At the 2025 Founders Dinner in Miami the members, donors and supporters of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States, showed their unflagging commitment to its mission by pledging $23 million for Hadassah programs in Israel and the U.S. The largest pledge came from philanthropist Ernest Rady, who announced, via video, a pledge of $10 million for pediatrics programs and facilities at Hadassah’s medical center in Jerusalem, the Hadassah Medical Organization.

Special guest Michael Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to the U.S., spoke with Hadassah CEO Ellen Finkelstein about the critical importance of a strong Israel and a strong US-Israel relationship. “Each one of us here is [safer] because of the existence of Israel … Hadassah, an organization that has done historic work for over a century, [is] making [a] difference. You are helping people wounded in battle come back to life. You are helping every aspect of Israeli society. You are helping to make us strong and I could not be more thankful.”

The more than 200 guests also heard from Carol Ann Schwartz, Hadassah’s national president, and Dalia Itzik and Dr. Yoram Weiss, the medical center’s board chair and director general, respectively.

A young Israel Defense Forces officer spoke last, describing in riveting detail his nerve-wracking army service, the traumatic injury he sustained, which almost cost him a leg, and his gradual return to full health because of the expert care and personal attention he received from the surgeons, doctors and myriad other medical professionals at the Hadassah Medical Organization and its new state-of-the-art, 323,000-square-foot Gandel Rehabilitation Center.

Hadassah’s Founders Dinner was held in the Majestic Ballroom of the J.W. Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura during ‍Hadassah’s 2025 national conference, Hope & Healing: Together Under the Sun.

Founders Dinner Committee

Carol Rotenberg, National Major Gifts Co-Chair and Donor Experience Chair
Clara Gillman, National Major Gifts Co-Chair
Tracey Drayer and Diane Issenberg, National Philanthropy Co-Coordinators
Sandra Sidorsky, Guardian Chair
Jane Nyce, Guardian Vice Chair
Linda Goldstein, Society of Major Donors Chair
Tami Rudnick Rabin, Founders Chair

About Hadassah

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is a volunteer organization that inspires a passion for and commitment to the land, the people and the future of Israel. Through education, advocacy and youth development, and its support of medical care and research at the Hadassah Medical Organization, its Israeli medical center, Hadassah enhances the health and lives of people in Israel, the United States and worldwide. hadassah.org