The campus of Hadassah-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem is witnessing the largest building project in the State of Israel to date -- the construction of a new medical facility, the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower, a 14-story building that has several stories below ground. The realities of conflict are a fact of life in Israel, so to safeguard patients and staff in the event of any untoward incidents two floors below ground constitute in essence a bomb shelter with space for 260 beds housed within 16-inch external walls. Aside from disaster planning, the team of architects has incorporated many energy-saving devices and innovations into their design. The tower is not yet completed but it is a true symbol of Hadassah’s mission and vision – to bring health and hope to the people of Israel and of the region.

The Ein Kerem campus also houses Jerusalem Bio-Park, Israel’s first Technology Park devoted to medical devices and biomed companies located in a teaching hospital. “Hadasit” (Hadassah Medical Organization’s Technology Transfer Company), Hadassah’s Clinical Research Center and Hadasit Bio Holdings, Ltd. (HBL) occupy space there.

Hadassah’s mission extends to all residents of Israel, and that is what spurred Dr. Shoshana Israel, head of Hadassah’s Tissue Typing and Immunogenetics Unit, and her colleagues to establish a bone marrow registry for people of Arab descent.

There was a lack of an international registry for Arabs so her team has developed an Arabic language brochure explaining the situation, holding workshops and lectures to different communities to recruit potential donors. Hospitals in Nazareth, at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and in Arab communities around Israel and the Palestinian Authority have already welcomed 3,000 donors where few existed beforehand.

If you would like to become a member of Hadassah, this is a great time to act, as membership rates have been rolled back:

• Annual membership is now $25.00
• Life Membership is $250.00
• Life Membership for interested males is $200.00

Please call Sari Rosenbaum at (860)342-0771 for further information.

Phyllis Waldman is chair of our “100 Club” where you have many chances to become a winner (your number is replaced in the box, even if you have already won!). So for $10 apiece, you can enter monthly drawings with prizes at $40, $30, $20, and $10, and you can purchase as many tickets as you wish for family and friends.

Your donation will support all that Hadassah accomplishes in Israel and abroad. Please call Phyllis at (860)342-1159 or mail a check to her, payable to “Hadassah” , at 19 Farm Lane, Portland, CT 06480. Hadassah greeting cards can be purchased by calling Lee Zagoren at (860)347-6550.

Reesa Belin