Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and human rights activist Debra Messing will receive the Hadassah Foundation’s Honor of Esther: Woman of Courage, Inspiration, and Commitment Award at the Foundation’s 25th anniversary commemoration in New York City on December 9.
The Honor of Esther: Woman of Courage, Inspiration, and Commitment Award is a new award recognizing women who, like Queen Esther, use their feminist voices and strong values to stand up for the Jewish people. HF@25, the Hadassah Foundation’s anniversary event, will take place at the Center for Jewish History in New York. Tickets and more information are at https://hadassahfoundation.networkforgood.com/
“At a time when speaking up for Jewish people and for Israel is more difficult, controversial, and polarizing than ever before, Debra Messing is making herself heard,” says Hadassah Foundation Chair Audrey Weiner. “Her leadership inspires me, and the thousands of women and girls the Hadassah Foundation works with in Israel and in the American Jewish community.”
Best known for her Emmy & SAG Award-winning role as “Grace Adler” on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series “Will & Grace,” Debra Messing has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Women In Film’s Lucy Award, The Gracie Allen Award, American Comedy Award, among 50 more nominations.
In the wake of the atrocities committed on October 7th, Messing has used her platform to be one of the strongest, clearest and most informed voices advocating for Israel, the end of hate and misinformation and the release of the hostages. She spoke at the March for Israel in D.C. and traveled to Israel in December 2023 to bear witness to the massacre and meet with hostage families and survivors. She has been traveling around the country speaking and is Executive Producing the documentary, “OCTOBER H8TE,” about the explosion of antisemitism since October 7th.She also serves on the board of The Body Agency Collective and is a passionate advocate for ending HIV/AIDS and campaigning for equality.
Earlier this year, Ms. Messing was named one of 18 “American Zionist Women You Should Know” by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA). HWZOA voted in 1998 to establish the Hadassah Foundation, which, in 25 years of grantmaking, has awarded more than $11 million to over 100 organizations.
In addition to presenting the Honor of Esther to Messing, the Hadassah Foundation will honor Dr. Joan M. Leiman with the Dvorah Award for Distinguished Board Alumnae. Designed to celebrate the invaluable contributions of a Hadassah Foundation board alumna (past board member), the Devorah Award recognizes an individual who has helped drive equity and excellence throughout their endeavors beyond their role as a Board member of the Foundation. A founding board member of the Hadassah Foundation played an instrumental role in helping shape the Hadassah Foundation’s initial strategies, and she continues to serve as an adviser and strong supporter. Dr. Leiman is a faculty member of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and a fellow at the New York Academy of Medicine.,
HF@25 begins at 3:30 p.m.with optional pre-event symposia addressing critical issues facing women and girls in Israel and the United States. These sessions will feature leaders from several current and past Hadassah Foundation grant recipients, including the Israel Women’s Network, Moving Traditions, and the Eden Association. At 5:30 p.m., the main even begins, featuring a cocktail reception, award celebration, and dessert reception, along with an exclusive viewing of “October 7 HerStory,” an exhibit created by the Eden Association. Learn more at https://hadassahfoundation.networkforgood.com/