2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and the realization of Theodor Herzl’s dream of a Jewish homeland. We're proud to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israeli statehood and celebrate Hadassah’s unique relationship with Israel, past, present and future. At the same time, Hadassah is excited to join Zionists all over the world for this yearlong celebration of Israel, Zionism and Judaism. As ever, we remain passionate about supporting Israel in real, tangible ways as a proudly Zionist organization.
We hope everyone in our Hadassah family -- and all Zionists in the diaspora -- will take advantage of the special opportunity this anniversary presents to amplify our commitment to Zionism -- in 2023 and beyond. Hadassah has played an integral role in every stage of Israel’s evolution, from pre-state to a fledgling nation to the Startup Nation, from planting hundreds of thousands of trees to bringing healthcare and innovation to its people.
Hadassah is encouraging local chapter leaders throughout the country to hold events celebrating this occasion, and we'll be offering national programming as well.
We are looking forward to hosting our first Zionist Symposium, taking place in October 2023 and featuring a broad range of Zionist speakers and subjects. We at Hadassah strive to create a space where people are free to engage in bold, complex or even difficult conversations about Zionism. Our Zionist Scholar-In-Residence Michelle Rojas-Tal is a resource to units planning Zionist programs and will continue to write about Zionism throughout the year.
We are also encouraging units to meet with their local Israeli Consulate and present them with a special Hadassah certificate. Our goal is to amplify dynamic female Zionist voices from diverse backgrounds and fields. We believe there is no such thing as a “typical Zionist,” and that you should not be ashamed to wrestle with aspects of your Zionist identity. At Hadassah, we aim to reclaim the term “Zionism,” not to simplify it but to display it proudly in all of its complexity.
We are proud to share with the Jewish community our Matzah of Celebration, a wonderful way to celebrate Israel’s 75th during your Passover seder. The theme of our yearlong celebration is “Hadassah & Israel Together at 75.”
As such, we will take this opportunity to be reflective, to look to both the past and the future. We are proud to be a part of the celebration of Israel’s 75 years of statehood. The relationship between Hadassah and Israel goes back more than a century, far longer than 75 years. As such, we will celebrate our storied history with Israel, dating back as far as 1912 when we worked to help define the Zionist ideals on which the State was founded. Past, present and future, our commitment to Israel remains constant and steadfast.
We will use 2023 to reaffirm our commitment, commemorate our past, celebrate our present and plan for our future as Zionists and members of Hadassah. We hope you will join us.