Hadassah advocates across the country made their voices heard in 2023, kicking off by celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary and ending by leaping into action to support Israel following Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7. Throughout the year, Hadassah and its advocates also continued speaking out against surging antisemitism and fighting for women’s reproductive rights and improvements in women’s health.
Hadassah’s Response to Israel at War
Following the devastating attack by Hamas on October 7, Hadassah advocates immediately took action to support Israel and call for the release of the hostages. Members continue to advocate tirelessly for critical legislative and advocacy priorities, including:
- Advocating to pass an emergency supplemental aid package to Israel to provide critical defense support
- Supporting resolutions to stand with Israel, condemn Hamas and release the hostages
- Shining a light on Hamas’ violence against Israeli women and urging international organizations to condemn Hamas and support unbiased investigations into the October 7 attacks on women and children
- Joining the March for Israel in Washington, DC, to raise our voices for Israel and speak out against antisemitism and anti-Zionism
- Demanding the International Committee of the Red Cross immediately visit the hostages still being held in Gaza in a letter to the committee
Strengthening the US-Israel Relationship
Thanks to the efforts of Hadassah advocates across the country, several key measures supporting the US-Israel relationship and mutual security were included in authorization and funding bills in 2023.
Hadassah advocates successfully advocated to secure authorization for key priorities:
- Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords with the rank of Ambassador
- Continued Iron Dome missile defense support through 2026
- $27 million in new funding for joint US-Israel defense research and development projects
This year, Hadassah commemorated Israel’s 75th anniversary by releasing Hadassah’s inaugural list of 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know. In September, Hadassah continued the celebration by bringing advocates and some of these featured Zionist women to Capitol Hill. At our briefing, American Women Supporting Israel: Building Bridges and Making an Impact, our speakers talked about the importance of supporting the US-Israel relationship and why they proudly claim their Zionist identities.
Hadassah is also proud of our successful advocacy for Israel’s inclusion into the US Visa Waiver Program, further strengthening the US-Israel relationship. As a result of this change, Israelis are now allowed to travel to the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
Combating Antisemitism
Since the war in Israel began, antisemitism continues to spike at an alarming rate. Hadassah advocates continue to fight vigorously against the alarming growth in antisemitism in the US and around the world. Hadassah advocates:
- Provided input on the first ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and supported its full implementation, including clarifying that the Civil Rights Act’s Title VI prohibits antisemitism in federally funded programs
- Urged Congress to strengthen programs to combat antisemitism by adding funds to enforce civil rights protections, monitor and prevent hate crimes and more
- Spoke out against rising antisemitism on college campuses and urged colleges to take action to protect Jewish students
- Continued to support passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act to require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. The bill passed the House and awaits action in the Senate
- Supported House passage of the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act, which would require a report to Congress on the curriculum taught by schools under the Palestinian Authority and funded by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to ensure educational materials are consistent with the values of human rights, dignity and tolerance
- Supported the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act to support Holocaust education nationwide
Championing Women’s and Public Health
Hadassah advocates continued to advocate for women’s and public health, especially in the areas of maternal and reproductive health, patient empowerment and innovation. Hadassah supported reproductive rights at the federal, state and local levels this year and more:
- Hadassah advocates successfully advocated for passage of Ohio’s Proposition 1, which creates a constitutional right to make one’s own reproductive health decisions and helped ensure reproductive choice measures will be on the ballot in other states in 2024
- Hadassah sponsored a bipartisan resolution on infertility and brought together 31 other Jewish organizations in a letter urging Congress to support the resolution
- Hadassah was proud to support the bipartisan, bicameral PREEMIE Act, which passed the House in the fall and is likely to move in the Senate. The bill addresses maternal health and infant mortality
- Hadassah continued to support legislation to ensure access to contraception and provide both public and private insurance coverage for infertility treatment
- Hadassah continued to advocate for measures that would improve the quality of women’s health, including women’s heart health education, support for medical research and more
Thank you to everyone who took action to support Hadassah’s advocacy priorities in 2023!
Hadassah advocacy connects and empowers women to effect change locally and nationally. Hadassah leadership joined over 20 meetings in Washington, DC, with legislators to discuss critical Hadassah priorities, while members nationwide made their voices heard in nearly 20 legislator meetings, sent thousands of letters and more to speak out on important issues to Hadassah. Members can join Hadassah’s advocacy efforts in 2024 by signing up today for advocacy emails.
Visit our new, updated National Action Center for ways you can continue to advance critical legislation in the 118th Congress that supports our ally, Israel, combats rising antisemitism and champions women’s and public health.