Hava Nagila

Woke up early and went to the Philanthropy Networking Breakfast which started at 7:00 am. I sat with gals from chapters around the country and we shared fundraising programs. Great to meet and chat with interesting women and bring home some new ideas for our chapter.

In spare time I visited the boutique and resource area to pick up brochures and talk to staff members. Our plenary this morning was worth the trip to NY. Bari Weiss was our speaker and her words were important to hear. She is a New York Times writer and editor and is analyzing the rise of Anti-Semitism in America and has a book coming out in September.

Next speaker was Felice Friedson who is CEO and President of The Media Line, an American news agency covering the Middle East. She showed interviews with brave women form many countries involving Israel and her neighbors.

The next speaker was funny as he presented an overview of threats to Israel. He is Lieutenant Colonel Ori Eyal, Israeli Air Force Deputy Attache to the United States.

I enjoyed Adam Kaplan, Edgybees CEO, who spoke about drones and his visual intelligence business.

Next stop was a boxed lunch in a freezing cold room and then back to breakout sessions. I attended Advocacy:Influence and Impact learning how to approach and meet with Congress members. A fascinating session on the United Nations followed with two excellent speakers - Rabbi Hank Sheikopf, PhD. and an impressive young woman who is the Israeli legal consul to the UN.

More sessions followed about Youth Development, Hadassah doctors and patients giving testimony about treatment and care at the hospital. The stories are heartwarming and heartbreaking as we learned about the day to day life saving efforts by Hadassah.

Now it is time to party at the Gala Banquet. The huge ballroom was set beautifully with round tables and we enjoyed an elegant meal with wine. A highlight was the presentation of the 2019 Henrietta Szold Award to the Honorable Irwin Cotler of Montreal. He gave an incredible speech and I hung on every word. He has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Afterwards an Israeli band played all the songs we love to sing and dance to in circles and conga lines. I had a terrific time dancing and joining the other women having fun.