Dear ,

Message from the Presidents

2020 has been a strange year, as we all know. COVID-19 has shut down all face-to-face meetings and our Regional office remains closed. Everyone’s recent Thanksgiving celebrations have been smaller, with many people Zooming with family and friends. But there is hopeful news, too, with the possibility of COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, perhaps coming to the general public by late spring.

We will hold our last board meeting of 2020 this Wednesday, December 2 at 7 p.m. A representative of of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota & the Dakotas (JCRC-ADL) will discuss the unfortunate rise in anti-Semitism locally, nationally and internationally. All Hadassah Minneapolis members are welcome to attend; just let Donna (dffredkove@aol.com or hadassahdonna@gmail.com) or Stacey (staceyrbush@gmail.com) know ASAP if you’d like the Zoom info. Coming December 20: Hadassah Minneapolis’ installation of new officers! Stacey will be stepping down as co-president, with Donna remaining to lead our group in 2021. Look below for information on how to attend this event. Both of us have enjoyed working together, and Donna knows that her new board will help Hadassah Minneapolis remain strong. Our vice presidents are already starting to plan interesting, educational activities for the coming year – we hope to see all of you attending!

As 2020 is coming to an end, we still are short of our fundraising goal. You still can donate to Hadassah Minneapolis’ Fall Campaign during the entire month of December, and it will count toward our 2020 goal. Lastly, some of us have been so focused on COVID-19 that the need for a flu shot has not received the attention that it should. If you have not done it yet, please contact your medical provider about getting a shot ASAP. Most people should be getting this year’s flu vaccine and can get it at many local pharmacies.

Our very best wishes for a happy and healthy 2021!

Stacey Bush and Donna Fredkove, Hadassah Minneapolis Co-Presidents

December Hadassah Minneapolis Program and Installation

Installation of new Hadassah Minneapolis officers will be held on Sunday, December 20 at 10 a.m. on Zoom. We are honored to have Cantor Tamar Havilio (photo at left) as our special guest speaker. The couvert is $10, and donations will be appreciated. To register, click here. Watch for the flyer in your mail or e-mail or click here to see it now!

Cantor Havilio, from Bet Shalom, is an accomplished cantor and teacher with expertise in the Cantorial Arts, the art of chanting sacred texts, choral conducting, worship innovation, and spiritual development. She has also been active with the Women of the Wall Movement.

Annual Fundraising Drive

Hadassah Minneapolis recently sent you a solicitation letter. This is the only letter we send to our members each year. If you have already responded, thank you. If you haven't done so, please consider sending a donation in the near future. It is because of the generosity of our members that Hadassah Medical Center is able to provide cutting edge research and save lives. If you’ve misplaced the letter but still want to donate, please contact our Fundraising Vice President, Karen Rubin (hadassahkaren@gmail.com, 952-933-2248).

Order 2021 Mah Jongg Cards to Benefit Hadassah

The National Mah Jongg League will make a donation in the form of a rebate to charitable organizations for Mah Jongg cards ordered by individuals submitted in one order. Hadassah does not benefit if membership is done online or through the mail by individuals. Hadassah Minneapolis receives $2.50 for each membership plus a $20 bonus. For many years, the chapter has been receiving a collector’s rebate through this program. Last year’s rebate was $631.00, our highest ever!

The new 2021 Mah Jongg cards are now available for purchase and may be ordered in two sizes. A standard card/membership is now $9.00, and a large card/membership is now $10.00. Please encourage those you know to order their card through Hadassah.

Cards are mailed directly to your address from the National Mah Jongg League. To order, send a check made out to Ronna Locketz (not Hadassah), 4740 Walnut Grove Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55446. Please include your preferred phone number and e-mail. The deadline is January 30.

                         

Craft Co-Op Hanukkah Gift Salon Open for Business

Looking for great gift ideas for Hanukkah this year? You can brighten the hearts of those whom you love and appreciate by shopping at the unique “salon,” where the Hadassah Minneapolis Craft Co-Op panoply of gorgeous, colorful, practical, whimsical, quality handmade items abide.

Some of our newest additions include fabulous faux fur spiral scarves (see below) that are warm, comfortable, truly elegant, and easy to wear. They come in black (Persian lamb), gray (rabbit), brown (mink), white (ermine) and more. We also have a wide variety of children’s and adult sized aprons in colorful prints, adorable baby hats and blankets, cute oven hanging towels and oven mitts, hand-knit fashion hats, beautiful challah covers, matzo covers, wall hangings, plus a lovely quilted Hanukkah table runner for use this year (with limited guests - of course), and for years to come.

