Hadassah President Shines at local fundraiser

Marcie Natan, recently selected as national president of Hadassah, was a prominent guest at the Shining Starfundraiser for the New Orleans Chapter of the women’s Zionist organization on Sunday, April 22.

Hadassah national president Marcie Natan at the local Shining Star fundraiser.

The local chapter organized a fashion show with members and male associate members serving as models to highlight the progress made during Hadassah’s previous 100 years. The brunch, a major fundraising event, was catered by chef Brack May and featured fashion styles provided by Dillard’s Department Stores. It was held at the private residence of Dr. Al and Carol Merlin in Metairie.

Natan, a resident of New York, was elected last July for what is expected to be the first of four consecutive one-year terms of office. She has served previously as a national vice-president, national secretary and was national treasurer during the recent turbulent period when the Bernie Madoff scandal shook the organization to its financial core.

New Orleans chapter president Julie Schwartz welcomed Natan to the event along with event chair Patty Ungar, who introduced her and invited her to address the crowd.

Natan spoke briefly about the progress made since the organization was founded a century ago by American Zionist and feminist Henrietta Szold and 30 other women. She harped on the recent move-in to the new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower at Hadassah-Ein Kerem in Jersualem. The tower has 19 floors, five of which are underground and hardened against possible terrorist attacks. The cost is expected to top $363 million, most of which was raised by private donations, Natan acknowledged. The addition to the existing sprawling Hadassah hospital complex is expected to be officially dedicated in the fall, she said.