vol. - hadassah women's zionist organization of america
TRANSCRIPT
SAVE THESE DATES
MONDAY, APRIL 1ST
BOARD MEETING
10 A.M.
MONDAY, APRIL 8TH
BOOK CLUB
12:30 P.M.
NO APRIL CHAPTER
MEETING
APRIL 20 – 21
SAT. AND SUN.
PASSOVER DAYS 1 & 2
APRIL 26-27
FRIDAY AND SAT.
PASSOVER DAYS 7 & 8
MONDAY, APRIL 29TH
STUDY GROUP
1 P.M.
MONDAY, MAY 6TH
BOARD MEETING
10 A.M.
Dear Hadassah Family,
We will be dusting off our Haggadot, and flipping through the pages with a rush of nostalagia. Maybe there’s even a favorite wine stain from the past. Notice how we have a book at the heart
of every holiday. And if we can still read the print as we go around the table, we are grateful!
Eye care is where Hadassah began. We remember Sophie Szold, Henrietta’s mother, weeping when she saw the flies in the eyes of the children of pre-state Israel on their 1909 visit. Eradicating local trachoma, a disease that is still the main infectious cause of blindness in the Third World, was Hadassah’s first accomplishment.
What is less well- known is that tens of millions of children, women and men who are treated for retinal diseases throughout the developed world owe a thank you to Hadassah. Way back in 1948, Hadassah ophthalmologist Isaac Cesar Michaelson identified the factor that causes the pathology of ischemic retina, the process in which the retina cells die because they don’t get enough oxygen. He published his findings which were known globally as “Michaelson’s x-factor.
That was five years before James Watson and Francis Crick published the double-helix theory of DNA and molecular biology wasn’t yet developed. But by 1991, Hadassah researchers were already experts in molecular biology. A young ophthalmologist named Jacob “Kobi” Pe’er was studying cancer of the eye.
VOL. 2019 NO. 4 NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
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A senior molecular biologist at Hadassah medical school, Prof. Eli Keshet, was working on a different project involving oxygen levels in cells. Unbeknownst to either one, that in working together, they found the key to Michaelson’s mysterious x-factor. Now a medicine could be developed to treat ischemic retina and save eyesight. Published in 1995, this research allowed the invention of Avastin, so widely used that someone at your Seder table may be getting it. (Avastin is also used to treat several cancers.)
Sounds serendipitous, doesn’t it? But, as Louis Pasteur said, “Chance only favors the prepared mind.” Hadassah’s Ophthalmology Department is celebrating over a century of dedication of brilliant treatment and research. Professor Pe’er is retired from his position as department head, leaving Professor Itay Chowers, in charge. The Ophthalmology department will be among the first to move into the Round Building Tower, the fundraising for which is named the 360 Degrees of Healing, the Full-Circle Campaign. We’re instructed on Passover to think of ourselves as those who took part in the Exodus from Egypt. Please think also, as you read the words of the Haggadah, that you have been partners in the development of medicine and will be part of Next Year in Jerusalem.
Wishing you and your families a Hag Kasher V’Sameach. Happy Passover , Ellen
Continued from first page - President’s Message
NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
On March 18th, the North Pinellas Chapter gathered to celebrate
our heritage, our traditions and ourselves as we viewed
“Fiddler on the Roof” and sang along with the popular songs of
the show. Especially meaningful was the solo by the Fiddler as it
played during the opening credits to put us all in the mood for
the afternoon of artistry done with love, devotion and high
aspiration.
Oy, what a pleasure!
March Chapter Meeting - Fiddler on the Roof
As an interesting side note, Yiddish “Fiddler on the Roof,” from the National Yiddish
Theater Folksbiene had a sold-out run at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York
and has since moved to Off- Broadway! Joel Grey, the Tony- Oscar winning actor
and Tony – nominated director decided to direct Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof without
speaking a word of Yiddish! TRADITION!
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Jackie Albin
Florence Barnett
Selma Bowman
Pearl Brust
Janice and Jeff Caine
Edie Eckber
Joan and Gary Felser
Esther Gluck
Doris Harding
Cindy and Barry Jackson
Marion Kaplan
Ann Kessler
Marilyn Levin
Arlene and Jack Levine
Blanche Levine
Debra Levine
Joan Levinson
Shirley Mattler
Judy Resnick
Ellen Richter
Myra and Bob Sann
Rita Shapiro
Betty and Marty Slavney
Elaine Tutelman
Jacki Deena Tutelman-Bender
Bibby Weiss
►HEALTHY – HAPPY Birthday to Arlene Blitzer, Edie Eckber, Joan Felser, Sydelle
Freifeld, Marcia Friedman, Pearl Gershon, Ruth Polur, Bonnie Richman,
Norman Bloomberg-Vannes and Ruth Weintraub.
