Dear ,

2018 Annual Schmoozathon

Mark your calendar for the Hadassah Minneapolis Annual Schmoozathon, Wednesday, July 18 at the home of Linda Tell, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. rain or shine!  Enjoy a fabulous pot luck lunch, tour of Linda’s home (right), commissioned and built by Lloyd Wright  (son of Frank Lloyd Wright),  hang out by/in the pool if you wish, play games!  This is such a relaxing and fun event, with the opportunity to schmooze with current and new friends. 

Besides being a great social event, this is an opportunity to raise money for the 360° of Healing Hadassah Hospital Capital Campaign.  Bare-minimum expenses come out of the $36, with the rest going towards the Campaign.  The Craft Co-op will sell their amazing items, and when you RSVP, feel free to make an extra donation whether you are coming or not.  When you indicate your potluck choice with your RSVP, a member of the Schmoozathon team will be in touch with you to coordinate what you are bringing.  Car-pooling is encouraged.

If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, please contact Barbara Parks, hadassahbawbie@yahoo.com or 952-905-6891.  This always is a popular event, enriched by being part of the organizing team.  To download a flyer, click here.

New Year's Mum Plant Sale Scheduled for September 5-7 Delivery

Every fall Hadassah Minneapolis highlights the holiday of Rosh Hashanah with our annual Mum Plant Sale. One of our major fundraising projects, it provides the opportunity to send sweet New Year’s wishes to family and friends with the purchase of a colorful 14” tall mum plant. If you have been a fortunate recipient of this gift in the past, now is the time to reciprocate or you can donate a plant to a Sholom Home resident who has no family here.  The heart of this event is the many gracious volunteers who deliver these beautiful plants and get to see the joy on people's faces as they receive these gifts.

Help Hadassah Minneapolis make this year’s plant sale momentous by spreading the good will and sweetness of the New Year with your plant orders and please consider the mitzvah you would be doing by becoming a volunteer driver to make this fundraising endeavor complete. The cost of the plants this year is $21.00 per plant.

Watch for our flyers in mid-July to place your plant orders, and check the box to help with deliveries if you can. If you have any questions on the Plant Sale don’t hesitate to contact Shelly Levine at shellyilevine@msn.com.

National News:  Hadassah Policy Statement on Medical Marijuana

National Hadassah issued this statement in May regarding medical marijuana.

“The American health care system frequently fails to address patient’s specific health care needs. As an organization committed to the advancement of world class medical research at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) in Israel, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. stands with doctors and patients calling for the federal legalization of medical marijuana.

“HMO is at the forefront of groundbreaking cannabis research, as one of its physicians, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam pioneered the re-isolation of cannabidiol (CBD), a major nonpsychoactive compound in cannabis. It has been used in Israel to treat epilepsy, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and sugar levels for Diabetes I patients. More than 20 years have passed since California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. What has followed is a domino effect of states legalizing medical marijuana based on California as a case study that cannabis can provide relief for a variety of conditions. As of April 2017, 29 states have legalized marijuana in some form, bringing patients relief and expanding the authorization of choices in treatment they receive, based on the doctor-patient relationship.

“Yet, a complete understanding of the benefits of medical marijuana are severely limited as the cannabis plant and its products are designated as a Schedule I drug, preventing any large-scale research on patients. Thorough research to understand proper usage and potential benefits of medical marijuana for patients is critical to federal legalization of cannabis. Today, many Americans support legalization of medical marijuana.

“Therefore, Hadassah calls for: 

•  federal legalization of medical marijuana, so that patients in every state may benefit from medical marijuana
•  reframing of medical marijuana policy as a doctor-patient decision; and
•  research to fully investigate the potential benefits of medical marijuana.”

Book Chavurot

The Night Club Bookclub meets at 7 PM on the first Thursday of each month. Our next discussion will be Thursday, July 5 at the Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Avenue N., in the Conference Room along the far right wall. We will be discussing The Bridge Ladies:  A Memoir by Betsy Lerner.  Next month, we will meet Thursday, August 2 also at the Plymouth Library Conference Room. The book we will be discussing is The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff.  If anyone is interested in joining an evening book club, please contact Shelly Levine at shellyilevine@msn.com.   We are always looking for new members.

