Hadassah Archives Subject File Records

This Scope and Content section provides pertinent historical and collection-related detail for the subject areas that appear the most.

The subjects represented in this collection are quite varied and represent a wide breadth of Hadassah activities. Please see the master Hadassah finding aid for further detailed research into several of these subject areas: I-578: Guide to the Hadassah Archives

Agency for International Development—Consortium for Community Self-Help

The AID and the CCSH work in tandem to improve the well-being of the poorest majority in the developing countries. Their foci fall towards the areas of health, nutrition, childcare, status of women, jobs, and food production and distribution. Included are administrative documents and correspondence relating to dues, projects, public relations, and officers, among others.

Aliyah

The first Aliyah committee served as a direct working link between the various Zionist organizations in the United States and the Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency. The Aliyah department operates in close coordination with other departments in the Jewish Agency, particularly the Absorption Department and its section for Western Olim, the Youth Department, and with the Economic Department. Documents and correspondence in this section center mainly around the Family Live-in program, as well as other more administrative accounts.

American Friends of Hebrew University

American Friends of The Hebrew University (AFHU) was founded in 1925. Through the philanthropic leadership of American Friends from coast to coast, AFHU helps raise awareness of and support for The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s most comprehensive institution of higher learning. The Friends recruit outstanding faculty, build teaching and research facilities, provide scholarships and fellowships, and advance basic and applied research in myriad vital fields. Included are documents and correspondence relating to conferences, representatives, and several fundraising programs.

American Zionist Council

The American Zionist Council (AZC) was a group formed in 1949, and represented nine nationwide Zionist organizations in matters related specifically to Zionism following the independence of Israel. It was founded as a tax-exempt umbrella organization of American Jewish groups, which focused on Israel and included the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Hadassah and other Zionist organizations active in the United States. It acted as an umbrella group for public relations, outreach, and lobbying on Capitol Hill. The majority of the documents relating to the AZC focus on committee administration and functions.

American Zionist Federation

The American Zionist Federation evolved into the American Zionist Movement in 1993. Until then it was the official representative of the World Zionist Organization in the United States. Its responsibilities included carrying out elections and sending delegates to the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem every four years. The documents included in this collection represent AZF activity from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Films

Hadassah’s Program Department was established in 1934 in order to efficiently prepare scripts, slideshows, propaganda, and speeches for national and international chapters and groups. Programs were used for various chapter activities such as fundraising, educational presentations, or simply during general meetings. In 1973 the Program Department merged with the Film Department and incorporated the production of Hadassah-sponsored film such as the ones in this record group. The Publicity Department, which later evolved into the Communications Division, was responsible for the promotion of these films to both the secular and religious presses, as well as to other Hadassah chapters. Included in this record group are scripts, promotional correspondence, meeting minutes, and plans for film commissions for the Hadassah Medical Organization, Youth Aliyah, and Young Judea. Also included are administrative documents relating to advertisements, publicity kits, statistics, and reorganization of Hadassah’s Film Department.

Hadassah Associates

A project which aims to meet the needs of the many husbands, sons, brothers, and friends who were interested in associating themselves with the work being done by the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem without becoming official, registered members of Hadassah. Hadassah Associates is also referred to as Hadassah Men. Documents relate to various contests, circulated material, and promotional souvenirs distributed to members and donors.

Jewish Agency for Israel

The Jewish Agency is best known as the primary organization responsible for the immigration and absorption of Jews and their families from the Diaspora into Israel. Document types include board minutes, budgets, various circulated publications, and involvement in several U.S. Department sections.

National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council

NJCRAC was founded in 1944 by the Council of Jewish Federations for the purpose of improving and safe-guarding Jewish communities in the United States from anti-Semitism at home and abroad, pursuing and nurturing the ideals of democratic pluralism found in the Bill of Rights, and fostering American support for Israel. The greater part of the related documents concern church, state, and inter-religious rights, equal opportunity advocacy, and concerns regarding international community relations.

Newspapers

This section contains a selection of advertisement copy and clippings, announcements, and correspondence from Hadassah administration and local Hadassah chapters to regional newspapers and circulars.

Offices—West 58th and East 52nd Streets

Documents in this section relate mostly to the dedication and celebration of the West 58th Street Hadassah headquarters, more commonly known as the Hadassah House. Also included are files relating to equipment and maintenance, along with donor dedications and a delightful selection of well-wishes and greetings.

Taxes

This section of documents consists mainly of correspondence relating to tax breaks, exemptions, and the payment of state and local taxes. It does not contain detailed financial information such as completed tax forms.

United Jewish Appeal

The United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and Overseas Needs was formed in 1939 as a joint endeavor between the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the United Palestine Appeal, and the National Coordinating Committee Fund. In 1999, the UJA merged with the Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc. to form a combined entity that would be called the United Jewish Communities. This collection includes administrative documents created between the late 1940s to the late 1980s.

United Nations Decade for Women

The United Nations Decade for Women was a decade-long international celebration promoting equal rights for women. The decade included three major world conferences: Mexico City (1975), Copenhagen (1980), and Nairobi (1985). The United Nations dubbed the year 1975, and subsequently the Mexico City conference held that same year, International Women’s Year.

Universities

Documents within this subject area reflect correspondence between both national and international universities and the Hadassah Medical Organization and the Hadassah corporate offices. Medical topics such as classes, notable doctors, and discoveries in the fields of Oncology, Obstetrics, and Nursing appear, as well as Photography, Film studies, Hadassah members of Alumni Associations, and organizing elective exchange classes.

World Jewish Congress

The World Jewish Congress represents Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries around the world. They represent the plurality of the Jewish people, and remain politically non-partisan. This record group includes documents relating to the WJC’s administrative records, which range from programs, resolutions, various commissions, and terms of reference.

World Zionist Congress

The WZC is the supreme organ of the World Zionist Organization and its legislative authority. It elects the officers and decides on the policies of the WZO and the Jewish Agency. The majority of the files in this section concern organization elections and delegate correspondence.

World Zionist Organization

The World Zionist Organization was founded as the Zionist Organization (ZO) at the First World Zionist Congress, which took place in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland. The WZO consists of several smaller Zionist bodies, such as World Zionist Unions and international organizations such as WIZO, Hadassah, and the International Sephardic Federation, among others. Items included in this section pertain to committee and membership activities, a history of the organization, and copies of Supreme Court hearings.

Zionist General Council

The Zionist General Council was established in 1921 and is composed of members elected at the World Zionist Congress and representatives of Zionist organizations. It is responsible for implementing decisions reached at the World Zionist Congress and the administration of the Zionist movement. The bulk of the ZGC documents in this collection pertains to Actions Committee endeavors, and includes evaluations of productivity and correspondence between and about delegates.