Hadassah Celebrates 100 Years in Nashville

This October, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, will celebrate 100 years in Nashville. The celebration dinner and fundraiser will be held on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the GJCC. The evening will feature live music and honor Marsha Ross Jaffa and other past presidents of the Nashville chapter. 

A volunteer organization, Hadassah has fought for women’s rights and supported Israel, before women could vote, and before Israel was a state. Today, it still carries on this work, championing Zionism and healthcare, combatting antisemitism, and promoting community. 

 “The mission has always been to heal the world around us,” said Mindy Drongowsky, co-president of Hadassah’s Nashville chapter. “We learn together, we volunteer together…and it's nice to support causes that are bigger than yourself.” The Nashville chapter of Hadassah has grown to over 700 members. 

Hadassah was founded by Henrietta Szold. An American Jewish woman, Szold was an educator, social worker, and pioneer of groundbreaking achievements in women’s rights and Zionism, even becoming known in Israel as a “mother,” according to the Jewish Women’s Archive and the Hadassah Magazine. Recognizing a need for proper healthcare in pre-state Israel, Szold founded Hadassah in 1912. Today, with 300,000 members across America, Hadassah carries her legacy, championing women’s health and rights, and Israel-U.S. relations.  

Beth Wise, co-president and treasurer of the Nashville chapter, described how throughout the years, Hadassah’s primary focus has been supporting its hospitals. “With the two main hospitals in Jerusalem, it's not even just the medical care, which is extraordinary, but the research that has gone on there and the medical breakthroughs that they've had that they share with the world,” she said. 

 The staff and patients of the hospitals are multicultural, and have formed community, regardless of their racial or religious differences. Wise described how the Hadassah hospitals rely on the support and fundraising of Hadassah members around the world to keep their doors open.  

After October 7th, Wise said the Hadassah hospitals worked tirelessly to finish building the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, where people can recover from both physical and psychological injuries. Proceeds from the Nashville Hadassah’s October 18th dinner and fundraiser will go to this center. 

In addition to fundraising for the hospitals, the Hadassah Nashville chapter has hosted a variety of events, including the Evolve women’s group, book club discussions, cooking demonstrations, Chanukah and Sukkot parties, Havdalah candle making, hamantaschen bakes, and participating with other Jewish organizations in community events, like preparing Kindergarten boxes for Metro students. They have also raised funds for Ukraine and breast cancer research. 

To celebrate 100 years in Nashville, this year’s celebration dinner will honor Marsha Jaffa. “We were looking for somebody to have those deep Nashville roots and Hadassah roots,” Drongowsky explained. 

 Wise described Jaffa’s deep commitment to the chapter. “She is always the first to volunteer when we need something, when we need someone to make phone calls or organize something or be involved, Marsha has always been there and said, ‘I'll do it.’”  

Jaffa is a third-generation president of the Nashville chapter. “My grandmother was the third president of Hadassah, and my mom was also past president,” she said. Laughing, she shared how it was basically expected for her to become active in Hadassah.  

Jaffa has been a member since 1989, served as president, programming vice president, and fundraising vice president. She also co-chaired the Hadassah thrift shop for 10 years. “One of the highlights would be running the thrift shop, because I raised $100,000 for Hadassah,” she shared, describing working full time and raising a young child as a major challenge and achievement in her life. 

Jaffa said she also enjoys hearing about the hospitals’ quality care. “Going to different conventions and hearing the stories of our soldiers and people who have benefited from the Hadassah Hospital has had a major influence on me,” she said. “We've always taken care of the people and valued life, whether they're Jewish or Arab, or wherever they're from.” 

“My hope for Hadassah is that we educate people to get more involved,” Jaffa said. “I think it makes Americans stronger to have a strong Israel.” 

In addition to supporting work in Israel, a highlight of Hadassah is the camaraderie shared among the women who work together in Nashville. “I think it's the people and the friendships I've made that have been the most important,” Wise shared. 

Drongowsky also described the lifelong relationships formed in Hadassah. “People might join Hadassah because of the mission, but they stay because of the friendships they make,” she said.  

“We're recognizing the ordinary woman,” said Drongowsky. She shared how it is easier to make your voice heard when working in a group like Hadassah. “It's nice to have a community of women who think the same way you do and believe in the same things that you believe in,” she said. “And then the cherry on the cake is to see that you can make a difference in our community, and Israel, and the US. That's empowering.”