The July gathering of the Afternoon Book Group is at 12:30 p.m. on July 25 at the Plymouth Library: 15700 36th Avenue N. We will be in the small meeting room along the far-right wall.  Note that we had to change to this date because the Schmoozathon coincides with the July 18th date.  The book is Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life by Harold Kushner. We welcome new members.  Questions? Contact Sue Garnett, 952-545-1435 or at  nettgar1@gmail.com.

The Henrietta Szold afternoon book group is a wonderful group of women (and a few men) many of whom live at Knollwood Place though some of us come from Minneapolis as well as Plymouth, Golden Valley, etc.,  so all are welcome.  We meet the 4th Wednesday of every month at Knollwood Place in the board room, at 2:00 p.m.   Please join us.  Questions:  call Debby Wolk at 612-925-7932 or at debhadassah@gmail.com.

Cultural Clique

The Cultural Clique is taking a break for the summer, but we are planning a trip to the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden with a guide. Watch your E-mail for the date and time which will be in either July or August.  For any questions or if you have ideas for future activities, contact Sarene Silver at ssilver125@aol.com.

Fundraising

National Hadassah's three-year capital campaign, "360 Degrees of Healing," will provide money to renovate and improve Hadassah Hospital's original "Round Building."  They'll be able to add 200 new beds, renovate 17 operating rooms, provide more comprehensive services, and much more.  YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT TO DONATE!  Commit to Hadassah with a generous donation at any time.  For more information, contact fundraising vice presidents Stacey Bush (staceyrbush@gmail.com) or Linda Ward (ward4858@yahoo.com).

Ronald McDonald House Is Looking for Your Help

Hadassah has been serving meals every Thursday at the Ronald McDonald House on the University of Minnesota campus (east bank) for 30 some years. We’ve had captains and teams preparing, warming and serving up to 100 people--patients and their families, all this time quietly fulfilling a Hadassah mission of helping to heal and support the sick here at “home.”  We have lost several teams for various reasons and need more teams so we are reaching out to you and asking you to step up, pitch in, and have fun at the same time.  Tasks include cooking on site or providing cooked food that is purchased from a professional resource such as Costco, Sam’s Club, Cub, etc., delivering the meal to the House and providing servers to dish up, clean up, and smile with good cheer and well wishes to family, staff, and most of all the patients undergoing treatment in nearby University hospitals.  Talk to one of our captains, Terry Hallfin at 763-588-5597 or email her at terrybmn@visi.com to find out how you can be a part of this worthwhile endeavor.  Ronald is waiting to hear from you.  Don’t think about it -- just give it a try!

Office Depot Discount for Hadassah Minneapolis Members

Office Depot has offered our members a non-profit discount on over 2,000 items. The flyer with the discount card can be viewed and printed by clicking here.  Take it to Office Depot.  They will laminate the card for free, too.  You will have to pay taxes on your purchases and pay for them.  This card entitles you to a discount if available.  Contact Judy Edwards, Office Manager, Hadassah Upper Midwest 612-759-5357 if you have any questions.

Membership

The Schmoozathon, July 18, is Hadassah Minneapolis’ social event of the summer.  It is the perfect time to bring a friend who is not a member, or even a friend who is a member but who hasn’t participated in a long time.  As they say, the more the merrier! There will be something for everyone:  games, including mahjongg, a swimming pool, friends to kibbitz with and new people to meet plus lots of good food.

For more information about membership, please contact Rosa Liberty at librp68@gmail.com or Terry Hallfin at terrybmn@visi.com.

Walking Group 

It’s summertime and the livin’ may be easy, but the walking group isn’t taking any time off.  The best part of working on our 10,000 steps is that we get to do it outside.  Please join us!  We’d love to see you on our walks on the walking trails and around our lakes while the outside walking is good.  We meet at 10:30 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and walk for about an hour. 

