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Within days of assuming the national presidency of Hadassah, Carol Ann Schwartz was in Israel as co-leader of the Hadassah Solidarity Mission to Israel.
Together with immediate past National President Rhoda Smolow, Schwartz led a group composed of more than 50 Hadassah members and supporters from eight countries as they bore witness to the atrocities of October 7. The itinerary included stops at Hostage Square, Kfar Aza and the site of the Nova music festival.
Schwartz spoke with The Times of Israel about her experience:
“It felt strange as soon as we pulled into Kfar Aza. I’m used to going to a kibbutz and seeing children, families and life. There was none of this,” Schwartz said. “We saw the IDF and empty buildings and destroyed homes. Concrete bomb shelters had bullet holes in them. The destruction was overwhelming. The smell of burnt [debris] was still there 97 days later … I couldn’t imagine so much evil could be in the world.”
Additionally, the group toured Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem and Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus and met with President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal.
“What we saw was horrific and challenging. But it makes me stronger in my convictions and feel stronger about what we do as an organization and what we accomplish in Israel,” said Schwartz.
Read more about this emotional visit in The Times of Israel.
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