We are devastated by the massacre in Israel, the ongoing hostage situation, and the Israel-Hamas war. In response to the crisis in Israel, the Hadassah Foundation is making several emergency grants. We have also signed on to a statement with Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA). Learn more below:
Emergency Grants
Last week, the Hadassah Foundation board of directors unanimously approved a $36,000 emergency grant to Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA) in support of Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO)’s indispensable services and expertise in healing and saving the lives of Israel’s most severely injured victims. We have learned of the extensive trauma being experienced by people in Israel and by women in particular. HWZOA, with which the Foundation has a close relationship, is a recognized, global leader in treating psychological stress and trauma and is providing support for hundreds of evacuated family members from the south. The Hadassah Foundation is also making a $10,000 emergency grant to Jewish Federation of North America’s (JFNA) Israel Crisis Fund. We will continue to award emergency grants to our trusted partners providing vital supports to Israel women and children.
Hadassah Foundation and Hadassah Respond to UN
Israel’s leading women’s organizations, including many of our grantees, are circulating a letter calling on UN Women to denounce Hamas’ brutal attacks, including numerous accounts of violent rape and demanding the release of all hostages. The letter is in response to UN Women’s statement that condemned attacks in Israel and Gaza while failing to mention Hamas and the gender-based war-crimes that it committed. The Hadassah Foundation and Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA) have both signed on to the letter drafted by the women’s organizations and have also issued the following joint statement:
It is outrageous that UN Women – an organization that calls itself a “global champion for women” – could issue a statement following the brutal Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel that so callously disregards Jewish and Israeli women’s lives. In violation of international law, Hamas launched a brutal terrorist attack on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, from babies to the elderly. Hamas kidnapped and continues to hold hostage over 200 people, including women and girls, and has circulated direct footage celebrating violence, sexual abuse, and rape against Israeli women.
As the largest Jewish women’s organization and the largest Jewish women’s foundation in the United States, Hadassah and the Hadassah Foundation call on UN Women to speak out for the protection of Israeli women – who were left out of its previous statement – condemn Hamas’s brutal attacks, denounce rape, and call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages.
At the same time, we call on United Nations Secretary-General Guterres to apologize and retract his recent statements that only work to excuse or justify terrorism. There is no justification for terrorism, rape, and other crimes against humanity. The international community once vowed “never again.” Yet the UN has largely failed to support Israel in its response to the largest number of Jews killed in a single day since the Holocaust.
Show your support by adding your name to a similar letter from individuals.
Supporting and collaborating with Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization (HWZOA), among other partners, is a key element of the Hadassah Foundation’s emergency response. In addition, the Foundation remains deeply committed to supporting organizations in Israel and North America that work through a gender lens to improve the status of women and girls. We intend to increase our giving in response to the many pressing and emerging needs, and the difficulties that are projected for the days ahead. Thank you for your support and belief in the Hadassah Foundation that has allowed us to meet this tragic moment with generosity and strength.
Learn how the crisis is affecting our grantees..
Photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski for Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America