Media Contact:
Claire Lee
hadassah@rational360.com
860-671-0362
NEW YORK, NY – At its midwinter meetings in West Palm Beach, FL, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, adopted two new policy statements, “Condemning Gender-Based Violence” and “Standing Up to Antisemitism on College Campuses and in Communities Around the Country.”
“As the largest Jewish women’s organization in the country, Hadassah is committed to speaking out against all forms of antisemitism, including the new and alarming surge since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023,” said Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz. “From college campuses to the United Nations, wherever antisemitism appears, we will not be silent. We are redoubling our advocacy and our work to educate and empower supporters, build community and cultivate pride in Zionism.”
There is clear evidence that Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence against Israeli women and girls. Hadassah’s policy statement “Condemning Gender-Based Violence” reaffirms the organization’s condemnation of all acts of sexual and gender-based violence and demands justice for the Israeli women and girls victimized during the Hamas attacks and the ongoing hostage crisis.
Hadassah continues to call on the United Nations to conduct a truly independent, impartial and trauma-informed investigation into these gender-based crimes, one that is sensitive to survivors and will pursue a forceful prosecution to hold Hamas fully accountable. This investigation should not be placed in the hands of the historically biased, anti-Israel and antisemitic Commission of Inquiry on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
In the face of the dangerous and alarming 388% spike in antisemitic incidents in the United States, Hadassah has adopted a second policy statement, “Standing Up to Antisemitism on College Campuses and in Communities Around the Country.” The statement reaffirms the organization’s commitment to counter antisemitism on college campuses, online, in our communities and around the world through empowerment and education.
Hadassah will continue to empower members and supporters to take pride in their identities, to speak out against hatred of all kinds and to demand accountability and action from leaders across all sectors. Hadassah calls on leaders – especially those in government and education – to denounce both blatant antisemitism and antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism; to take steps to protect Jewish and Zionist students; to increase support and funding for antisemitism education; to collaborate with government agencies to investigate and address antisemitic harassment and discrimination; and to adopt the IHRA definition and identify and address antisemitism in all its forms.
Read Hadassah’s policy statements: “Condemning Gender-Based Violence,” “Standing Up to Antisemitism on College Campuses and in Communities Around the Country.”