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National News:  Our Commitment to Reproductive Rights 

In the face of recently-passed anti-choice laws in several states, National Hadassah President Ellen Hershkin has encouraged all members to, “urge your federal officials to support women’s preventive health and proactive reproductive rights legislation." To see the full Hadassah statement on reproductive choice, click here.

2019 Annual Schmoozathon

Mark your calendar for the Hadassah Minneapolis Annual Schmoozathon, Wednesday, July 24 at the home of Linda Tell, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. rain or shine! Enjoy a fabulous pot luck lunch and then hang out inside, go outside to the pool or 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 occasion, 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 if you are coming, and a donation if you cannot attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Parks, hadassahbawbie@yahoo.com or 952-905-6891. This is always a popular event!  Flyers will go out later in June!

Notice:  June Event Canceled

Due to a change in the date and time that Temple Israel and Cantor Havilio would be available for this event, Hadassah Minneapolis regretfully had to cancel the Sunday, June 23 program at Temple Israel.

Community News:  Federation to Honor Hadassah Members

We are thrilled to report that our own Past President, Nominating Chair and dedicated volunteer Barbara Parks will be honored as a Community Champion at the Pearl Society's Women of Intention Event sponsored by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. This elegant event featuring a cash bar and Kosher Dairy Desserts will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 at the Rush Creek Golf Club, 7801 County Rd. 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311. The evening's Keynote Speaker will be Irin Carmon,  co-author of The Notorious R.B.G:  The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Many of the other honorees, as well as members of the Woman of Intention Events & Pearl Society Co-Chairs and Awards Committee started out as young members of Hadassah and are life members. Historically, Hadassah-trained leaders have gone on to become important and valued leaders in other organizations.  Please join Federation to honor and support outstanding community leaders. Other Hadassah Minneapolis members being honored include Sally Abrams, Voice of Inspiration award; Sari Lederman, Trailblazer award; and Janice Schachtman, Community Champion. For further information and to register and support Barb and the others, click here or call 952-593-2600.

Make your 2019 Fundraising Donation Now!

Although our 2018 fundraising campaign is officially over, it's not too early to donate for 2019! Make this the year you join Hadassah's Chai Society (minimum $180 annually) or become a Keeper (minimum $1,000 annually). Once you've made this commitment, you can pay in one lump sum, twice a year, quarterly or once a month. National Hadassah will know they can depend on your annual commitment, and you'll know you're helping in Hadassah Hospital's life-saving work. Visit www.hadassah.org, mouse over to the Donate button, and go its drop-down menu to find more information about Chai Society or Keepers of the Gate. You can donate directly from those menu items, and Hadassah Minneapolis will get credit.

Remember that all contributions are fully tax deductible, and Hadassah needs your help! Contact Stacey Bush at staceyrbush@gmail.com or Linda Ward at ward4858@yahoo.com with any questions.

Region News: Hadassah Upper Midwest Board Meeting

The Hadassah Upper Midwest Board Meeting, which is open to all Hadassah Midwest members, will take place Tuesday, June 11 at the home of Hadassah Minneapolis President Deb Wolk. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. The cost is $10. Come to hear Saint Paul President Stephanie Perelstein talk about her Hadassah Mission Trip to Israel, which began her excitement and participation with this meaningful organization!

To register, send a $10 check made out to Hadassah for your reservation to Leslie Strohm, 1829 Faro Ln., Mendota Heights, MN 55118. Contact Leslie at 651-592-0056 or lstrohm@hadassah.org for more information or if you have questions.

Cultural Clique

The Cultural Clique will meet June 1 at 2 p.m. at the home of Rosa Liberty, 2924 Boone Ave. S., St. Louis Park, to discuss the play The Shul. Please RSVP to Rosa at librp68@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Book Chavurot

The Night Club Bookclub meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the Conference Room at the far right side when you walk in of the Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Avenue N. We will discuss Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine. Since the first Thursday in July is July 4 (a holiday), we have rescheduled that meeting to the following Thursday, July 11. If you want to have a fun night with fabulous women, we are always looking for new members. Bring your friends and family along! If you are interested, please contact Shelly Levine at 612-597-3349 or shellyilevine@msn.com.

