ebulletin

Hadassah International Bulletin

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Celebrating 20 Years of Hadassah International 1983-2003

Over 250 delegates from 17 countries met in London to celebrate 20 years of Hadassah International. Proclaiming “It’s Not A Miracle...It’s Hadassah,” delegates rejoiced at the remarkable ongoing achievements of the Hadassah Medical Organization, and explored the difficult healthcare needs created in populations dealing with the stress of constant violence and economic problems. The conference focused on war, medicine and terror, including the struggle against de-legitimization of Israel in the international arena. The meeting took place amidst the delegate’s growing concerns for anti-Semitism in many of their home countries, but a spirit of unity, determination and resolve filled the Conference.

HADASSAH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

“It’s Not A Miracle...It’s Hadassah” London, England

May 11-12, 2003

Special Report:

Guilda Shamash, Chairperson, Hadassah United Kingdom (right) convenes the confer-ence, with Nancy Falchuk, HIMRA President (left).

Hadassah International Presidents Meeting Panel Session: The New Realities: “Can We Cope?”


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Many of the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) professionals were present at this year’s Hadassah Conference to discuss the issues facing them in dealing with terrorism, war prepara-tions and in continuing their normal daily activity. Meeting Current Healthcare Needs: Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, Director-General, Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), reminded us that HMO has different needs in providing healthcare than other medical centers around the world, such as caring for a different type of patient (victims of terrorist attacks) and upgrading the hospital’s security. “We have physicians and nurses who are worrying about what might have happened to family members at home the minute they hear of terrorist attacks. We are not just a hospital. We are a commu-nity hospital, a tertiary medical center, a university hospital (mainly in research and education), and a military hospital. We all have to play or move within these different roles, day and night, between different populations and different activities.” Exploring the past and Hadassah’s achievements: Professor Yoel Donchin, Senior Anesthesiologist and Director of HMO’s Critical Care Transport Unit, mesmerized the delegates when he spoke about the early years of Hadassah and Jerusalem, displaying wonderful photographs of these early years and Hadassah’s pioneering role in healthcare in this region.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS London, England

Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef

Henrietta Szold, Founder, Hadassah (seated in first row, center) with the

hospital staff.

Beginning years of Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem

Early Years: Hadassah Hospital at Mount Scopus, Jerusalem

Early Years: Hadassah Hospital at Mount Scopus, Jerusalem

THE NEW REALITIES: Coping with Terrorism: The most emotional session during the conference dealt with the question: “Can We Cope?” One of the speakers, Dr. Rackel Pickard, a senior obstetrician and gynecologist at Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, moved us all as she spoke of her personal loss: “In the last two and a half years, our work has become more difficult. In addi-tion to our regular patients, we have treated over 2600 men, women and chil-dren injured in terror attacks. We, the members of the Hadassah family, have been affected, too — 22 members of our staff have lost first-degree relatives in terror attacks. I’m one of those 22. In March 2002, my son Eran was murdered together with four of his classmates. They were 19 years old. ….After my son was murdered, I knew that I had to go on with my life….No hour passes when I don’t miss my Eran, and mourn him. But as a physician at Hadassah Hospital, I continue with my work of healing. My patients are Jewish and Palestinian women. They need to be treated for gynecological ailments, assistance in fertility, and – my favorite part of the job – assistance in giving birth. Every day, I help bring new lives into this world – beautiful, innocent ba-bies, Jews and Arabs, who will be the future of our country. In each of their faces, I see my beloved Eran, as a baby, as a child, and as a teenager.”

Dealing with the de-legitimization of Israel in the international arena:

His Excellency Yaakov Levy, Israel Ambassador to the United Na-tions in Geneva, embraces the support of Hadassah International. Its presence in Geneva, home of the World Health Organization, can help provide positive support for Israel. He spoke of the need for Hadassah and other Jewish NGOs to be present and speak out. “We have the ability, Hadassah and others, to put an end to a double standard, to Israel bashing, to the obsession with Israel, to singling out the country for negative resolutions.” Ambassador Levy has participated in Hadassah International confer-ences for the past three years. At last year’s conference in Geneva, he hosted a reception at the United Nations for Hadassah Interna-tional delegates and the UN Ambassadors. This gave the ambassa-dors the opportunity to learn about the humanitarian policies of the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) and its involvement with other nations. Hadassah International volunteers can help in their respective com-munities by informing others about the work of HMO, and by eradi-cating the prejudices associated with Israel and Israel’s medical community.


