establish and keep going the State of Israel. Ellen was one of those unsung heroes who spent most of her adult life quietly raising money to safeguard Jewish life and to ensure Israel’s survival. Ellen’s first major roles as a Jewish leader occurred in 1966- 1967. She helped establish a South Dade Chapter of Hadassah
known as Aviva. By 1971, she was Vice President of Hadassah (Florida) and became President of the Hadassah Florida Branch in 1972. At this time, Hadassah’s main goal was to raise money for Hadassah Hospital in Israel. Ellen’s tenure as a leader of Hadassah was during a time of conflict in Israel – first the 1967 war and then the 1973 Yom Kippur War. As part of her fundraising efforts, Ellen was featured in a 1972 ad which aired on Channels 7 and 4 from Hadassah Hospital, and in the Miami News for the Combined Jewish Appeal in 1974. Being
Ellen standing on left, 1991
active in Hadassah meant many trips to Israel to visit the hospital and meet with Israeli leaders. In fact, she kept her notes from a private meeting with Shimon Peres, at that time the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel. In her last years I asked her what was the hardest thing she ever did, and she told me it was visiting Hadassah Hospital after the 1973 Yom Kippur War and trying to give support and love to the wounded Israeli soldiers. After finishing her tenure as President of Hadassah of Florida, Ellen was looking for another challenging position. It was at this time that she started getting involved in Federation. In 1974,
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