Hadassah Dedicates Marlene Post Infirmary at Israel Youth Village

Hadassah dedicated the infirmary of its Meir Shfeya Youth Village in Israel in honor of its Past National President Marlene Post on October 10th, the occasion of Ms. Post’s 80th birthday. The surprise ceremony was part of Hadassah’s 2018 Milestone Mission which celebrated 100 years of the founding of Hadassah’s pioneering nursing school, the Henrietta Szold Hadassah – Hebrew University School of Nursing and the opening of Hadassah Hospital, now known as Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO).

Post, the 21st National President of Hadassah, is a nurse by profession, and was instrumental in revitalizing the Meir Shfeya Youth Village 25 years ago while president during a difficult period for the village.

Post enthuses, “I am totally unprepared for this,” as she was called on to speak to the 200 mission participants, representatives of the World Zionist Organization and Meir Shfeya Village staff and teenagers. “This isn’t my day, it belongs to all of you who are carrying on the tradition of Henrietta Szold who began rescuing children here even before World War II. Our connection is Hadassah. I am so grateful that I joined Hadassah, and I know you are, too.”

Hadassah 26th National President Ellen Hershkin, stated, “It’s particularly fitting that we dedicate this health clinic in Marlene Post’s honor as we mark 100 years of our nursing school. This clinic is run by nurses whose job goes way beyond healing scrapes and attending sore throats. Students confide their problems and secrets to these substitute parents. The nurses play an integral role as members of the remarkable staff of this village.”

Meir Shfeya Youth Village, deeded to Hadassah by Baron Edmund de Rothschild in 1923, is home to teens who need extra attention because they come from immigrant families or troubled homes. Today the campus school wins educational prizes and nearly all students complete high school and serve in the IDF.

Post was lauded by village spokesperson and former teacher Lauren Stern Kedem. “You are both passionate and compassionate. We are grateful for your friendship and for you being such an outstanding role model for all of us.”

Property developer and Chairperson of the Meir Shfeya Youth Village board of directors Eli Wagner spoke of how he had met Post when he wanted to purchase Meir Shfeya to build homes, but how he caught “the Marlene Post virus,” as he affectionately refers to it. “She told me that not only was I not going to buy the land, but I was going to help her save it,” he notes. Wagner ultimately became an advisor and donor. “I am so grateful. You changed my life for the better,” he adds.

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 300,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as women’s health equity and the security of Israel. 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.