►Continued Get Well Wishes to Betty Slavney, Lois Kander, Edie Eckber, Lenny Tager,
husband of Judi Tager, Jeff Reines, husband of Joyce Reines, and Heather Felser,
daughter-in- law of Joan and Gary Felser.
►Thank you, Betty Slavney for volunteering as our Tree Certificate Chairperson.
Please call her at: 727 446 5895 if you wish to make a purchase.
M i s h p a c h a N e w s
If you would like to share your mishpacha news, please call
Ellen @ 727-784-8802 or [email protected]
NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
4
Favorite Jewish Quotes
“There are no problems, only opportunities for growth.”
-Rebbetzin Dena Weinberg
It gets me through almost anything that
G-d is sending me this so that I can grow.
It prevents me from blaming others, including
myself. It frames a situation not as something
overwhelming that is impossible to solve, but as
a puzzle that can be worked out, and the
process of working it out is where growth takes
place. Words are powerful; as soon as you
reframe from “problem” to “opportunity,” you pull
down the covers, get out of bed, pull up your
boot straps and rise to the occasion. No one
wants problems, but who doesn’t want
opportunities? -Lori Palatnik
NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
North Pinellas Hadassah is pleased to announce
LOIS KANDER as our Woman of Distinction 2019!
Mazel Tov to Lois!
Lois has committed many years of leadership and service
to our Chapter!
Let’s have a great turnout to honor Lois!
Sunday - May 5, 2019
1:30 P.M.
Empath Health
5771 Roosevelt Blvd.
Clearwater
Save the Date Sonya Miller Women of Distinction Celebration!
National Poetry Month,
a celebration of poetry which takes place
each April, was introduced in 1996 and is
organized by the Academy of American Poets
as a way to increase awareness and
appreciation of poetry in the United States.
The SEDER House cleaned
more or less
kitchen surfaces covered
more or less
food ready
more or less
an experience of redemption
more or less
-Jake Marmer
5 NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
BOOK CLUB MEMBERS FUTURE SELECTIONS
Monday,
April 8, 2019
“Before We Were Yours”
by Lisa Wingate
Monday,
June 3, 2019
“The Ragged Edge of Night”
by Olivia Hawker
Monday,
August 12, 2019
“The Hotel On the Corner of
Bitter and Sweet”
by Jamie Ford
“ADL Audit of Anti-Semitism in the United States” Jacqueline Albin
NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
There have been, in the recent past, many articles concerning the alarming inci-
dents of anti-Semitism in Western European countries. I thought it might be edu-
cational for us to review the incidents in the United States to see what the numbers
tell us. The ADL (Anti- Defamation League) keeps and publishes an annual audit
of Anti-Semitic incidents in this country. I took two years of statistics for compari-
son.
In 2008, incidents occurred in 44 states and the District of Columbia and included 37 assaults on Jewish
individuals, 702 cases of vandalism, and 613 (ironically) cases of harassment and/or events. For example,
there was the desecration of dozens of graves at a Jewish cemetery in Chicago with swastikas and hate
group symbols. The total number was 650, a decline of approximately 17% since 2007.
According to Anti-Defamation League National Director, Abraham H. Foxman, “In 2008, the
financial crisis brought about an increase in rhetoric targeting Jews, with letters in newspapers and on Web
sites blaming Jews for the misdeeds of a select few, with Bernard Madoff topping the list...Hate groups and
anti-Semites used the ...economic downturn to breathe new life...into old myths of greedy and money hun-
gry American Jews….”
The Audit recorded 1986 anti-Semitic incidents across the United States in 2017, a 57% year-over-year in-
crease from 2016. This represents the largest yearly percentage increase in anti-Semitic activity since the
ADL began keeping track in 1979. The ADL has only once recorded more anti-Semitic incidents in one
year: 2,006 incidents in 1994. The “harassment and threat incidents” categories included 163 bomb threats.
