Hadassah Rhode Island installs 2016 officers

At the recent Hadassah Rhode Island officer installation, left to right, are Betty Ann Israelit, Karen Dannin, Sue Mayes, Judy Silverman and Leah Ross-Coke.

On March 1, officers of Hadassah Rhode Island for 2016 were installed by Karen Dannin, a member of the National Hadassah Honorary Council.

Dannin thanked outgoing officers for their service, and spoke about the newly constructed Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower Hospital in Jerusalem, which was Hadassah’s gift in 2012 to Israel on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the organization’s founding.  Dannin spoke about the 19-story center for healing, and the importance of “completing the task of equipping and furnishing this sacred structure, which will take persistence, planning and the continued leadership of the women of Hadassah.”  The five underground levels of surgical suites of the tower were recently opened to their first patients.

Chapter President Sue Mayes  addressed the members of the chapter to explain some of the breakthroughs in research that are being accomplished at Hadassah Medical Organization today, especially in stem cell research, which is being used for treatments for various diseases.

“Today, Massachusetts General Hospital and the UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, as well as the Mayo Clinic are also doing expanded trials, working with our Hadassah researchers, for the treatment of ALS.”  Research at Hadassah is also being done in the fields of age-related macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

Future events for Hadassah Rhode Island  include “A Cause for Applause,” on May 15, in memory of the late Dr. Meredith Drench. The Play “Anything Goes” at the Ocean State Theater (at 2 p.m.) will raise funds for the Merry Drench Scholarship at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem. On Aug. 9 the chapter’s sixth annual Books on the Beach event is scheduled. 

The following women were installed as officers for the 2016 year: Corresponding Secretary and Card Chairman: Beth Bark; Treasurer: Judy Schoenfeld; Vice President (Fund Raising):  Judy Silverman; Vice President: (Membership): Betty Ann Israelit; Vice President (Program): Leah Ross-Coke; Vice President (Organization); Maxine Wolfson; President:  Sue Mayes.

More information about Hadassah and about either of these upcoming events is available  by calling 401-463-3636 or at Hadassah.org.  The email is rhodeislandchapter@hadassah.org