On March 26, Hadassah joined together with Jewish Women International and the National Council of Jewish Women to host a reception on Capitol Hill honoring the Jewish women of the 119th Congress in partnership with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). The program featured six Jewish women members of Congress, Hadassah's national president and CEO as well as leaders from partnering organizations.
Hadassah volunteers and leaders Joyce Laiter, co-coordinator of the Education & Advocacy Division; Rebecca Young, co-president of Hadassah Southern Seaboard; Sharon Goretsky, co-chair of the Hadassah Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Council and Grassroots Advocacy Team; Michele Foster, co-chair of American affairs; Debra Steppel, advocacy co-chair of Hadassah Greater Washington, and Randi Cohen Coblenz, Washington representative, were there to support the congresswomen in their shared advocacy and to ask them questions.
The members of Congress were recognized for their passionate advocacy to strengthen the US-Israel relationship, fight hatred and antisemitism and champion women’s and public health. They also remembered the late Rep. Nita Lowey, a trailblazing Jewish woman who served more than three decades in Congress, breaking barriers and advancing critical policy initiatives for women’s health and Israel’s security.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV) and Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Kim Schrier (WA-8) and Wasserman Schultz spoke about their work to address challenges facing our country, with one key theme being the importance of working across communities to counter the alarming rise in antisemitism in the US and around the world.
As co-founder of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, Sen. Rosen highlighted the importance of working together across the aisle to stand up to hate. Rep. Wasserman Schultz spoke about establishing the first-ever Jewish Caucus in Congress and its members' shared commitment to prioritizing the issues impacting the Jewish community. Rep. Friedman, a freshman member of Congress, highlighted her prior work fighting antisemitism in the California Assembly, including her efforts to ensure that Judaism is included in diversity training programs.
The congresswomen also reaffirmed their commitment to standing with Israel and protecting access to reproductive care. Rep. Schrier emphasized the importance of supporting Israel and securing the release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Rep. Jacobs shared that her experience as a Jewish woman drives her to fight for important issues like reproductive justice. Rep. Frankel discussed the surge in attacks on reproductive healthcare and the urgent need to protect reproductive freedom.
Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz ended the evening by remembering the powerful leadership of Hadassah founder Henrietta Szold, who dedicated her life to organizing women to be Zionists, advocate for change and heal the world.
During their time in the capitol, Schwartz and CEO Ellen Finkelstein also met with members of Congress to advance Hadassah’s priorities, including the critical need for security aid to Israel, the importance of standing up to antisemitism and protecting access to reproductive care.
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