In the past the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents took place in public areas, but in 2017,
K-12 schools surpassed public areas as the locations with the most anti-Semitic incidents
reported. There were 457 incidents reported at these schools during 2017, a dramatic 94%
increase compared to the 235 incidents reported in 2016. Anti-Semitic incidents on college
campuses almost doubled in 2017. Jewish schools, museums, community centers and
Synagogues also experienced an increase. For the first time in a decade, the Audit recorded
incidents in all 50 states. As usual, the states with the largest Jewish populations, California and New York,
topped the list of states with the most incidents.
On a lighter note, I want to wish all of you a sweet and meaningful Passover.
7
Executive Board Presidium Jacqueline Albin
Joan Levinson Ellen Richter
786-5885 372-2619 784-8802
Treasurer Marion Kaplan 786-3273
Recording Secretary Gerry Berman 723-2732
Corresponding Secretary Dolores Turner 934-8939
Mail Receiver Dolores Turner 934-8939
VP Fundraising OPEN
VP Membership OPEN
PRAZE
Programming Janice Caine Betty Slavney
726-3735 446-5895
Advocacy Ellen Richter 784-8802
Zionism Jacqueline Albin 785-5885
Education Joan Levinson 372-2619
Immediate Past President Ann Kessler 789-6480
Committees & Events
Bulletin -- Editors Co-Editor
Jessica Johnson Patti Hytner Ellen Richter
934-6306 723-9187 784-8802
Cards & Certificates Cindy Jackson 813-475-6474
Game Day Florence Barnett Bette Sharp Doris Steuer
734-2613 797-1242 724-8949
Holiday Greetings Judy Resnick 813-792-7464
Hospitality OPEN
Journal/Directory Marion Kaplan Marilyn Levin
786-3273 754-9928
Mah Jongg Cards Marilyn Levin 754-9928
Mailing Distribution Jacqueline Albin Marilyn Levin Elaine Tutelman
785-5885 754-9928 944-3160
Member App. Luncheon Doris Harding 772-4140
100 2xChai Luncheon Doris Harding 772-4140
Publicity Carol Davis 813-818-7054
Tree Certificates Betty Slavney 446-5895
Special Interest Committee Chairs
Book Club Gerry Berman 723-2732
Out-to-Lunch Bunch Ann Kessler 789-6480
Study Group Joan Levinson 372-2619
2019 BOARD MEMBERS
Hadassah’s attractive and
eye-catching greeting cards and
certificates are a meaningful way to keep
in touch with family and friends, and to
spread the name of Hadassah while
giving tzedakah. Buying these cards and
certificates supports Hadassah’s
important work while purchasing
something we all need!
Please stop by at the general meeting
to view the variety of items that are
available for every occasion.
If you need
something sent
Call
Cindy Jackson at
813-475-6474
JOURNAL CORRECTIONS
Address Changes:
Jami Litov
9265 Sweet Maple Ave.
Orlando 32832-5667
Marilyn Oxman
39 George Aggott Rd.
Needham, MA 02492-3225
Alice Reichman
3610 Phillips Pkwy, Apt. 408
Minneapolis, MN 55426-3797
CARDS & CERTIFICATES
NISSAN / IYAR 5779 / APRIL 2019
8
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 7100
Tampa FL.
DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DO NOT DELAY!
North Pinellas Hadassah 2701 REGENCY OAKS BLVD APT. A503 CLEARWATER, FL 33759
FL: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR HADASSAH, THE WOMEN’S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA, INC. (#SC-01298) AND HADASSAH MEDICAL RELIEF ASSOCIATION, INC. (#SC-04603) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE,
1 (800) HELP-FLA. Registered under Pinellas County Code. For information, call the County Department of Consumer Protection, (727) 464-7988.
NEXT BULLETIN DEADLINE : APRIL 10, 2019
OUT TO LUNCH BUNCH
MAY 13, 2019 12:30 P.M.
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
35645 US Hwy 19 N (Corner of Alderman Road Shopping Center)
RSVP a MUST BY FRIDAY, MAY 10TH (Reservation under Ann)
[email protected] 727-789-6480
REMINDER—NO CHAPTER MEETING IN APRIL
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MONDAY April 8,2019 12:30 P.M.
Jason’s Deli
25801 US Hwy 19 N., Clearwater
727-793-0446
“Before We Were Yours”
by Lisa Wingate