By Michele Sands, Wilmington Chapter of Hadassah
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At Hadassah, Israel is in our DNA. Programs here in the US advance a deeper understanding and connection to Israel—for adults and young Jews. Our advocacy supports Israel’s security and a strong US-Israel relationship. In Israel, our hospitals and youth programs create a better future, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or race.
In Delaware, the Wilmington Chapter of Hadassah supports Hadassah’s core mission of strengthening Zionism—the Jewish people’s connection and commitment to our historic homeland of Israel—by encouraging women to become annual or Life members and men to become Associates, by building fundraising into all our activities, and by inspiring our members and the broader community to advocate and donate to Hadassah.
Our commitment to Zionism is woven into the fabric of who we are, which is why our official name is Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America. The organization was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, a teacher, three years after she traveled to pre-state Israel and took action after seeing Jews living in camps without proper plumbing or sanitation. Horrified by the impact starvation and disease had on her people, she devoted the rest of her long life to improving the health and well-being of her people and what was to become the Jewish Homeland.
The results of Henrietta Szold’s “practical Zionism” can be seen today in Hadassah’s two world-class hospital campuses in Jerusalem and the youth villages she founded to save the children who left their homelands as the Nazis invaded Eastern Europe. Hadassah doctors are always at the ready, as seen during a terror attack in Jerusalem this past September when some 30 terror victims were treated at Hadassah hospitals. Newsweek recently included Hadassah Medical Organization on its 2026 list of the “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” and “World’s Best Smart Hospitals,” and named it a global leader in cardiology and oncology.
Amid escalating anti-Israel sentiment, particularly since October 7, 2023, Hadassah has worked to amplify women’s voices as thought leaders, educators, and advocates in support of Zionism and Israel. To this end, Hadassah provides talking points, which can be found on its website, www.Hadassah.org, to help its members and others to have clear facts about Israel at war which help address some of the most common misinformation. Antisemitism can be masked as anti-Zionism. Anti-Zionism normalizes antisemitism and paves the path for further violence and hatred. Anti-Zionism embeds historic antisemitic tropes and themes within
its rhetoric and criticism of Israel; often using “Zionist” to replace “Jewish person” to avoid censorship and repercussions for bigotry. You can learn more in the Countering Anti-Zionist Misinformation fact sheet on the Hadassah website.
To learn how Jewish women have been affected by antizionism and antisemitism post-October, Hadassah launched Everyday Antisemitism: Women’s Stories Survey. Two-thirds of Jewish women surveyed reported
that antisemitism is affecting their lives, relationships, and work. Their moving stories and the statistics Hadassah collected are published in a must-read report, From Fear to Resilience: Women Facing Antisemitism. Hadassah has also developed resources for fighting antisemitism that include five ways to take action: report it, speak out, advocate for change, engage your community, and support Hadassah with your donations.
Hadassah’s End the Silence campaign was developed to demand that the United Nations and others hold Hamas accountable for the horrific conflict-related sexual violence that occurred on October 7, 2023, including against many of the hostages. More than 150,000 Hadassah advocates from around the world have spoken out and, in August 2025, the UN took a first step toward this goal by listing Hamas as a party responsible for sexual violence in conflict. Hadassah is encouraging continued advocacy by asking you to write to the UN to thank them for this first step and continue demanding action to hold Hamas accountable for crimes against humanity to deter future conflict-related sexual violence.
The updated End The Silence Fact Sheet (on Hadassah’s website) includes evidence from credible sources highlighting the systematic and brutal weaponization of sexual violence and rape by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and beyond. This fact sheet is meant to be a resource to fight misinformation and antisemitic biases.
With 300,00 members across the nation today—1,200 of whom belong to the Wilmington Chapter—we remain committed to building a better world through medicine and health care, advocating for change including for women’s equality, and supporting Israel while promoting a strong US-Israel relationship. You can add your voice and support of Hadassah’s mission by joining the Wilmington Chapter and/or contributing to the organization.
Please note: Much of the material in this article was excerpted from the Hadassah website, www.Hadassah.org. Please visit this website to learn more about what Hadassah is doing and how you can become an advocate and supporter.
Contact Judi Rosenberg at judimax1@aol.com for information about Hadassah membership. Contact Arlene Eckell at hseane1967@gmail.com to explore the many ways you can contribute to and support Hadassah. For example, cash, IRA accounts and insurance policies are some of the funding sources you can use to become a Keeper of the Gate, establish a Yahrzeit for a loved one, or make a bequest to Hadassah.
