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***For further information about the Sept. 10 Lunch and Learn ,"The Days of Awe as a Journey of Self-Discovery and Transformation," please contact Julie Beck-Berman at juliefbb@aol.com or Carolyn Belgrad at cbelgrad@comcast.net.  Note Julie's corrected address.   

***Apologies if the Facebook link directed you to an incorrect page. The Richmond Hadassah Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/richmondhadassah, and the website is www.hadassah.org/Richmond.  
Well, summer sure flew by fast!  We hope the summer was fun and relaxing. 
 
Now we are on the cusp of Fall with lots of exciting and fun activities planned.  Our calendar is full starting with our annual flower sale for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, followed by Shabbat under the Stars on September 12 and Sukkot Brunch on October 12.  Our general meeting is on Nov 2 where we will elect the slate our nominating committee has been working diligently on and get some invaluable information on personal safety.  On December 6 a Chanukah dance including dance lessons/instruction is planned.  Details of these events will be forthcoming.  Needless to say our committee chairpersons and their committees have been hard at work and we thank them. 
 
We just finished reading The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown for book club.  The book tells the story of the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-oar crew, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed attention of millions of Americans.  It is also the story of true heroes who remind us that pulling together is the surest path to glory (Mitchell Zuckoff).  The book seemed to resonate with similarities with Richmond Hadassah especially in terms of meshing and melding diverse skill sets, interests, and ages. 
 
On pages 178-180 the author talks about the paradoxes associated with this sport including “that on one hand great oarsmen must possess enormous self confidence, strong egos, and titanic will power and on the other hand, no other sport demands and rewards the complete abandonment of the self that rowing does.   Great crews may have men and women of exceptional talent or strength; they may have outstanding coxswains or stroke oars or bowmen; but they have no stars.  The team effort – the perfectly synchronized flow of muscle, oars, boat and water; the single, whole unified and beautiful symphony that a crew in motion becomes – is all that matters.  Not the individual, not the self. 
 
Crew races are won by crews and great crews are carefully balanced blends of both physical abilities and personality types, each person adjusting to the needs and capabilities of the other.  This highly refined coordination and cooperation is multiplied across 8 individuals of varying stature and physiques to make the most of each individual’s strengths.  Only in this way can the capabilities that come with diversity be turned to advantage rather than disadvantage.     

Capitalizing on diversity is perhaps even more important when it comes to the characters of the oarsmen.  Good crews are blends of personalities: someone to lead the charge; someone to hold something to reserve; someone to pick a fight; someone to make peace; someone to think things through; someone to charge ahead without thinking.  Somehow all this must mesh and even after the right mixture is found each person in the boat must recognize his or her place in the fabric of the crew, accept it and accept the others as they are.”

Hadassah has endured and flourished for over 100 years because our members recognize the team effort it takes to change the world.  We are women of all ages, interests, and skills working together to make a difference in our community, Israel and the world.  

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Lee Bank and Sally Goldberg
Richmond Hadassah Co-Presidents

to see your board members, click here



 

"The Days of Awe as a Journey of Self-Discovery and Transformation" is the topic of the September 10, 
Richmond Hadassah Lunch and Learn program.   Julie Beck-Berman will lead a discussion on how we can use the imagery of the Days of Awe to journey deep inside ourselves, learning to lead our lives in a meaningful and joyful way.  The symbolism of the High Holy Days from the sorrow of Tisha B’ Av through the joy of Simchat Torah can lead us to a new experience of our own inner being and connection to our heritage.

Bring your favorite insights and a bag lunch at noon on September 10 for a personal growth session at the Weinstein JCC.  For further information contact Julie Beck-Berman at juliefbb@aol.com or Carolyn Belgrad at cbelgrad@comcast.net.
Richmond Hadassah invites you all to join us at Shabbat Under the Stars as we Celebrate Israel Through Food on September 12 at 6:30 pm at the home of Ann & Elliot Eisenberg.   

There is no charge to attend, and significant others and friends are invited.  When you RSVP (by September 8 to Janice Abady (janspeaks@aol.com, 804-360-3099)
or Anne Berson (akbrn3672@gmail.com, 804-282-1066)), please let us know what food or drink you'd like to bring.
 

Richmond Hadassah will be holding its Second Annual Sukkot Brunch on Sunday, October 12th, at 10:30 am at the home of Judy and Chuck Lessin (6500 Patterson Avenue)   In keeping with the time-honored tradition of hospitality and communal gathering, we look forward to spending the morning celebrating our blessings and sharing our bounty in the company of good friends. A lovely meal and entertainment are planned. Dietary laws will be observed. Please make plans to join us. Kindly respond by Monday, October 6th to Beth Rochkind at (804) 308-2538 or abejrock@aol.com.