ROCHESTER HADASSAH CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Dear Hadassah friends,

Hadassah joined 25 other organizations to SPEAK OUT FOR REFUGEES by sending a letter (see below) to the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.

Seeing children wrenched from the arms of parents is heartbreaking. Hadassah stands with the growing community — including many Jewish organizations — speaking out against the separation of children from migrant parents. As an organization dedicated to health, we are especially concerned by the long-term physical and emotional impact of separating children and parents. We've heard their cries. As our voices join an unprecedented public outrage, we see hope for these families. Policymakers are starting to act. Help build the momentum to support refugees and the unification of families.

Right now, it's important to take a moral stand. We encourage Hadassah units and members to join non-Shabbat rallies and marches — and use these downloadable Hadassah signs (click here for this link or go to the Hadassah website.) As Jews we have a special understanding of the ethical imperative, especially on behalf of refugees seeking safe haven.

Please consider doing your part - speak out and write to your legislators. Even though the information changes daily, there are issues that are still unclear and unsolved. For additional information, please visit www.hadassah.org and search for Hadassah Advocacy.

Marcia, Tammi, Fran, and Monika

Monika Katzel                   203-1200, lesterkatzel@earthlink.net
Fran Studley                     381-6318, studsbride@aol.com
Marcia Gabrilove Ladin   820-5284, mladin@hadassah.org
Tammi Steinberg              737-8564, tsteinberg114@gmail.com

Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, DC 20530

The Honorable Kirstjen Nielsen
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Nielsen,

On behalf of the 27 undersigned national Jewish organizations and institutions, we write to express our strong opposition to the recently expanded “zero-tolerance” policy that includes separating children from their migrant parents when they cross the border. This policy undermines the values of our nation and jeopardizes the safety and well-being of thousands of people.

As Jews, we understand the plight of being an immigrant fleeing violence and oppression. We believe that the United States is a nation of immigrants and how we treat the stranger reflects on the moral values and ideals of this nation.

Many of these migrant families are seeking asylum in the United States to escape violence in Central America. Taking children away from their families is unconscionable. Such practices inflict unnecessary trauma on parents and children, many of whom have already suffered traumatic experiences. This added trauma negatively impacts physical and mental health, including increasing the risk of early death.

Separating families is a cruel punishment for children and families simply seeking a better life and exacerbates existing challenges in our immigration system. It adds to the backlog of deportation cases and legal challenges in federal courts, places thousands more immigrants in detention facilities and shelters, endangers the lives of more children, and instills additional fear in people seeking safety in our country. In addition, those seeking asylum or other legal protection face numerous obstacles to making a claim, especially from detention. Separating family members at the border would force families into two or more immigration cases instead of a single case for each family, harming their ability to present a successful case.

Our Jewish faith demands of us concern for the stranger in our midst. Our own people’s history as “strangers” reminds us of the many struggles faced by immigrants today and compels our commitment to an immigration system in this country that is compassionate and just. We urge you to immediately rescind the “zero tolerance” policy and uphold the values of family unity and justice on which our nation was built.

Sincerely,

American Conference of Cantors
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
American Jewish World Service
Anti-Defamation League
B’nai B’rith International
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
HIAS
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Women International
Men of Reform Judaism
National Association of Jewish Legislators
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
NFTY – The Reform Jewish Youth Movement
Orthodox Union
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
The Workmen’s Circle
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Union for Reform Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Uri L’Tzedek, The Orthodox Social Justice Movement
Women of Reform Judaism

Please Join the Evening Book Group
Wednesday, July 18, 7:30 PM
Home of Jan Feldman, 7 Hastings Circle, Pittsford
Discussion of: the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Future dates , books, locations:

8/30/18 @ 7:30 PM @ Nancy Haney's (77 Great Wood Circle, Fairport) Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
10/18/18 @ 7:30 PM @ Bobbi Feldman's (549 S Winton Rd, Rochester) Angels at the Gate by T.K. Thorne
12/3/18 @ 6:30 PM @ Linda Bartlett's (5 Chatham Woods, Pittsford)  Chanukah Party with dairy potluck and book exchange
1/15/19 @ 7:30 PM @ Marjorie Montag's (224 Vernon Place, Rochester) A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
 

For more information, contact Debi Brenner: debi.brenner@gmail.com or 223-8979

Tuesday, July 24, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Our Tikkun Olam project at FOODLINK has been an ongoing Hadassah project for many years. Thanks to the women of Bat Ami, we have been able to make a difference for many in our community. Our next scheduled day is Tuesday, July 24. Meet at Dvorah Kolko's, 287 Nunda Boulevard at 12:30 PM to carpool. If you would like to join us for this worthwhile mitzvah project, please contact Dvorah Kolko at 473 - 5280. Help Hadassah make a difference in the Rochester community.