So pick up the phone or send a note to Debby Wolk, 612-925-7932, e-mail tzvibo@aol.com, to make an appointment to see our fabulous inventory. Social distancing and other safety protocols will be observed. Wear your mask, and our sales personnel will do the same. Following the guidelines of Hadassah, the MN Department of Health, and the governor, appointments will be available for individuals who have not been in contact with anyone who has been in contact with COVID-19. We also cannot serve anyone who has recently tested positive, is awaiting test results or is having any known symptoms. We accept payments by cash or check. Don’t miss this chance to honor someone special - including yourself!

                              

Education

Hanukkah programming is available to stream! It’s December, which means there’s no shortage of streaming Christmas content this time of year. Although there are far fewer Hanukkah-themed movies and specials, they are there if you know where to find them. And now, thanks to the new streaming service Disney+, a lot of the family-friendly ones are conveniently located in one place. (A Hanukkah miracle!) For more information, click here.  If you want to see TV clips, click here to see episodes from TV shows that get Hanukkah just right.

Youth Aliyah is saving our youth. Nearly a third of Israel’s children live in poverty, according to a 2020 report by the National Council for the Child in Israel. In addition, more than 450,000 children suffer from high-risk situations such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, learning disability without access to proper resources, or a lack of basic rights. Youth Aliyah sets at-risk children in Israel on the path to a successful future, and since 1934, over 300,000 young people from 80 lands have graduated from Youth Aliyah.

The Hadassah-supported Meir Shfeyah, Ramat Hadassah Szold, and Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Villages serve students who have been unsuccessful in other educational frameworks and are at risk of being abandoned to the streets. Young immigrants and at-risk native Israelis receive not only shelter and food, but counseling, education, and other supportive services in our youth villages. From Hebrew-language lessons and classes on Jewish heritage to athletics and art, Youth Aliyah students receive the help and attention they need to develop into productive members of Israeli society. To learn more, and to see how you can donate to help our youth, click here.

Storage Space Needed

Hadassah Minneapolis is looking for a place to store ten boxes of items used at the annual Maj-a-thon and White Elephant Auction. If you have a place to help Hadassah store these items until they are needed, please contact Gloria Murman at gmurman@comcast.net.

Wanted: a home for these boxes (shown at right) of Craft Co-op “embellished” T-shirts -- now through May! Merrie Forstein needs a place to store these boxes of craft T-shirts. If you can help, please contact her at http://krisfor@gmail.com.

Book Chavurot

The Nightclub book group is changing its meeting time. We will now meet at 4:15 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month on Zoom. Once we are able to meet in person, we will re-evaluate our meeting time. This month we will meet on Thursday, December 3, at 4:15 p.m. Sue Garnett will send out the Zoom invitation on Tuesday, December 1. We are reading The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff. Even if you are unable to get the book, feel free to attend the meeting. Many times the discussions start with the book and then veer off into related subjects. Glenda will lead our discussion. Questions? Contact Sue Garnett (nettgar1@gmail.com or 952-545-1435).

The Knollwood book club is alive and well but not meeting as a group just yet. Due to remodeling in the building and visitor restrictions because of the virus, we are all sheltering in place and reading. Let us know some titles of books that you have found interesting -- or not -- as we will begin compiling titles for our 2021 season. We are not sure when that will begin, but we can all hope and plan as if we will be meeting soon. Send your titles to Debby Wolk at tzvibo@aol.com or call her at 612-925-7932. She would love to hear from you just to say hello as well. Be well!

Walking Group Suspended

The Walking Group is on hiatus until this awful virus is under control and it is safe to gather. Be well, be safe, keep exercising!

Region News:  Hadassah Upper Midwest Program and Installation

Hadassah Upper Midwest will hold its Zoom program and installation, We Are Lucky, on Sunday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. Guest speakers will be Liz Fox, a Past National Vice President of Hadassah and author of the book We are Going to be Lucky – a World War II Love Story in Letters, and Marlene Post, a Past National President.  To view or download the flyer, click here. To register for this free online event, click here.

                                                                      

                                              Liz Fox             Marlene Post          Fox's book

The region will install the following slate of officers:
      Co-Coordinators: Marsha Eisenberg and Sarene Silver
      Treasurer: Debby Jewett
      Membership VP: Carol Lebow
      Communications VP: Judy Edwards
      Fundraising VP: Karen Rubin
      Education VP: Barbara Parks
      Recording Secretary: Janet Gabor
      Corresponding Secretary: Susan Kushner
      Nominating Committee Co-Chairs: Leslie Strohm and Beatrice Johnson

Support Hadassah by Purchasing eCards

For a minimum annual donation of $36, you can send unlimited electronic greeting cards (eCards) – all-occasion, Rosh Hashanah, etc. – for an entire year. This is a great way to support Hadassah, and especially in this time of COVID when we may not want to go shopping for cards, you can send them to your family and friends through the ease of your computer by clicking here.

