The Charlotte Jewish News -October 2001 - Page 17
cmc/ S^^med-
Hadassah President’s Message
By Debby Rosenberger
While the outcome of any elec
tion can have tremendous impact
on public policy decisions and
debates, this year’s race is particu
larly significant, as five Supreme
Court seats may become vacant,
the selection of a new president
and a new majority in Congress
can affect the policies of our coun
try for the next 20 years.
Changes in our government
may impact many issues of impor
tance to Hadassah and its mem
bers, including reproductive rights,
US-Israel relations, healthcare,
church-state separation and many
others. With so much at stake it is
vital that we, as women and Jews
participate in this election.
Low levels of American voter
participation stand in stark contrast
to nations throughout the rest of
the world. In the 1996 presidential
election less than half of American
voters participated. This past year
for the Israeli national elections
79% of registered Israelis voted.
For anyone not convinced of the
importance of voting, consider the
historical importance of one vote:
* In 1776, one vote gave
America the English language
instead of German.
* In 1876, one vote gave
Rutherford B. Hayes the presiden
cy of the United States.
* In 1923, one vote gave
Adolph Hitler leadership of the
Nazi Party.
* In 1941, one vote saved the
Selective Service weeks before
Pearl Harbor was attacked.
* In 1960, one vote per polling
site would have elected Richard
Nixon rather than John F. Kennedy
to the Presidency.
One of our most precious rights
as Jews and as women in America
is the right to vote. It is doubly pre
cious because it has been ours so
rarely in history. Political leaders
are responsive to those con
stituents who are most vocal about
their interests. We must continue to
express our interests by voting.
When women and Jews don’t vote,
their voices are not heard and their
rights suffer. Remember, every
action counts and every vote
counts.
June Walker to Speak at
Board Meeting
On Monday, October 22, at
7:30 June Walker', Hadassah’s
National Treasurer and a member
of Hadassah’s National Board and
Executive Committee will speak
at an open board meeting.
Prior to becoming treasurer
June served as National Vice
President and National Chairman
of the Hadassah College of
Technology. She was also Chair of
the American Affairs/Domestic
Policy Department. In this capaci
ty, she campaigned for
Representative Barbara Boxer’s
Violence Against Women Act,
launched educational programs on
the radical right and healthcare.
brought Curriculum Watch into
reality across the country, devel
oped national participation in two
marches in Washington for
women’s rights, and conceived,
wrote and distributed “The
American Scene.’’ The various ini
tiatives that were created during
her tenure led to the development
of the Washington Action Office
and a fully staffed National
Department of Women’s Health.
The rest of June’s bio is just as
impressive, and she is a dynamic
speaker. We look forward to see
ing all of you at this exciting
event. O
Hadassah National Convention 2001:
Impressions of Jerusalem
By Roz Cooper
It’s still Eretz Yisrael. It’s still
the eternal home of the Jewish
People. It’s still the most beautiful
and spiritual place in the world,
but it is different now. The change
is evident everywhere.
People think twice before leav
ing their homes. They
don’t trust anyone or
anything. They are angry
and scared. After only
two weeks in Israel, I
understand these feel
ings.
I just returned home
from the Hadassah
National Convention in
Jerusalem. Nearly 600
Hadassah women and
Associates gathered in
Israel in a year when
many groups cancelled
their trips and changed their plans.
I am really proud to be part of an
organization that never abandons
our brothers and sisters in Israel,
Hadassah is a Zionist organization
whose members know that actions
speak louder than words.
The Convention was spectacu
lar. Everyone we met thanked us
for being in Jerusalem during such
difficult times. We were treated
like visiting royalty. They wined
us and dined us and made sure that
everyone drank lots of water and
stayed as safe as possible.
We visited the sites of our
Hadassah projects. The work that
Hadassah does in Israel came
alive for all of the Convention del
egates. The hospitals are state of
Aliyah villages taught us how to
arrange flowers and ride a zip line
(ask your kids what that is). We
rode jeeps on the Burma Road and
learned all about our partnership
with JNF. At the College of
Technology we were over
whelmed by the talent of our stu-
Everyone was getting comfortable
and complacent. We were all con
gratulating ourselves on coming to
(Continued on page 20)
Larry Horowitz, CLU, ChFC
Financial
5950 Fairview Road, Suite 120
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704) 556-9982, Fax (704) 556-9983
Helping in the CREATION, PRESERVATION &
DISTRIBUTION of your Estate.
Roz Cooper, far right, joins her Hadassah col
leagues overlooking Jerusalem.
the art. Students from our Youth
dents and impressed by the stories
of people helped by the Career
Counseling Service. Our visit to
Beit Riklis, Young Judaea’s home
base in Jerusalem, gave us a brief
and exciting glimpse into the great
Israel programs available for
American young people.
Hadassah makes us all proud.
The quality of the programs
was outstanding. Prime Minister
Sharon addressed the opening
meeting. We heard from the
Mayor of Jerusalem, the President
of the State of Israel and world
famous rabbis. The North
Carolina delegation even got to
meet with Senator John Edwards!
We all felt well received and well
educated.
Everything was wonderful.
BACKSAVER
*. sty'®®
.-''°'fReadyF°;
in Oelive'T'-
Ittirtied'a*
jyiapy '
Zero-Gravity Rec liners
• Reduces Pressure on the Spine.
• Relieves Muscle Tension.
• Increases Circulation.
•Relieves Back Pain.
You are invited to test drive
the experience foryourseif.
RELAX THE BACK.
The Smartest Way To Sit Or Sleep.
TOWER PLACE COTSWOLD VILLAGE SHOPS
HWY 51 • PINEVILLE RANDOLPH RD.& SHARON AMITY
Half Mile North of 1-485 Next To Wolfman Pizza & GNC
704-542-5050 704-366-5110
Coming to
Charlotte: Al
Galgalim
Al Galgalim is a Jewish fami
ly education program for parents
or grandparents and pre-school
age children. Discover the joys
of being Jewish in this hands-on,
pressure-off friendly environ
ment. The introductory session
will be November 4 at 4:00 PM
at the JCC as part of the Jewish
Cultural Arts Festival. Call
Sharon Kasman, 704-442-2163
to make a reservation.
Hadassah Lunch
and Learn
IVRIT LA
Hadassah
Learn Hebrew now!
Shalav Alef will meet
beginning October 16.
Call Anat Peles, 704-341-
5924 for more Information.
Last year a dozen or so women
met once a month for lunch. Not
so amazing, right? But what was
both amazing and wonderful was
the topics of their discussion.
Once a month they read a chapter
in Hadasshah’s wonderful Rosh
Chodesh book. Moonbeams, and
discussed the women’s view of a
single Jewish topic: wearing talli-
tot and tefillin; dressing and
behaving modestly; finding a fem
inist voice; and so much more.
Hadassah’s popular Lunch and
Learn Study Group will reconvene
on October 16 at 12 noon in the
Board Room of the JCC. The
study group dates for this year are:
October 16, November 13,
December 11, January 15,
February 19, March 19, April 16,
May 14.
Bring a lunch and join us on
lively, provocative discussion.
The new Jaguar X-TYPE
All-wheel drive
manual or optional automatic
wood and leather interior
complimentary maintenance
4-yr/50,000-mile warranty
Arriving soon at Scott Jaguar
JAGUAR^
SCOTT JAGUAR
416 TYVOLA ROAD • 527-7000 • www.scottjag.com
"2002 X-TypeMSRP $29,950; tux. title, freight and Ikeosefeesextra.'l
The art of performance I JAGUAR