Over our 104 year history, the Rochester Chapter has been a highly successful Hadassah unit, raising funds for our projects in Israel and our youth camps in the US, strengthening Jewish identity, educating our members and developing leadership skills to benefit our women and young people.

A shining STAR in Rochester fundraising is the Medical Center Party initiative. For 63 years, this popular annual project has raised OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS to sustain our Medical Center and bring exceptional, compassionate health care to all who enter our hospitals.

This year we celebrated Israel @ 70 and the 100^th Anniversary of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem.  A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to all who support this program!  Your participation insures that the work and vision of Hadassah continue.

A BIG THANK YOU also to:

-- Toby Berke, who works out the computer generated ticket number mix for our event and is responsible for all the accounting related to this fundraiser.

-- Judith Mercer, our ongoing, dedicated Medical Center Party Treasurer.

-- Marilyn Rosen, who prepares our callers and our e-bulletins.

-- Marcia Gabrilove Ladin, who designed our invitation and program, prepared our paper bulletins and gave an excellent presentation about Hadassah's new 360 Degrees of Healing Campaign.

-- Karen Lustig, for her annual event video show presentation and for our program.

-- Beverly and Morrie Weintein and Merle Markus, who made our banquet room sparkle with their Israel@70 decorations.

-- Our dedicated committee volunteers and callers, whose conscientious efforts and gifts of time insure the success of this project.

AND to Dr. Eugene Toy, compassionate physician and talented musician for his gift of time entertaining us at the piano.

CONGRATULATIONS to this year's winners:  Alan & Nancy Chodak, Esther Miller, Amy Stein, David & Barbara Applebaum, Joanne Ouzer, Barbara Kozel, Paula Harris and Sheila Hollander.

We are grateful to Amy Stein, who donated back her winnings.

TODAH RABBAH to the following donors, who generously supported this event:

-- Raymour & Flanagan – compliments of Morrie Weinstein – gift certificates won by Ginny Gordon, Joyce Goldstein & Sheldon Krieger

-- Dairy Queen – compliments of Mark Goldberg – gift certificate won by Marcia Gabrilove Ladin

-- Eye Openers – compliments of Richard Levy – gift certificate won by Josephine Braitman

-- Speedy's Cleaners – compliments of Neil Hellman – gift certificates won by Burt Gordon, Abby Rasnick

-- JCC Center Stage tickets – compliments of Arnie Sohinki and Ralph Meranto – won by Esther Miller

-- Jewish Film Festival tickets – compliments of Andrea Miller – won by Roz Baum

-- Jewish Book Festival tickets – compliments of Andrea Miller – won by Lois Taubman

-- Notecards – compliments of David Wertheimer – won by Monika Katzel

-- Highland Hospital Hospitality Basket – compliments of Highland Hospital Volunteers – won by Phyllis Kasdin

-- Bottles of wine – compliments of Century Liquors – won by Martha Green, Esther Blackman

-- VP Supply – compliments of Louis Curwin– ceiling fan won by Karen Lustig

-- Entertainment Book – won by Norma Erdle

We hope you will join us in supporting the Medical Center Party initiative next year.
Monika Katzel and Marlene Elkin - Chairs

Here's a little Rochester Hadassah history.  Did you know that our Football Challenge is over 30 years old?  It was introduced to us as a fundraiser by Millie Rosenbaum.  The origins of this initiative are no longer known.  Millie managed this project for decades and introduced it to other Hadassah chapters.  Between 500-1000 football books were sold then and our net income was $5000-$10,000!  Our Hadassah men got involved and sold numerous tickets at work.  Our members talked up this project and sold to friends.

Janet Wagner took over management from Millie and promoted and championed this fundraiser until her death.  Working behind the scenes is a devoted friend to Hadassah – Carl Wetzstein.  Carl gets the football team and game schedule from the NFL and sets up the Challenge for us.  Margie Wiseman and husband Gary keep track of the weekly game results.  A big Thank You goes to Marilyn Rosen, who gets the football books ready and to all our ticket sellers and promoters.

