Hadassah R.I. celebrates its past presidents at early summer gathering

Hadassah Rhode Island had a memorable celebration on June 9, honoring its past presidents and recounting sweet memories at the North Kingstown home of Hadassah board member Monika (Curnett) Szynkarski.

More than 30 guests attended, including 13 past Hadassah R.I. presidents and current Southern New England Region President Jody Fredman. The former presidents were presented with gifts and presidential awards with a Chagall painting image and a biblical verse in appreciation of their leadership, devoted service and longstanding commitment to Hadassah.

The biblical verse, Proverbs 21:21, is: “One who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

Before 1991, there were seven Hadassah chapters in Rhode Island – Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Providence, Cranston-Warwick, Kent County, South County and Newport, Records Administrator Judy Silverman told the group. In 1991, they combined to form the Rhode Island Chapter, with seven groups. Later, a Nurses Council was formed, making eight groups. Then the groups were dissolved and became just one Rhode Island Chapter.

The following accounts, read at the meeting, are from two former Hadassah presidents, Rita Slom and Diane Ducoff.

Rita Slom

I was a bride at age 20 and had three sons by the time I was 24. If any of you had that experience, you know I had to get out of the house often.

My husband was good enough to let me have a babysitter fairly often. I joined every group I could find and attended meetings, including Hadassah, which met during the day. Most of the women there were in their 40s or older. Therefore, I became secretary, then treasurer, and finally president when I was in my 30s!

The Newport chapter was part of the New England Region of Hadassah and eventually became part of the Western New England Region. Nobody could figure out the name, but we joined. I was also involved in the new young women’s chapter in Providence.

After speaking in Worcester during an afternoon meeting, I was driving home when a drunk driver crossed the road and hit me head-on. With both ankles broken and a few other injuries, I spent a week in the hospital in Newport.

It was Hanukkah and the hospital allowed my husband and sons to come every night to light the candles and give gifts. Fortunately, I had bought gifts for the family, and a nice lady in the hospital took them home and wrapped them for me.

It took me about five or six months to recover and get back to being president of the region.

My election to regional president gave me an automatic position on the National Board of Hadassah. I often went to New York to attend the national board meetings.

In my first year, the presidents of the various regions were taken to Israel for a two-week visit. That was my first of four trips. My presidency was for three years and then I was on a service committee.

In 1995, the Hadassah National Convention was to be held in Jerusalem. As president and a former National Board member, I was sent to represent Rhode Island, and went for my fourth visit. Nobody wanted to go with me, except my son Peter’s Catholic

mother-in-law. She always wanted to visit the Holy Land. She got to see so much of her religion – it was wonderful. She also attended our sessions and visited sites with us.

While we had our meetings, she went to see where Jesus had died. During our biggest session, we both heard [Israeli Prime Minister] Yitzhak Rabin speak. He was, unfortunately, killed two weeks later. That was my last trip to Israel.

I have been very fortunate to have these many Hadassah years. As I was ending my six years with National Hadassah, a friend who was vice president asked me what I was going to do with my spare time. Good question! I was 44 years old with nothing to do.

Well, within a year I was offered a job in the office of the Speaker of the Rhode Island House, and I spent [the next] 20 years in the Statehouse. My life had changed again, and I was commuting to Providence every day.

During that time, the local chapters of Hadassah decided to join together into the Rhode Island Chapter of Hadassah. We opened an office in Cranston and had a staff to run it. I became the second president of the chapter and spent one year in this role.

After I left my position as a state worker, I became canvassing secretary in Newport,  running elections for 10 years. I also became the first woman president of Touro Synagogue, a position I kept for one year. I have been on that board for almost 50 years. And I am 91 years old.

Diane Ducoff

It was a time of very mixed feelings when National Hadassah advised its seven existing chapters in Rhode Island to unite. The goal was to form a statewide chapter and reorganize the existing structure of Hadassah life in Little Rhody.

If one does not reside in Rhode Island, it is difficult to comprehend the mentality of driving more than 20 minutes to a meeting or an event being a huge obstacle for volunteer participation. But, alas, in our compact and unique state, such a reality was quite accurate.

But change was in the air, and the seven individual chapters in Rhode Island would soon relinquish their individual charters, and the Rhode Island Chapter of Hadassah was formally created.

I had the honor of being the very first statewide president of the Rhode Island Chapter of Hadassah, and the fond memories I have of that experience are very special to me.

With an incredible team of dedicated and talented women, a location was selected for an official Rhode Island Hadassah office, in Cranston. We ordered stationery with our Hadassah logo, and an administrative assistant was hired. It was a very exciting time. We were off and running and, as the saying goes, the rest is history!

What I remember most fondly from my one-year tenure as the first president of Hadassah R.I. are the opportunities I had to form friendships with women from all across the state and throughout Western New England.

My involvement in Hadassah has always strongly influenced my Jewish and Zionist pride – a commitment that has only strengthened over time. This commitment gives me hope for a bright future … even as we endure the unimaginable crisis in Israel. Am Yisrael chai!

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, was established in 1912. Working to advance philanthropy as well as women’s leadership, advocacy and health, Hadassah has over 300,000 members and supporters.

Hadassah Rhode Island and the Southern New England Region invite everyone to join us on Wednesday, Aug. 7, for the Books on The Beach luncheon and author program, at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, in Middletown. All proceeds and donations will go to support the new Hadassah Gandel Rehabilitation Center, in Jerusalem, and are much needed in this time of war. For more information and to register, email chapri@hadassah.org or call (857) 404-0599.

YARDENA KAPACH WINKLER is the president of Hadassah Rhode Island.