“The Hadassah mission is to heal our world.”
No matter our age, we all strive to make the world a better place. Giving back isn’t just an option—it’s the right thing to do.
With the High Holidays upon us, many look to welcome the new year by donating to favorite charities. For the many Lions Gate residents who are proud members of Hadassah, every day is a good day to help others.
“The Hadassah mission is to heal our world,” said Lilyan Cralle, President of Hadassah at Lions Gate. “Hadassah brings healing wherever it is needed most — to Israel, in the US, or anywhere around the world. Hadassah has 300,000 members across the country and across the generations, and for over 100 years this organization has worked proactively to find and implement solutions to advance women’s health, support a strong Israel, fight hate and antisemitism in the US, and research new treatments and scientific breakthroughs for saving lives around the world. I am so proud to be a lifetime member of Hadassah, and was happy that there was a Hadassah group at Lions Gate when I moved in. Elinor Kase was the one who kept the group going through the pandemic by showing movies related to Jewish topics, and she has always spearheaded fundraising for our group, selling Rosh Hashanah cards, milestone celebration certificates, and tree planting in Israel. She’s amazing. She’s now Past President of Hadassah at Lions Gate, after passing the torch to me. I love working with this group!”
“When I moved to Lions Gate, I wanted to make new friends,” said resident Elinor Kase. “My first thought was to find friends in Hadassah. I’m 95 years old and have been a lifetime member for many years. It’s where my heart is. In fact, my Hebrew name is Hadassah. I don’t think that’s a coincidence… I find it comforting to live in a senior living community that prioritizes Jewish values and has meaningful groups like Hadassah.”
For many women, a lifetime membership in Hadassah was a gift given to them by their mother, and a gift they then give to their daughters and granddaughters. “It often becomes a family tradition,” said Becky Levy, Hadassah Community Outreach Chair for Camden County. “Hadassah at Lions Gate helps with our regional chapter fundraising. Our chapter organizes food pantry donations, clothing drives to support women’s shelters, school supply drives for needy children, and so much more. We are so happy to have the Lions Gate residents support Hadassah’s many outreach programs.”
Resident Susan Yermish helped form the Anne Frank Hadassah group and was past president of the Camden County chapter of Hadassah. “So many Lions Gate residents are life members of Hadassah,” said Susan. “We all want to continue to make the world a better place, no matter what our ages. I make a monetary contribution to Hadassah each month. Giving back is the right thing to do.”
