Hadassah Names Parkland FL's Merna Shapiro National VP

Hadassah installed three national officers at its National Assembly meeting in Los Angeles in January, announced Ellen Hershkin, President of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA). Merna Shapiro from Parkland, FL was installed as National Vice President, Shelley Kaplan from Ocean, NJ as National Treasurer, and Frieda Rosenberg from Merrick, NY as National Portfolio Council Officer of the nation’s largest women’s Zionist organization. Marlene Post, Hadassah’s 21^st National President officiated at the installation ceremony.

Hadassah National President Ellen Hershkin states, “Since its founding over 100 years ago, the lifeblood of Hadassah has been the support, dedication and service of a talented core of volunteers such as Merna Shapiro, Shelley Kaplan and Frieda Rosenberg Each of these newly-elected national officers bring an extraordinary array of leadership skills and talents in dedicated service to HWZOA. In this year of many celebrations – the 100^th anniversary of Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing and HMO’s Department of Ophthalmology – Hadassah is truly blessed to have their commitment and support and sense of our mission.”

Merna Shapiro, a Hadassah member since 1978, is part of a three-generation Life Member family. Formerly Region Past President, Vice President and Membership Vice President of Hadassah Florida Broward, Shapiro is a founding and charter member of the Hadassah Coral Springs-Parkland Chapter. She currently serves on the Hadassah Governance and Ethics Committees (2016-present). Formerly Vice Chair of the 2016 National Convention, The Power of Our Dreams, Shapiro also served as National Membership Vice Chair and was a member of the National Fundraising Action Team Task Force. She is a member of Hadassah’s Chai Society, a Keeper of the Gate, a Benefactor of Peace and a Centennial Founder. A clinical therapist, she earned cum laude a BA in English Education from Douglass College and a MSW from Rutgers University and was formerly a board member of Temple Beth Am in Margate, FL.

Shapiro is proud of the leadership opportunities which Hadassah has provided women and utilizes HWZOA founder Henrietta Szold’s famous quote “Dare to dream...and when you do…dream big” as a daily inspiration. Shapiro states, “This year’s theme for Hadassah’s milestone anniversaries, ‘Turn Your Passion into Action’ has been a powerful catalyst for me to contribute my talents, energies and compassion to heal the world. As a resident of Parkland, FL, I recently witnessed first-hand the destructive forces in our world, but trust that working together, we will make a difference, and a tragedy, like the one which occurred in my community, will never happen again. Hadassah’s mission embraces tikkun olam, and we continue to help repair our world.”

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.