The Bernice S. Tannenbaum (z”l) Fund for Education
About the Fund
Hadassah Foundation educational programming is underwritten by the Bernice S. Tannenbaum Fund for Education. The fund was created through generous contributions from Joan and Leonard Leiman with additional funding provided by The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation
About Bernice Tannenbaum
Bernice was chair of the strategic planning committee on the national board of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA). Under Bernice’s leadership, the committee recommended that The Hadassah Foundation be created to meet pressing needs impacting women and girls in Israel and the United States. Among Bernice’s numerous accomplishments, she established Hadassah International and headed the U.S. campaign to repudiate UN Resolution 3379. she served as national president of HWZOA from 1976-1980. She died in 2015 at the age of 101.
Throughout Bernice’s life, she found ways to improve situations that most people thought were too difficult to confront. She was constantly learning and making influential connections. By utilizing her knowledge and expansive network she took bold actions that resulted in substantial societal changes. This fund enables the Hadassah Foundation to continue Bernice’s legacy and improve our world for the better.
The Bernice S. Tannenbaum Award
Prior to supporting the Hadassah Foundation’s education programs, between 2009 and 2018, the Tannenbaum Fund underwrote the Bernice S. Tannenbaum Award, which recognized innovative contributions to advance the status of women and girls in Israel and the United States.
The award sought to reward emerging professionals who demonstrated a high degree of talent, commitment and accomplishments in their work to enhance the status of women and girls.
Scroll down to learn about the 10 recipients of the Bernice S. Tannenbaum Award.
2018
Michal Gera Margaliot
Michal was managing director of the Israel Women’s Network, following four years serving as the youngest board member in the history of the organization. A longtime Hadassah Foundation grant recipient, Israel Women’s Network (IWN) has been advancing gender equality and women’s rights in Israel for more than 38 years. In 2022, Michal began working as an independent consultant and lecturer in the fields of policy and gender.
2017
Stephanie Goldfarb
Stephanie was director of youth philanthropy and leadership at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Since 2022, she has been director of educational initiatives at Hillel International. She has also worked at Keshet and Honeymoon Israel.
2016
Lilach Tzur Ben-Moshe
Lilach is the founder of Turning the Tables, which provides training in fashion design professions to Israeli women who exit the destructive cycle of prostitution. Lilach continues to serve as CEO of the organization, which is a past grant recipient of the Hadassah Foundation, and in 2020 she was honored with the Rapaport Prize.
2015
Jessica Nare
Jessica was director of leadership programs at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, where she managed all of the curriculum design and facilitation of programs that increased the self-sufficiency of young adults in San Diego. In addition to designing and piloting the Girls Give Back program, she created, implemented, and delivered several young leadership empowerment curricula for community partners. She is currently associate vice president for community and belonging at San Diego State University, where she is also an adjunct professor in women’s studies.
2014
Dr. Yifat Bitton
An attorney and legal scholar, Dr. Bitton is the founder of Tmura—The Israeli Antidiscrimination Center, which fights for the rights of women who have suffered sexual, physical, and economic abuse. Yifat is president of the Achva Academic College and chair of the Committee of Presidents of Academic Colleges in Israel. She has been shortlisted twice for Israel’s Supreme Court. In 2023 Yifat served on the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children.
2013
Rabba Sara Hurwitz
Rabba Hurwitz is president and cofounder of Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox institution to train women for religious leadership and a past grant recipient of the Hadassah Foundation. The first person to be given the title of “Rabba,” she was ordained in 2009 by Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and Rabbi Daniel Sperber of Bar-Ilan University. As of 2024, Yeshivat Maharat had graduated 64 women who are serving as clergy and had 60 students.
2012
Ifat Baron
In 2006, Ifat founded IT Works, a nonprofit that works to narrow employment gaps and promote diversity in Israel’s high-tech sector. She continues to serve as executive director of the organization, which is a past grant recipient of the Hadassah Foundation.
2011
Danielle Cantor
Danielle was design and communications manager of Jewish Women International, a longtime Hadassah Foundation grant recipient, and served as associate editor of the organization’s magazine. She currently runs Danielle Cantor Copy & Design, a firm that provides copywriting, editing, print design and production, web design, and social media.
2010
Lena Gurary (z”l)
Lena was one of a small group of businesswomen, all recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who in 2003 founded Supportive Community, an organization that helped Israeli women improve their economic and social status by establishing and operating micro-businesses. From 2003 until 2011, Lena served as executive director of the organization, which is a past grant recipient of the Hadassah Foundation, and later worked as an independent consultant. She passed away in 2014 after battling a grave illness.
2009
Vardit Damari Madar
Vardit served as director of the Legal Information and Advice Center and coordinator of the litigation department for Yedid: The Association for Community Empowerment. Established in 1997, Yedid (“friend” in Hebrew) promoted social and economic justice in Israel by assisting low and middle-income citizens from the spectrum of Israel’s multicultural society to fight discrimination and break the cycle of poverty. Vardit is currently the executive director of Kol-Zchut an online, free platforms that provides comprehensive and detailed information on social, labor and social security rights, entitlements and services. Beforehand, she served as professional director of the legal clinical education program at the Hebrew University faculty of law.
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Grantmaking
Our Approach
We support organizations that work through a gender lens and that are creating social change. Learn what that means and about our grantmaking practices. Read more
Meet Our Grantees
Our grant recipients in Israel and the United States address a variety of issues affecting those who identify as women and girls. Learn about our current and past grant recipients. Read More