The Henrietta Szold book group is a lively bunch of men and women who meet at 1 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of every month in the Knollwood Place Apartments boardroom. Our book list is varied, and all the book titles chosen are available in regular and large print, audio, and downloadable formats with many copies in the Library system. Many of our participants use the volunteer delivery system offered by the Hennepin County Libraries. While not everyone finishes reading each of our titles, we have great discussions based on the themes in each book. The book for June 26 will be Before we were Yours by Lisa Wingate, a novel based on a real-life illegal-adoption scandal. Please feel free to join us! If you are not on our contact list, call Debby Wolk at 612-925-7932 or e-mail her at tzvibo@aol.com for more information.

360 Degrees of Healing

National Hadassah has a new capital campaign, “360 Degrees of Healing.” The three-year Full Circle of Healing will revitalize Hadassah Hospital’s original Round Building. Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) will be able to add 200 new beds, renovate 17 operating rooms, expand treatment offerings, create larger rooms to give patients more privacy and reduce the risk of infection, help better protect the hospital from earthquakes or attack, and more.

Donations, which are separate from other giving, are vital to this effort. If you’d like to be part of the opportunity, go to www.hadassah.org, mouse over to the Donate button and go to “360° of Healing” in its drop-down menu.

Walking Group

The walking group is so looking forward to walking outside after this long, endless winter. Won’t you join us for friends, fun and fitness? We meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30. For more information, contact Terry Hallfin at terryhallfin@gmail.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 over 30 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 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 e-mail 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!

Interested in Crafting or Fiber-Arts Get-Togethers?

We are considering a new chavura for crafters and those who want to be. If you knit, crochet, sew, build with popsicle sticks or do any other creative projects, this group is for you. All skill levels are welcome! This will be brand new, so please send your thoughts, interest level, and meeting suggestions to Melissa Murphy at emailmlbm@gmail.com.

Save the Dates

July 15-18 — Hadassah 99th National Convention:  Mission Possible will be at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, in New York, NY. For more information about the Convention, go to www.hadassah.org, and scroll down to Special Events. Subventions are available -- if you are interested, contact Leslie Strohm at 651-592-0056 or lstrohm@hadassah.org.

2019 Israel Missions -- fabulous discounts!   Hadassah is proud to announce that generous discounts for most of our 2019 Missions are now available! With one of our most exciting selections in recent years, participants may choose from a Yom Ha’Atzmaut Mission, a Hadassah Interfaith Mission, a first-time joint Hadassah/JNF Family Tour, and more. Most missions have discounted rates, and further reductions are available for early registrants. Don’t forget to invite your family and friends!  For more information, click here.

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 still will have to pay taxes on your purchases. This card entitles you to a discount if available.  Contact Judy Edwards, Office Manager, Hadassah Upper Midwest, 612-759-5357, if you have questions.

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. 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. 

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

Become a taste-tester for Tasteocracy, formerly 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.tasteocracy.com. To sign up, click on Join button at the top. After you enter your personal information, choose Plymouth, MN as the “Closest testing location," select Yes in the "Make Donation" space, “Religion HADASSAH-MINNEAPOLIS CHAPTER” in the “I am fundraising for” space, and "Partial payment of $10" in the following space. If you prefer to register by phone, please call Tasteocracy 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

Have you noticed greeting card prices going higher and higher? Do you know you can send cards through our chapter that will support Hadassah and Israel instead of a business? 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 612-298-5597

Contribution envelopes or Bea Rossen Youth Aliyah Fund: Sheryl Cohen stelladoob@gmail.com or 612-298-5597

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

E-mail 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.

View our Hadassah Minneapolis website at www.hadassah.org/minneapolis.

Like Hadassah on Facebook.