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Contact: Renee Young
Hadassah National Public Relations
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Hadassah Installs Three National Officers in Los Angeles
Hadassah National President Ellen Hershkin states, “Since its founding over 100 years ago, the lifeblood of Hadassah has been the support, dedication and service of a talented core of volunteers such as Frieda Rosenberg, Merna Shapiro and Shelley Kaplan. Each of these newly-elected national officers bring an extraordinary array of leadership skills and administrative talents in dedicated service to HWZOA. In this year of many celebrations – the 100th anniversary of Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing and HMO’s Department of Ophthalmology – Hadassah is truly blessed to have their commitment and support and sense of our mission.”
Shelley Kaplan, as National Treasurer, chairs Hadassah’s Finance Committee and sits on the National Board. Kaplan was a member of Hadassah’s Oversight and Compliance Committee; Chair, Hadassah National Speakers Bureau; Chair, Hadassah Major Gifts; served on the National Finance Committee; and was Region President, Hadassah Southern New Jersey. She is a member of Hadassah’s Circle of Founders and a Benefactor of Peace. Kaplan, a CPA, received her BS in Accounting from SUNY Binghamton and was a tax accountant at Touche Ross in Rochester, NY, and a senior tax manager at DeLoitte and Touche, Pittsburgh, PA.
Kaplan emphasizes the personal growth and a creative outlet for her talents which Hadassah has provided since she joined the organization. “When I joined Hadassah, I learned what Hadassah does for Israel, why it does it and why it is important. Hadassah has given me endless opportunities to grow as a Jewish woman, a committed Zionist and a passionate advocate for Hadassah’s medical research, youth villages and Jewish continuity. I am proud to serve as HWZOA National Treasurer and I look forward to contributing my professional expertise in finance and accounting to further Hadassah’s mission.”
Merna Shapiro, a Hadassah member since 1978, is part of a three-generation Life Member family. Formerly Region Past President, Vice President and Membership Vice President of Hadassah Florida Broward, Shapiro is a founding and charter member of the Hadassah Coral Springs-Parkland Chapter. She currently serves on the Hadassah Governance and Ethics Committees (2016-present). Formerly Vice Chair of the 2016 National Convention, The Power of Our Dreams, Shapiro also served as National Membership Vice Chair and was a member of the National Fundraising Action Team Task Force. She is a member of Hadassah’s Chai Society, a Keeper of the Gate, a Benefactor of Peace and a Centennial Founder. A clinical therapist, she earned cum laude a BA in English Education from Douglass College and a MSW from Rutgers University and was formerly a board member of Temple Beth Am in Margate, FL.
Shapiro is proud of the leadership opportunities which Hadassah has provided women and utilizes HWZOA founder Henrietta Szold’s famous quote “Dare to dream...and when you do…dream big” as a daily inspiration. Shapiro states, “This year’s theme for Hadassah’s milestone anniversaries, ‘Turn Your Passion into Action’ has been a powerful catalyst for me to contribute my talents, energies and compassion to heal the world. As a resident of Parkland, FL, I recently witnessed first-hand the destructive forces in our world, but trust that working together, we will make a difference, and a tragedy, like the one which occurred in my community, will never happen again. Hadassah’s mission embraces tikkun olam, and we continue to help repair our world.”
Frieda Rosenberg is proud to be part of a four-generation Life Member family, a four-generation Associate family and a three-generation President family. She is currently a Celebration 2018 Co-Chair and a National Board Member. She has served as the Vice Coordinator of the Development Division, Development Division Communications & Campaign Co-Chair, Centennial Co-Chair, Development Heart Health Co-Chair, and Grassroots Fundraising Chair. She is a Region Past President of Hadassah Nassau, the Merrick-Bellmore Pnina Chapter and the Dayan Lilah young leaders' group. She is proud to have been the first special project coordinator for the region’s “Hadassah Cares – Check It Out!” program and a member of the creative team of Hadassah’s national pilot project “Special Needs Training Wheels.” She is a member of Hadassah’s Society of Major Donors as well as a Keepers of the Gate. A magnum cum laude Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Connecticut with a BS in Political Science, she received her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law and practiced admiralty law with Burlingham, Underwood and Lord in New York City. She has been a board member of the Sisterhood and Executive Board member of the P.T.A. of the Merrick Jewish Center and served on the board of her community Hebrew High School.
Rosenberg’s three-generation Hadassah President family includes her grandmother, mother and sister. She enthuses, “I am thrilled to play a leadership role during this year of monumental centennial milestones for HWZOA including the 100th anniversaries of HMO, the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing and HMO’s Department of Ophthalmology. The important work we have done – over 100 years as the architects of the medical infrastructure of Israel -- and the connections we make for our members here in America are more important than ever. It’s Practical Zionism making a difference. Hadassah is the career of my heart.”
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.