SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 | 33

current events in Israel. “They realize 
how Israel is important as it is, and I 
think knowing what Hadasash is and 
does drew some people to come, to 
learn about more about it. Post-Oct. 
7, I think a lot of people who were a 
little disconnected were finding they 
want to be connected, and Hadassah 
can do that for them in many ways.
” 

From speakers talking about what 
Hadassah has done since Oct. 7 to 
save lives and bring hope, to having 
volunteers at Bookstock and area 
meetings, hearing from Holocaust 
survivors and taking part in 
volunteer opportunities, Hadassah is 
increasingly active in the community, 
she says. More than 100 people 
took part in the organization’s two 
spotlight events.
More broadly, women are finding 
Hadassah represents their passions 
and getting involved, says Mandy 
Garver, past president, of Bloomfield 
Hills. 
“I think for a while Hadassah 
was the hidden gem in Detroit,
” she 
says. “There were people who knew 
about Hadassah, who loved it and 
committed and did this great work, 
but there were a lot of very active 
philanthropic people in the Jewish 
community who knew the word, but 
didn’t know everything Hadassah 
does, everything it means, and I 
think it’s very exciting, to see what’s 
happened.
”
Hadassah, which has 10,000 
members in the region, with 
approximately half in Michigan and 
the rest in Toledo, Cleveland and 

Greater Pittsburgh, has in recent 
months held a campaign calling out 
the sexual violence that happened 
Oct. 7, and also offered a speech by 
Michigan Attorney General Dana 
Nessel about antisemitism. 
More than 1,000 people are active 
members in the area, Garver says, 
adding that Hadassah is a unifying 
force in the community as the 
only women’s Zionist organization 
in Detroit and the largest Jewish 
women’s organization in the country.
“Our community is such a strong 
Jewish community and so connected, 
I think finding one more place 
like-minded women are gathering, 
especially in these times, is a real 
plus,
” she says of the organization, 
which also offers activities including 
social literacy programs, a project 
to make dolls for kids in hospitals 
and agencies, book clubs, advocacy 
meetings with local legislative 
representatives and more. 
“We’re seeing more and more new 
faces.
” 

Hila Shmuel, Mandy Garver, immediate 
past president of Hadassah Greater 
Detroit, and Amy Strauss

Suzanne Patt Benvenisti

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