HR0691 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0691 LRB097 14797 GRL 61428 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of Hadassah on the occasion of the organization's 100th anniversary on February 24, 2012; and

WHEREAS, In 1909, Henrietta Szold and her mother took a trip to pre-state Israel, where they witnessed the starvation and disease that afflicted the people of the region; upon returning to the United States, she soon founded Hadassah, a volunteer women's organization with the biblical mission of Aruhat Bat Ami: the Healing of the Daughter of my People; and

WHEREAS, Hadassah's first mission was to send two nurses to Palestine to provide pasteurized milk to infants and new mothers; the organization also worked to eradicate trachoma, an easily cured eye disease that was robbing thousands of their sight; by 1918, Hadassah had sent an entire medical unit, composed of 45 doctors, nurses, dentists, and sanitary workers, to bring American-style medical care to serve all, regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity; and

WHEREAS, By the mid-1930s, it had become clear that Jewish children needed to be saved from a Europe that was rapidly darkening with anti-Semitic and Nazi threats and actions; joining with a German colleague, Henrietta Szold helped organize the rescue of thousands such children, bringing them to safety in Palestine; these children became one of the foundations of the modern state of Israel, and many of her "children" and their children survive to this day; and

WHEREAS, As early as 1942, the U.S. State Department named Hadassah as one of the five largest contributors to overseas relief; during World War II, Hadassah chapters around the country sold a total of $200 million in war bonds; for their efforts, Hadassah was rewarded with 100 U.S. Air Force bombers, each bearing the name of a Hadassah chapter; and

WHEREAS, Hadassah founded, owns, and supports 2 world-class medical centers in greater Jerusalem, and are rapidly expanding their campuses and facilities; Hadassah is currently concluding a $210 million capital campaign for the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower at Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem; over the years, Hadassah has expanded Israeli projects to include Hadassah College Jerusalem, one of Israel's top-ranked smaller colleges, 3 Hadassah Youth Aliyah villages, where they house, feed, educate, and nurture young immigrants and Israel's underprivileged youth, and Israel's largest touring and residency program for American Jewish youth through Young Judaea, the Hadassah Zionist youth movement; Hadassah also supports major reforestation and water conservation programs to protect Israel's precious natural resources; and

WHEREAS, The Hadassah-supported Youth Aliyah/Children at Risk program sets Israel's disadvantaged children on the path to a successful future; since 1934, over 300,000 young people from 80 lands have graduated from Youth Aliyah; young immigrants and "at-risk" native Israelis, many of whom are victims of abuse, receive counseling, education, and support services in Youth Aliyah day centers and youth villages; the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) is one of the world's leading institutions in healthcare, comprised of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center at Ein Kerem and the Hadassah University Hospital at Mount Scopus; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, Hadassah has taken firm advocacy positions on First Amendment issues, public health, support of Israel, and a vast array of social concerns, including immigration and voting rights; in recent years, Hadassah has spoken out passionately in favor of federal and state funding for stem cell research and has advocated strongly for legislation that supports medical privacy and freedom from genetic discrimination by insurance companies and employers; and

WHEREAS, With 300,000 members, Hadassah is the largest Jewish volunteer organization in America and one of the largest women's volunteer organizations in the world; and

WHEREAS, The members of Hadassah serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of Hadassah on the occasion of the organization's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the date of February 24, 2012 be designated as Hadassah Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Hadassah as a symbol of our esteem and respect.