Hadassah Solano-Napa Blog » Events

The biggest event of the year, 52/100 is coming this Sunday, February 12, 2012

hadasval — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:22:46 +0000

Join Solano Napa Hadassah this Sunday at 5:00 p.m., for our biggest, greatest event of the year. It is our annual 52/100. Select your favorite card from a deck of 52 for a chance to win our grand prize of $500.00 or second prize of $250.00. There will also be other fabulous raffle prizes including a free one hour legal immigration law consultation. (Guess who is donating that?) Seriously, we have a nice selection of prizes including Giants tickets and designer sunglasses. (I was lucky enough to win a pair of designer sunglasses last year and I love them!)

The cost of the event is $100.00 per card plus $18.00 for dinner or a couvert of $18.00. The 52/100 will be held at Congregation B’nai Israel, 1256 Nebraska Street, Vallejo, CA. For more details and information on how to make a reservation, check out our event flyer.

Hadassah Shabbat, Friday, December 2, 2011

hadasval — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:17:20 +0000

Join us this Friday, December 2, 2011 for the annual Hadassah shabbat at Congregation B’nai Israel at 8:00 p.m. Members of our chapter will be taking part in the Friday night shabbat service. It is a nice way to bring in Shabbat as well as to celebrate the accomplishments of Hadassah.

If you would like to take part in the service, please contact Mary Schwarz or Geri Kahn. If past years are any indication, we’ll have a meaningful service and a great Oneg.

Congregation B’nai Israel is located at: 1256 Nebraska Street, Vallejo, CA 94590

Join us for Unity Day in Vallejo, Sunday September 18, 2011

hadasval — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:05:35 +0000

Come and join the Solano Napa Chapter of Hadassah at Unity Day in Vallejo. The event is a celebration of the cultural diversity of our community through food, song, dance and art. Unity Day takes place on Sunday September 18, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy library in Vallejo. Our chapter is sponsoring a booth and we would love to see people stop by.

It is nice to see people from different backgrounds get together and celebrate what is positive about our differences rather than what is negative. The event last year was fun and this year promises to be better with more performers and organizations sponsoring booths. It also looks like we’ll have a great weather. The best part – the event is absolutely free! Hope to see you there.

Calendar of events for the year is posted on the blog

hadasval — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 06:12:21 +0000

The calendar of events for 2011-2012 is now posted on our blog. http://hadassahsolano-napablog.com/ Have a look at the right side and you will see a list of events planned from August 2011 through May of next year.

Our next event will be a Machon session this Sunday, August 21, 2011, from 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. We will be discussing Golda Meir and watching the DVD “The Journey to Golda’s Balcony.” The dvd is about Tovah Feldshuh’s preparation for her one woman play in which she portrayed Golda Meir. Please contact Rachel Lessem for more information.

Hadassah Solano Napa chapter picnic

hadasval — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:18:20 +0000

Join us for a potluck picnic (dairy or parve only, please) to enjoy the sun and to discuss the future direction of our Chapter. We will also be holding elections for our chapter board. There are still positions to be filled so this is your opportunity to become active with the chapter in Hadassah’s centennial year.

Our picnic will take place Sunday, June 26th starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Benicia Community Park“ (The park is located off of Rose Drive in Benicia.) Directions are available on the City of Benicia’s Park and Recreation website.

Bring games to share and invite family and friends. A picnic is a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of summer.

A time to Dance – Dance movement workshop; Sunday April 17

hadasval — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 05:50:47 +0000

Dancing offers opportunities for personal expression, rejuvenation, and deepening our connection with ourselves and each other. As the spring season approaches, Hadassah invites you to join us for a dance/movement therapy workshop led by dance/movement therapist Linda Aaron-Cort. Come and move with us in a circle, and take time to explore your creativity through movement – whether it is through quiet breath, soulful stretching, or stamping feet. No previous dance experience is necessary, but do wear comfortable clothing.

Linda has been a dance therapist for 25 years and has worked and taught in a wide range of clinical and educational settings, but most importantly, she brings a contagious enthusiasm and joy to her classes.

Date: Sunday April 17, 2011; 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $18 donation requested (Check payable to Solano-Napa Hadassah; please mail in advance to Mary Schwartz so that money doesn’t need to be handled the day of the event.)

For reservations or information, please contact Geri Kahn. And, no, you do not have to dance as well as the woman in the picture above to participate in the dance movement workshop! The workshop is for everyone of all levels.

Highlights of Hadassah sponsored Supreme Court swearing in ceremony February 2011

Geri Kahn — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:34:11 +0000

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had through Hadassah to go to places that I would not have otherwise visited. I recently went to the U.S Supreme Court as part of a Hadassah sponsored swearing in ceremony for attorneys. Most attorneys do not argue cases in the U.S Supreme Court. The Court only considers 100 – 160 of the 10,000 cases submitted to them. Still, even though I do not anticipate going to the Supreme Court as an attorney to argue a case, there is an honor in being admitted to the Supreme Court Bar and knowing that I would be permitted to argue a case should the chance arise. In order to be admitted to practice in front of the Supreme Court, an attorney has to be sponsored by two attorneys admitted into the Supreme Court. For the last ten years Hadassah has sponsored attorneys who wish to be admitted to the Supreme Court. They arrange the date and assist in the application process. They create a 24 hour trip around the event by having a dinner with speakers the night before and then a whole day of activity at the Supreme Court on the day of the swearing in ceremony. I was fortunate to participate in Hadassah’s trip in 2007.