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Dr. Rackel Pickard

Nancy Falchuk, President, Hadassah International, pre-sents the book, It Takes A Dream (the story of Hadassah) to His Excellency Yaakov Levy, Israel Ambassador to the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

Dealing with the issue of medicine and politics:

Prominent physicians from England, the United States, and Israel, participated in a panel discussion on: “Medicine as a Weapon of Terror.” They spoke of their personal experiences and explored ways in which the international academic and medical communities could be supportive and speak out against the lies and erro-neous rumors reported in the media.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: Tea at the House of Commons. A traditional British tea at the Houses of Parliament was hosted by the distinguished Lord Janner of Braunstone, Neville Grenville. Alberta Strage, Hadassah United Kingdom presided at this special occasion, which also honored Bernice S. Tannenbaum and her family.

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Photo on right : Panel discussion on "Medicine as a Weapon of Terror," focused on the struggle against de-legitimization of Israel in the international arena. Left to right: Audrey Shimron, Director, Hadassah Office in Israel; Moishe Sandler, President, Hadassah Mexico; Dr. David Katz, Profes-sor of Immunopathology at University College, London; Dr. David Zangen, Senior Physician at Hadassah University Hospital; Prof. Benjamin Sachs of Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and Har-vard Medical School.

Left to right: Bonnie Lipton, Lord Janner of Braunstone, Neville Grenville and Nancy Falchuk.

Left to right: Nancy Falchuk, Dr. Alain Salimpour, Ruth Salimpour, Max Jacobowitz, Michelle Israel, Fanny Navon, and Bea Birnbaum

HADASSAH INTERNATIONAL HONORS DISTINGUISHED LEADERS


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Left to right: Bonnie Lipton and Jo Wagerman Left to right: Bonnie Lipton, H.E. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, Sarah Aronson, Bernice S. Tannenbaum, and Nancy Falchuk

Left to right: Nancy Falchuk, Bernice S. Tannenbaum, Bonnie Lipton and June Walker

Left to right: Prof. Leon Epstein, Bonnie Lipton, Nancy Falchuk and Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef

“Volunteers of Distinction”

Jo Wagerman President

Board of Deputies of British Jews United Kingdom

H.E. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith

Founder VSA Arts

United States

Anne Marie Gravdahl and Tørbjorn Ekroll “Help The Jews Home”

Norway

First Woman of Distinction

Bernice S. Tannenbaum Founder & Former Coordinator,

Hadassah International Former National President, Hadassah

Special Recognition: Building Bridges

in Healthcare

Prof. Leon Epstein Director Braun School of Public Health

and Community Medicine Hebrew University-Hadassah

HADASSAH INTERNATIONAL GALA FUNDRAISING DINNER AT GROSVENOR HOUSE


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Hadassah United Kingdom organized an elegant 20th Anniversary gala dinner at Grosvenor House, which paid tribute to Hadassah International’s founder, Bernice S. Tannenbaum. Bernice’s family participated in the celebration and shared its pride in her extraordinary achievements. Through the efforts and devotion of Hadassah U.K.’s gala committee, led by Guilda Shamash, Chairman,Hadassah U.K., Juliet Dawood, former Chairman, Hadassah U.K., Hagar Dagmi, Chair, Hadassah Inter-national, Israel, and Jacqueline Segaloff-Silverberg, Hadassah U.K., over 600 people attended. Honored guests included Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, The Lady Jacobovits, Lord and Lady Wolfson, Lord and Lady Jopling, Lord Janner of Braunstone, QC, and H.E. Ambassador Yaakov Levy, Israel Am-bassador to the United Nations in Geneva. The gala proved to be a memorable and successful fundraising event filled with tributes, inspirational accounts of experiences at Hadassah, reflections of the growth and achievements of Hadassah Interna-tional since its founding 20 years ago, and of the work of the Hadassah Medical Organization.

HADASSAH INTERNATIONAL GALA FUNDRAISING DINNER AT GROSVENOR HOUSE


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MINGLING AT RECEPTIONS AND AT SPECIAL DINNERS HOSTED IN VOLUNTEERS’ HOMES


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Special Thanks to Hadassah United Kingdom and to our British Hosts for contributing their efforts and helping make Hadassah International’s Conference a success.

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