Hadassah Chicago-North Shore Hosts Online Power Lunch on June 9th

Hadassah Chicago-North Shore (CNS) will hold its annual Power Lunch event, “Love: the Intersection of Family, Gender, and Faith,” moderated by Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein and featuring special guest, International Transgender Activist/Author Mimi Lemay on Thursday, June 9th from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (CST), announced Hadassah CNS President Francine Ephraim. This year’s online event will feature a conversation between Hostein and Lemay via zoom which will explore Lemay’s journey and that of her transgender child, outside of the boundaries of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish faith and culture that shaped them.

The June 9th zoom event will also recognize Hadassah Chicago Past President Fran Givertz, who will be honored for her decades of leadership, philanthropy and service to the Chicago area’s largest Zionist women’s organization. Hadassah Chicago-North Shore has over 10,000 members in the region and 40,000 members in the Hadassah Midwest Geographic Area.

Tickets to the livestreamed event are $54 each. For more information or to register, visit hadassahmidwest.org/cnspl or call 847.205.1900.

Chicago-North Shore President, Francine Ephraim states, "Our guests are going to love our featured guest, Mimi Lemay, who will share the story of her journey as she supported her child and navigated the challenges of her ultra-orthodox upbringing and the strict gender roles it upheld.” She added, “As unique as their story is, it is a story of authenticity and unconditional love that everyone will be able to learn from and relate to.” Ephraim further shared, “Our honoree, Fran Givertz, is a Hadassah leader known for her positivity and forward-thinking personality, her willingness to pitch in and help in all matters to advance Hadassah's mission, her mentorship of other Hadassah leaders, and her love for the Jewish people and Israel. We are excited to honor her at our upcoming Power Lunch.”

2022 Power Lunch honoree Fran Givertz states: "Hadassah has made me the leader that I am, equipped me with knowledge and confidence that I can pass on to the next generation of leaders. To have been a mentor to many young women who have become leaders in Hadassah Chicago-North Shore has given me a sense of immense pride. Hadassah has also given me a much more meaningful Jewish life. I am extremely grateful to be recognized for my contributions, hard work and dedication to Hadassah, past, present and future."

Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein states, "I'm so looking forward to my conversation with Mimi Lemay via zoom. Her powerful story of personal and familial transformation helps bring understanding and empathy to worlds many of us are not familiar with. That understanding, particularly about her transgender activism, has become even more critical in recent years.”

Hadassah Midwest Interim Managing Director Stephanie Brovenick adds, “Hadassah’s annual Power Lunch event brings nationally-recognized women of great accomplishment to our region, such as Mimi Lemay, who serve as an inspiration to our membership and embody our motto, ’The Power of Women Who Do.’ This year’s Power Lunch honoree, Fran Givertz has exemplified our motto through her tireless leadership, personal philanthropy, and selfless service.”

Recently celebrating its centennial, Hadassah Magazine, which automatically goes to every Hadassah member, publishes six print issues annually along with regularly updated web content (hadassahmagazine.org). Hadassah Magazine has won more than 350 national awards for journalistic and publication excellence and maintains a social media presence on Facebook (facebook.com/hadassahmag); Twitter (twitter.com/hadassahmag); Pinterest (pinterest.com/hadassahmagazin) and Instagram @hadassahmagazine.

Tickets to the online event are $54. For more information or to register, visit hadassahmidwest.org/cnspl or call 847.205.1900. For additional information, please contact Hadassah Chicago-North Shore at cns@hadassah.org or 847.205.1900.

About Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA), is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, Associates, and supporters, Hadassah brings women together to effect change and advocate on such critical issues as ensuring the security of Israel, combating antisemitism, and promoting women’s health. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) two hospitals in Jerusalem, Hadassah delivers exemplary patient care to over a million people every year and supports world-renowned medical research. HMO serves without regard to race, religion, or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace.” Additionally, Hadassah supports several Youth Aliyah villages that set at-risk children in Israel on the path to a successful future. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.