Deborah Villanueva, at The Blogs

May 28, 2025, 9:45 PM

Sephardic Strength and Service: Reflections for Jewish American Heritage Month

Dr. Deborah Villanueva’s work featured in Covenant of Justice: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations from Women of Reform Judaism, including two poems and a prayer. Photo courtesy of the author.

As many of you are aware, May is Jewish American Heritage Month. It’s a time to reflect, remember and recommit. It’s a moment to honor the stories, sacrifices and resilience of Jewish Americans who’ve shaped this nation, while recognizing...

Apr 10, 2025, 5:26 AM

My First Visit to Israel: Touched by the Wall, Transformed by the Land

Hadassah Evolve Fellows visit Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem (author is center in blue suit). Photo courtesy of the author.

It’s hard to explain how the air itself feels different when you step onto Israeli soil for the very first time. Arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, I felt my neshamah (my breath) dance as I experienced a sense of...

Mar 15, 2025, 1:09 AM

Planting Seeds of Unity: The Transformative Power of an Inclusive Tu B’Shevat

(pictured left to right) Raymond Zachary, Cantorial Soloist; Marina Kahana, Hadassah LBOC Board Member; Dr. Deborah Villanueva, Organizational Vice President, Evolve Chair LBOC Area, Board Member Hadassah Southern California; Rabbi Heidi Cohen. Photo courtesy of the author.

At a time when divisiveness too often dominates the headlines, “Rooted Together: An Inclusive Tu B’Shevat Seder,” hosted by my Evolve Hadassah group of Long Beach/Orange County (Calif.), stands as a testament to unity, renewal and the power of...

Jan 24, 2025, 6:28 PM

Bringing Israel to New York: A Transformative Experience with Evolve Hadassah

(Pictured left to right) Dr. Deborah Villanueva, Chef Beejhy, Lisa Shatzkin. Photo courtesy of the author.

As the Long Beach and Orange County, California Chair of the Hadassah EVOLVE program, a leadership initiative for young Jewish women, I had recently planned to attend a trip to Israel through the Hadassah EVOLVE Israel Experience (EIE). In the...

Dec 19, 2024, 3:07 AM

Henrietta Szold’s Legacy: Bridging the Past and Present in Breast Cancer Care

Hadassah Founder Henrietta Szold’s life (1860-1945) exemplifies a relentless commitment to creating equitable healthcare and empowering women to shape their destinies. Her legacy, as illuminated in Francine Klagsbrun’s compelling new biography, Henrietta Szold: Hadassah and the Zionist Dream (2024)...

Sep 30, 2024, 10:00 PM

A Call for Peace and Unity as We Honor the Memory of the Murdered Hostages

In the wake of the recent murders in Gaza of six young hostages, taken into captivity during the October 7, 2023, massacre, we find ourselves grappling with profound grief and reflection. Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov,...

Sep 24, 2024, 6:40 AM

We Built Empowering Connections at the 2024 Bet on Hadassah National Conference

Pictured left to right: National Assembly Member Kimi Schulman, Director, Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation Randi Richmond, Evolve Fellow Sammy Roth, Chair of Evolve Hadassah- Board of Directors Long Beach-Orange County Dr. Deborah Villanueva, Evolve Fellow Leah Bloom, Chair Evolve Hadassah. Debbie Knight. Photo courtesy of the author.

Las Vegas recently played host to a remarkable gathering of dedicated Jewish women from across the nation, as the 2024 You Can Bet On Hadassah National Conference (#BetonHadassah) unfolded with a spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose. This year’s...

Aug 7, 2024, 11:25 PM

In solidarity, with a heart full of hope: Helping our people from afar

In the rich tradition of Sephardic Judaism, the threads of family, community and collective healing are intricately woven together. Our history, steeped in resilience and unity, calls upon us to extend our hearts and hands in times of need....

About Me

Dr. Deborah Villanueva, DSW, MSW, LCSW, is the Organizational Vice President and Chair of Hadassah Evolve for Long Beach and Orange County, as well as a board member of the Hadassah Southern California Region. A member of the Hadassah Writers' Circle, she was recently included in Hadassah’s “2025 Edition of 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know.” Dr. Villanueva is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Long Beach, CA, with over 25 years of experience serving marginalized communities, including Native American and Latinx women. Specializing in perinatal mental health and trauma, she provides culturally sensitive care. Dr. Villanueva holds a graduate degree in Social Work from California State University Northridge and a Doctorate from USC. She is an international speaker on women’s health and human trafficking prevention. She was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women and named Social Worker of the Year in 2024. In 2025, she was awarded HealthCare Hero of the Year by the RISE Summit on Social Determinants of Health and was recognized as one of the 100 Women to KNOW in America. Dr. Villanueva currently serves as Vice President of Education at Temple Beth-El in San Pedro, CA, and is a Councilmember of the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Council (LAC SAC).