The Maccabaean

GREETINGS TO HADASSAH

To the Editors of the Hadassah Maccabaean:

Hadassah has introduced into the American Zionist organization a number of new features, invaluable in themselves, but also indicative of a new attitude toward the organization and toward Zionist questions. Instead of confining themselves to the making of suggestions, Hadassah members do the things they propose should be done. Hadassah has raised the standards of Zionist service. Every Hadassah is expected to know Zionism, for without knowledge service is bound to become perfunctory and mechanical. To many Zionists Palestine work was represented by certain funds, and contributing to the fund discharged the Zionist’s obligation. Hadassah has made Nursing its own special feature, and every member knows what it means, how it is done, what it costs and what it produces. Through the Nursing institution established by Hadassah, the members have become acquainted, in an intimate way, with Palestine and its problems. In a similar manner, on various occasions, Hadassah has undertaken for the American Zionist organization specified tasks, that have brought credit and prestige to the movement. They have brought into the movement the spirit of individual sacrifice, expressing their own abilities in the quality of work assumed by them.

This is the second annual number of the Maccabaean edited by members of Hadassah. The first number was typical of the character of Hadassah. The articles contributed seemed to deal with the practical aspects of Zionist work, with the detail of operations, and of organization. The painstaking attention to detail, which was lacking in the general Zionist organization, Hadassah has brought into the movement. In this number, something similar may be observed, especially in the illuminating article written by Miss Seligsberg.

In a world where the equal participation of woman is taken as a matter of course, there is no outstanding need for a special Hadassah number. In fact, the contributors to this number are regular contributors to The Maccabaean. It serves, however, to direct attention to the kind of service rendered by Hadassah to devote once more a special number to the contributions of Hadassah. We hope that members of Hadassah will use this number to add new members to their organization, and also to secure new readers for The Maccabaean.

To the Editors of the Hadassah Maccabaean:

Let me add my word of congratulation upon the brighter prospects for the re-establishment of a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. This prospect must bring joy not only to the Jews, but to men and women of every race who have sympathy with an ideal cherished faithfully and valiantly for many centuries, under unparalleled sufferings and persecutions.

My own pleasure in the prospect of the fulfillment of this ancient hope is increased by knowing that in the Jewish villages already established in Palestine, women have had the right to vote; that in the election of the recent Jewish National Congress in this country, both men and women voted; and that in the new Palestine women as well as men will have part in shaping the destinies of the nation.