 Here's how it works.  You buy the tickets. We match you randomly with teams. If they win, you win$$. Simple - Right?  WE CAN MAKE THE FOOTBALL CHALLENGE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AGAIN!

Here's How – Buy a ticket(s) – Sell a ticket (s).  Each is just $10
It's a Win/Win for you and for Hadassah!

 For tickets – Call:  Monika Katzel  203-1200 or lesterkatzel@earthlink.net

                               Marilyn Rosen 461-4684 or marilyn.rosen@gmail.com

                               Ginny Gordon 383-6368

   For the first time, the Israeli delegation to the World Robotics Competition in Houston will include 15 Israeli youths from the Hadassah Neurim Village with the support of the Jewish Agency's Activism Unit.  The unique delegation consists of 3 girls and 12 boys, most of them members of Na'aleh Immigrant Youth Without Parents who came from countries of the former Soviet Union.
   The students worked day and night to prepare the robot that earned them many praises during the competition in Israel and helped them reach the most advanced stages.  The team is one of the top ten teams and the FIRST Israeli Robotics Team winning the opportunity to take part in the global competition that took place in April in Houston.
   The competition is supported by the NASA Space Agency and is attended by hundreds of outstanding high school groups from around the world.
   This is a great honor for the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village whose vision of pursuing excellence as well as technology orientation are all engraved on its flag.  On Israel's 70th Independence Day the group was among the schools that represented Israel in this prestigious competition.

Small Certificates are $5 and up plus postage. Large Certificates are $15 and up plus postage. Contact Marlene Elkin 271-1871.

      

                                                                                                                     

Remember the JCC/Hadassah Shed is in the back of the JCC parking lot.  Hadassah and the JCC get paid by the pound for textile donations, which are then directed to those in need in the US and around the world.  Please - only clothing, shoes, purses, linens, towels in tied plastic bags.  No household items (non-textile), toys, pillows.  

Thank you for your help and donations.

Summer is here and our Hadassah Cookbook has wonderful recipes for salads, light meals to prepare, side dishes and many other dishes that can be used for showers and other events that take place during the warm weather. It makes  a great gift for any occasion.The price is $18 and $22 to ship.  Contact Marlene Elkin 271-1871.

Buy Hadassah Medical Organization Cards & Certificates from these volunteers:

Joyce Heilbronner, Coordinator 442-9584

Sue Ann Baker 334-1778

Carol Yunker 385-3910

Eileen Jachles 383-1753

Florence Eppstein 244-4833

Barbara Cohen 272-7396

Jewish National Fund Blue Boxes

Sue Baker 334-1778 or sueannbaker49@yahoo.com

Jewish National Fund Trees

Merle Markus 586-9436 or mbmarkus@hotmail.com

Barbara Weber  smeyers@rochester.rr.com

http://www.Hadassah.org/rochester  

Hadassah is the founder of Israel’s modern health-care system and has been tireless in maintaining the highest standards for more than 100 years. Since 1960, the population of Jerusalem has tripled, and the demands on the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) and Hadassah Hospital at the Ein Kerem campus have grown exponentially. Hadassah must respond—and we must look forward. So HMO begins, first by completely reimagining the iconic Round Building, the hospital’s original inpatient center at Ein Kerem. With this renovation and expansion, the new Round Building will be an important healing center for Israel. It will significantly advance the services in its outpatient surgery, maternity, oncology, and dermatology departments.
Please support this newest campaign!!!  Contact Monika Katzel  for further information: 203-1200 or lesterkatzel@earthlink.net

Hadassah is proud to introduce its most exciting lineup of missions and tours for 2019! (and there is one more in October 2018)

There are so many choices! You can see how the future of Israel is nurtured, trained and empowered on our Youth Aliyah mission. Relax and see Israel at your pace in our popular Takin' It Easy Mission, or reinvigorate yourself in our exciting and carefully curated Refresh & Recharge mission. Study and witness the spirit of Israel on our Hadassah Interfaith Mission or celebrate Purim & Yom Ha'Atzmaut in a joyous mission. Invite family and friends to join Hadassah and the Jewish National Fund for Hanukkah in our first-ever joint family tour!

Don't miss these great opportunities to visit Israel — whether it's your first time or you're ready to return. Join Hadassah in Israel and see why we keep going back year after year!

http://www.hadassah.org/connecting-to-israel/missions.html