For more information, contact Terry Hallfin at terrybmn@visi.com.

Save the Dates

The Hadassah mission From Dream to Innovation: Milestone Mission to Israel is scheduled for October 7-15. Subventions are available from the Upper Midwest Region.  For more information on the program, click here.  For information on the subventions, please contact Debby Jewett at debby.jewett@gmail.com.

Perpetual Yahrzeits at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem

When a loved one dies, please consider directing memorial gifts to Hadassah.The spirit of your family member or friend will live on in the lives that you help to enrich and to save! All donations will be promptly acknowledged to the donor and provided to the family of the deceased.  A “Perpetual Yahrzeit” can be purchased with a one-time contribution of $1000. Kaddish will be said annually in the Abbell Synagogue at the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. Advance yahrzeits can be purchased at any time for yourself or a loved one.   We Americans are culturally deprived when it comes to death and dying.  Click here for information about a new partnership between Hadassah and shiva.com.  For information on Hadassah's Perpetual Yahrzeit program call the Hadassah Minneapolis office at 952-924-4999 or click here.  Memorial contributions of any amount may also be mailed to Hadassah Minneapolis, 5905 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley, MN 55422.

It's a Win-Win for You and Hadassah!

Become a taste-tester for Food Perspectives, Inc. Every time you qualify for and participate in a survey, you will be paid an incentive of approximately $35 to $85, based upon the time the survey session takes. In addition to that amount, Hadassah Minneapolis will be paid $10. Men and women who sign up to be testers must be between the ages of 18 and 84.   If you are interested in participating--or know someone (friend, relative, son, daughter, grandchild, etc.) who would like to participate--registration can be done on-line at www.fpitesters.com. Click on the tab “Become a Tester.” When you select from the list of non-profit organizations for the $10 payment, please select, “Hadassah Minneapolis Chapter.” If you prefer to register by phone, please call Food Perspectives, Inc. at 763-354-2776. Remember, this is a fundraiser that is a “win” for Hadassah and for the participant.

Cards, Certificates, and JNF Trees and Blue Boxes

Do you know you can send cards through our chapter that will support Hadassah and Israel instead of a business? Have you noticed greeting card prices going higher and higher?  Support our Hadassah Chapter by buying your birthday, sympathy, get well, mazel tov and other greeting cards through your Hadassah card contacts listed below.  Our prices are the most reasonable around and all the money goes to Hadassah!! Prices are $5 each or 3 for $12. JNF certificates are $18.  Cards are available at board meetings and Hadassah events.  If you wish you can call or email card contacts below who will sign and mail the card out upon receiving your check.  Malinsky cards for cancer research are available for $10 each. We have a large selection of attractive certificates ranging from $10-$500 and up that are customized to the message you wish to send. There is $1.00 charge for postage. Please contact the Certificate person below to honor/remember someone with a beautiful Hadassah Certificate.  You can also order certificates online through Hadassah website at www.hadassah.org, click on Donate, then Other Ways to Give, then Personalized Certificates. Be sure to designate Hadassah Minneapolis when prompted.  There you can choose to send certificates to be sent via email or through the mail.

Malinsky Cards: Ronna Locketz ronnalocketz@gmail.com or at 612-730-6418

Cards (Knollwood Place): Maurine Ziv maurineziv@gmail.com or 952-938-2550

Cards or Certificates: Ronna Locketz ronnalocketz@gmail.com or 763-544-5439

JNF Trees: Sheryl Cohen stelladoob@gmail.com or 952-933-5093

Contribution envelopes or Bea Rossen Youth Aliyah Fund: Fredell Cohen 952-920-0740

If you have a full JNF Blue Box that needs to be emptied, contact Ellen Etzkin at etzkin44@gmail.com or 952-935-7767.

Email Addresses

If you have Hadassah member friends not receiving the monthly Hadassah Minneapolis emails, please forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to sign up by contacting the office at 952-924-4999 or at umregion@hadassah.org.

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