Hadassah Action is a dynamic group of women who get together to have fun, learn, and support the many great causes of Hadassah.

This month I’d like to address Israeli and Jewish continuity, from two different perspectives.  Hadassah is beginning the celebration of Israel’s 60^th birthday, and I thought you might enjoy learning a bit more about Israeli achievements.  It is truly remarkable that since May 14, 1948, such a small country, the Jewish State, has been able to create a thriving, modern democracy, and contribute so many technological, intellectual and cultural developments to the world. 

Did you know about the following Israeli achievements, to name just a few?

• Israel has more engineers and scientists per capita than any other country.  Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation – 109 per 10,000 people.
• Israel has the world’s 3rd highest entrepreneurship rate, and the highest rate in the world among women and people over 55.
• Israel as a country holds the largest concentration of high-tech industries in the world per capita, and as a region, it is 2nd only to California’s Silicon Valley.
• Intel’s new high-speed Centrino processor, which doubles battery life on laptops, was developed entirely in Israel.
• New, paper-thin, super-lightweight batteries for laptops and cellular phones were pioneered at the Israeli company Electric Fuel.
• Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, radiation-free diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
• Many Israeli technical and medical milestones are achieved in Hadassah hospitals.  The latest is Hadassah Ein Kerem’s new center for computer-guided surgeries, whose entire concept was designed by HMO orthopedists.  The new center includes special computers, digital infrastructure for communication with imaging centers in the hospitals and computerized navigation systems.  World-leading technology specialists consider Hadassah as a preferred site to test their developments.

Your support of Hadassah will enable the continuity of remarkable Israeli achievements like these.

Here in the US, your children and young relatives’ participation in Young Judaea summer camps (for kids age 8-18) and YJ Impact programs (for students and young adults age 18-26) support continuity of Jewish identity and appreciation of Israel.

For over 50 years, Young Judaea camps have been breaking ground, both literally and figuratively, in the field of Jewish and Zionist camping.  This summer is no exception.  Each of our 6 camps will be adding exciting new programming and capital improvements.

For example, CYJ West, in Ocean Park, WA, expects to reach its highest enrollment since moving to Ocean Park.  The camp leadership attributes this growth to 2 very wonderful summers and last year’s addition of a swimming pool on the camp grounds.  I hope you will consider encouraging your young Jewish relatives and friends to attend.

To learn more, please visit www.cyjwest.org.

Young Judaea’s student and young adult movement YJ Impact! is offering a free 10-day Taglit birthright-israel trip.  Experience the real Israel joined by Israeli peers to share their perspectives on Israeli life.  This free program is open to the family and friends of Hadassah, and to the larger Jewish community as well.

To register or for more information, please visit www.yjimpact.org and follow the links to “Taglit-birthright Israel”, or contact YJImpact directly at info@yjimpact.org, or call 212-303-4585.