Comments (0)Editors Note
May 2009
Dear Readers,
Last week I went with a national group of Hadassah young women to an Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. I traveled with two other Baltimoreans—Amy Sloane, incoming president of the Hadassah of Greater Baltimore chapter, and Ann Rubin, coincidently this month’s “Dining With” contributor.
For a little over two days, we were briefed on domestic and international issues involving health, women’s and Israeli issues. The goal was to provide us with information to help us advocate for those issues which Hadassah supports. We heard from a host of speakers including Alon Sachar, desk officer of the office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Minister Counselor Rafael Harpaz, director of public affairs at the Embassy of Israel.
One of the highlights was a meeting with AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). As a result of the briefing, Amy Sloane said she became impressed with how the organization used coalition building and introduced African-American and Latino groups to the problems the Jewish state faces. “Israel’s security is bigger than a Jewish issue,” she noted. “Our interests meld with the interests of so many different populations.”
At 300,000 strong, Hadassah has been at the forefront of education and advocacy on health, women and Israel issues. With members in every state, the organization has built an impressive grassroots network to advocate for women’s, health and Israeli issues. As part of their efforts, they have been strong supporters of stem cell research and genetic testing legislation.
The summit culminated with an issues briefing on current bills of importance to Hadassah, including the Breast Cancer Education and the Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, which seeks to create an education and outreach campaign on breast cancer risks of young women under 40.
The Baltimore group then met with Congressman Frank M. Kratovil Jr (D-1st), who graciously gave us 25 minutes of his time. We briefed him on Hadassah and discussed the breast cancer bill, of which he was a co-sponsor. We also talked about his support for Israel. He had been in the region recently with a day stop in Israel and is planning to revisit the Jewish state this upcoming August.
It was a wonderful meeting and the experience proved to me that we — as mothers, daughters and grandmothers — can have our voices heard. With Mother’s Day this weekend, we should be reminded not to be shy about speaking out on those issues we strongly believe in.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Rochelle Eisenberg
Editor
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