Chodesh Tov — Happy New Month

Guess who's finally a Hadassah lady???

It seems only fitting that Poppyseed and I received our Hadassah welcome packets on the first day of Adar for I have always associated the month with this American Jewish women’s volunteer organization, founded by Henrietta Szold in 1912.

It all stems from Megillat Esther Chapter 2, verse 7:

ז וַיְהִי אֹמֵן אֶת-הֲדַסָּה, הִיא אֶסְתֵּר בַּת-דֹּדוֹ–כִּי אֵין לָהּ, אָב וָאֵם; וְהַנַּעֲרָה יְפַת-תֹּאַר, וְטוֹבַת מַרְאֶה, וּבְמוֹת אָבִיהָ וְאִמָּהּ, לְקָחָהּ מָרְדֳּכַי לוֹ לְבַת

7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was of beautiful form and fair to look on; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

During the annual Megillah reading, BossGiraffe would tease the congregation: “And he brought up…Jewish Women International, formerly known as B’nai Brith Women…National Council of Jewish Women…Women of Reform Judaism, formerly known as the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods…And he brought up Ha-DAAAAAAA-ssah.”

Even before I understood the particular missions of each of these women’s organizations, I knew that they had a place in our larger American Jewish story. And now, thanks to BubbeGiraffe, Poppyseed and I are life members of this worthwhile organization.

Finally…I’m a Hadassah lady!!