This year, for the first time, Hadassah invited past participants to return on the trip. I was excited to go again because I learned that Hadassah had invited Elena Kagan, the newest Justice, to speak to the group.

The trip began for me with the dinner on February 22, held at the newly renovated JCC in Washington, DC. I was surprised to find that two of the attorneys who were sworn in on the same day as I was in 2007 also returned for this trip. After a great dinner, we heard from Michael R. Dreeben, deputy solicitor general. Mr. Dreeben argues cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court representing the government of the United States. He gave a terrific speech which was very informative. He told us a bit about the personalities of the Justices and talked about the style of their questions. I found that he had prepared me to hear the oral argument because I saw exactly what he was talking about when some of the Justices asked their questions at the oral argument the next day.

On Wednesday, we met at the Supreme Court at 7:30 in the morning. I was still on California time and set two alarms so that I would not be late. As a member of the Supreme Court, I am permitted to sit in the rows of benches in the court room especially reserved for members of the Supreme Court Bar. So while I was not sitting as close to the lawyers arguing the cases as I had when I was sworn in, I still felt like I was very close to the action. The Court session began with the swearing in of all the attorneys seeking admission that day and then the Court heard two cases. I again felt relieved that I was not there to argue them and was able to observe with a calm state of mind.

After the oral argument, we had lunch at the Supreme Court in the conference room especially reserved for our Hadassah group. After lunch, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan came to the conference room to chat with us. It is extraordinary to see them up close because I feel in awe of them. I think everyone feels the same way.

Justice Ginsburg began by reading a letter that Henrietta Szold wrote to Hayim Peretz in which he offered to say Kaddish for her mother after her mother’s death. At that time, Jewish tradition did not allow women to say Kaddish for their parents. Henrietta thanked Mr. Peretz for the offer but said no thanks. You could tell from the words Henrietta Szold wrote that she was a strong woman and Justice Ginsburg felt inspired by her.

We had an informal question and answer session with the Justices. The Justices were articulate and funny at the same time. Justice Ginsburg has a dry sense of humor. My favorite remark was her response to a question in which she was asked how she felt now that there are two more women on the Supreme Court. She replied, “You saw us up there; Justice Sotomayor is seated on my far right. Justice Kagan is seated on my far left and I am in the middle. We are here to stay!”

To thank the Justices for meeting with us, we gave each of them the Hadassah centennial necklace. The picture above shows Beth Saltzman Aaronson, chair of the attorneys council, and me (Geri Kahn) presenting the necklaces to the Justices.

After our visit with the Justices, we met with Judith Gaskell, the Supreme Court librarian, and William Suter, Clerk of the Supreme Court. They took us on a tour of the Supreme Court law library. I had not seen the library on my previous trip so it was nice to see that. I had another colleague take the picture of me trying to look lawyer-like in the library.

Apparently no trip to the Supreme Court would be complete without seeing the “highest court in the land,” as Mr. Suter called it – referring to the basketball court! Who knew there was a basketball court on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court! We saw people playing and apparently it is used quite a bit not only for basketball but for yoga classes and jazzercise as well.

Our last official stop was to view the portrait of Justice Brandeis. The portraits are rotated throughout the Supeme Court. Susan Woodland, Hadassah’s archivist, gave a talk about Justice Brandeis and the history of how the portrait was made and Hadassah’s role in presenting it to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court trip was again an extremely rewarding experience. I urge those of you who are attorneys (or those of you who know attorneys to encourage them) to go on the trip next year. As Justice Kagan put it, “ The Supreme Court is an example of the federal government working at its best.” It is that and more.

Tribute to Debbie Friedman: Dinner, Singing; Saturday March 12, 6:30

hadasval — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:23:58 +0000

In memory of the recent passing of Debbie Friedman, we will be showing a documentary that was made a few years ago, “Journey of Spirit.” Debbie Friedman was a singer/song writer and monumentally changed the way we think and feel about singing in the Reform Judaism movement. Many credit her with strengthening their Jewish identity. Prior to the showing of the film, we will be hosting a dinner and a sing-a-long, singing many of the melodies that Debbie Friedman created.

The cost is $18.00 and the event takes place at Congregation B’nai Israel in Vallejo. Please RSVP to Geri Kahn so we know how many people will be attending.

Solano Napa Hadassah annual 52/100 night of entertainment February 13, 2011

hadasval — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:42:58 +0000

Please join us this Sunday night, February 13, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. for our annual 52/100 event. This is the major fundraising event for the Solano Napa chapter. Tickets are $100.00 each with the chance to win $1000.00. Odds are better in Vallejo than in Vegas. Should you not wish to participate in the raffle, you may purchase a ticket for $18.00 to cover the cost of dinner. There will be great food, Kosher even, and entertainment.

Tickets are still availabe and may be purchased by contacting Nadine Goodban.

Machon meets 01/23 at CBI

hadasval — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 07:52:20 +0000

Our next Machon study session is meeting January 23, 2o11 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at CBI. “Bring a snack to nosh on and let’s schmooze.” (This is a quote from Rachel Lessem!) Contact Rachel if you have any questions. Her number is in the directory.

We had a nice time touring Cornerstone Gardens last weekend. I am amazed that we all were able to fit in this picture. I think everyone found something that they liked at the gardens and perhaps due to the weather, it seemed like we had the place to ourselves.

Napa-Solano and Petaluma chapters at Cornerstone