              

Special Promotion for Keepers of the Gate

Hadassah Keepers of the Gate ensure Hadassah’s impact every day in Israel, the United States and around the world. The Lighting the Way promotion is still available through 2020! This is a unique opportunity to receive a very special recognition at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. Additionally, the Keepers of the Gate Necklace/Tzedakah Box Promotion still is available for all new and step-up Keepers through December 2020. Click here for more information about these opportunities. Annual giving plays a critical role in Hadassah's lifesaving medical breakthroughs and cutting-edge care, supports a strong Israel, empowers women to effect change, and provides at-risk youth in Israel with a bright future.

All new Keepers receive a frameable certificate with their name inscribed and quarterly statements. Each level is eligible to receive a distinctive David’s Harp pin or pendant for their giving level, with Associate Keepers being eligible to receive a tie pin. (The fair market value of the jewelry is $110-$680.) Golden Keepers are accorded all honors given to a Hadassah Major Donor.

After five years of ongoing annual Keepers gifts, your name will be inscribed on the Keepers of the Gate pillar at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. At ten and twenty years, you will receive a beautifully engraved Commemorative Certificate inscribed with your name.

Planned Giving

Planned giving is an easy way to donate to Hadassah. When donors include a gift to Hadassah in their estate plans, they leave a legacy that allows us to continue our mission of healing the sick, curing disease, promoting Jewish leadership and empowering Jewish youth in Israel and the United States. A bequest from a will or a living trust allows for an estate in any amount to be designated to Hadassah free of tax. If donors are looking for a simple way to make a charitable gift to Hadassah that won’t leave them worried about their future financial security, a charitable gift annuity could be the solution. Click here to learn more. For more information, contact Hadassah at 800-428-8884 or giving@hadassah.org.

Community News

On Sunday, December 13 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Minnesota Jewish Genealogical Society (MNJGS) will host a panel discussion, Family Secrets: A Discussion of the film The Flat. In The Flat, as the film maker cleans out the apartment that belonged to his grandparents who immigrated from Nazi Germany, he uncovers clues pointing to a complicated and shocking story. To view a free movie trailer, click here. The film is available for $3.99 on You Tube and Amazon Prime and free on Hulu. For information on the program and panelists, click here. To register, click here.

Shop and Support Hadassah

AmazonSmile is a program through which Amazon donates 0.5% of your Amazon purchases to a charity of your choosing. Go to smile.amazon.com, log in if needed, and search for Hadassah. Then, to assure that Hadassah will receive a benefit, please make sure to login into AmazonSmile before you make your purchase. Thanks to customers shopping at AmazonSmile, everyday purchases generated over $200 million in donations to charities worldwide so far. AmazonSmile has the same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, plus you generate donations for charity at no cost to you.

AmazonSmile's impact to date:
•  $10,092.66 to Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America
•  $198,636,544.70 to all charities in the US
•  $215,721,458.97 to all charities worldwide

For more information about AmazonSmile, click here for the FAQ sheet. Sign up today. What an easy way to help Hadassah!

Save the Dates

Hadassah Missions is now Hadassah Israel Travel. Visit the Hadassah Israel website to pick your favorite tour for 2021 and join us in Israel! Don’t forget to invite your family and friends!

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, Golden Valley, MN 55422. 

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

                                   

Ten reasons to buy your greeting cards through Hadassah:

     1. The cards are attractive and meaningful.
     2. The money you pay for your cards goes directly to Hadassah!
     3. There are a number of card categories including birthday, sympathy, get well, mazel tov, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.
     4. You can buy cards at Hadassah events and also through our Hadassah card contacts listed below. (No standing at the store).
     5. We have brand new Happy Birthday cards that have just arrived!!
     6. The cards offer a variety of messages.
     7. The recipient will understand and appreciate that the money you spent on their card goes to support Hadassah’s mission.
     8. The price for the cards is $5 each or 3 for $12….a real steal!!
     9. Our special Malinsky cards (photo at right) for Cancer Research are $10 each.
   10. Why would you spend more money at a store when you can support our chapter fundraising goals and Hadassah at the same time?

Hadassah Certificates are a special way for you to make a donation in honor or in memory of someone. These attractive certificates ranging from $10-$500 are personalized with the message you wish and sent directly to the recipient. Contact the Card/Certificate person below to order your certificates or online through www.hadassah.org. Click on Donate, then Other Ways to Give, then Personalized Certificates.  Be sure to designate Hadassah Minneapolis when prompted.

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.

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. Since we do not have access to either our office email or voice mail, if you wish to reach us, please use the Hadassah Minneapolis email, hadassahminneapolis@gmail.com.

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

Like Hadassah on Facebook.