and David’s final day in Seattle.  Inside was a hand woven “Let Us Give Thanks” quilt made by Bea, complete with its First Place 1999 Blue Ribbon.  It fits beautifully in exactly the right place in our home.  

Come meet Ellen and David on February 26, see the quilt, hear their stories, and visit with the members of our amazing Hadassah Board.  Arrive at 11:00 am for networking and brunch.  $18 at the door.  Opening D’Var and program begin at 11:45 am.  RSVP to Cindy Garbell at cindygarbell@hotmail.com.  

President Susan Adler with Ellen Weiser and David Weissman

Thoughts from Ellen and David...

August 17, 2016

Dear Susan,

"You have allowed me to begin my recovery in a strange city in a safe and comfortable setting.  I will remember this always.  The gift you gave me – almost a stranger – was uncomplicated and from the heart…. A rare thing…."

-- Ellen Weiser

November 23, 2017

“I want to thank you again for opening your house to Ellen at one of the darkest times in our life.  You and your husband were a bright spot in an otherwise bleak period.  And now the good news.  We are recovering well.  I was able to tie my own shoes for the first time this past weekend.  Ellen is amazing.  She is curling, cross-country skiing, and awaiting more snow to start mushing.”

--  David Weissman