In my Shule during the wonderful services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and in the days spent with family and friends during this period, I reflected on what inspires me and on the challenge of living a meaningful life.
The Rabbi spoke about the importance of defining oneself as a giver, as opposed to being a taker, the ritual of Tzedaka and generosity in Jewish tradition.
I thought about the inspirational people at Hadassah, the givers, who make a difference on a daily basis and whose work aims to heal our world.
I was inspired by the visit to Hadassah of Prof Sandro Porceddu, Director of Radiation Oncology at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the photo with him linking hands with Prof Aron Popovtzer, Head of the Oncology Department and the Sharett Institute of Oncology at the Hadassah University Hospital and Prof Yoram Weiss, Hadassah Medical Center Director General.
This connection will surely bring new hope and new beginnings for cancer sufferers.
Also at top of mind on the eve of Rosh Hashana were two inspirational Hadassah women, Rhoda Smolow and Prof Polina Stepensky.
Rhoda Smolow and Prof Polina Stepensky were named by The Jerusalem Post as among the 50 most influential Jewish women of 2023. Prof Stepensky is Head of Hadassah’s Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immunotherapy Department. Her innovative achievements in the field of multiple myeloma cancer will change the world.
Rhoda Smolow, National President of Hadassah, a volunteer, has led the organization’s advocacy for Israel and Jewish life and leads the focus on the exemplary healthcare and medical research undertaken at Hadassah Medical Organization’s two Jerusalem hospitals.
I feel grateful to these inspirational leaders and the many other Hadassah researchers and practitioners whose vision and life’s work make a difference in the world. They are givers in every sense of the word.
Please enjoy our newsletter and our Year in Review linked as the final article.
We wish you a successful and meaningful new year and look forward to catching up at events that we will be initiating in the year to come.
Ruth R Rosen
Executive Director