By Carol Ann Schwartz
I’ve got Miriam on my mind this Passover — the first prophetess and archetype of women’s leadership. Of all the Jewish traditions and rituals, the Passover seder is the quintessential resilience narrative.
Consider Miriam, who remained undaunted, despite the devastating realities of her present. Her actions helped set the trajectory of the Jewish people and our freedom from slavery. First, she intervened at the Nile to ensure her baby brother Moses’ survival; then, she led the women and her people out of Egypt — joyfully with music and dance, no less.
Miriam reminds us of humankind’s amazing ability to create solutions, despite barriers — and that if we hold tight to our faith in the future, we can build a better one. Especially when women act.
In a recent Jerusalem Post column, Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog, wife of President Herzog, stressed the need for more women at more decision-making tables, referring to the hostages and holding Hamas accountable for the use of sexual violence as an act of war, on which Hadassah has mobilized American and global voices.
At Hadassah, we couldn’t agree more. To that end, I proudly represented Hadassah alongside several of our leaders at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW). On the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (a blueprint for women’s rights), we spoke out for Israel, for the hostages and about Hamas’ use of sexual violence as an act of war, as well as about antisemitism and women’s health. Our UN CSW panel featured powerful insights from three visionary Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) doctors who highlighted HMO’s efforts to tackle dangerous gaps in women’s health and build meaningful bridges to peace through medicine.
As we think about babies (Moses and future generations), let’s be clear about just how important the work of HMO and Hadassah is — from safely delivering babies (the US has a staggeringly high rate of maternal mortality) to advancing access to groundbreaking IVF treatments and doing what we can to protect women’s choices while improving outcomes overall.
As March came to a close, Hadassah CEO Ellen Finkelstein and I met with politicians to speak out on Capitol Hill, where Hadassah also co-sponsored two important women-focused events, a reception honoring the Jewish women of the 119th Congress and an interfaith Iftar.
This Passover, pathways for cooperation seem invaluable. Our hope for the future, inspired by Miriam, helps balance our heavy hearts as we pray for the freedom of those still held hostage by Hamas, and for the resilience and healing of all of Israel’s people.
Let’s recommit to ensuring women are represented not just at our seder tables, but at all the tables where we can help shape the future, for our children and their children.
A Zissen Pesach. A Happy Passover.
