Stitching Together Success: Hadassah’s Super South Experience

Every two years, the three regions that comprise the Super South (Southeastern, Southern, and Southern Seaboard), come together.  This year, the Tri-Region Experience took place in Music City – Nashville, TN. The journey of designing the programming for the Tri-Region Experience was akin to creating a patchwork quilt – each session, speaker and activity was a unique piece of a greater vision, meticulously stitched together to form a beautiful, cohesive whole.

I had the honor of being one of three co-chairs (along with Karen Ulm and Teri Gross) affectionately known as the Treblemakers (our play on Music City). It took no time at all for us to agree on the conference theme – “Connect, Inspire and Empower”. We knew this was the gift we wanted to share. Every detail, right down to the visual graphic with its yellow fingernail (#EndTheSilence), was carefully considered.

Connect – Friday: Our conference kicked off with the Treblemakers welcoming everyone with a Super South original song sung to the tune of Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em”.

We’re connecting (woo!)

We’re inspiring (hey!)

We’re Am Yisrael chai

Advocating (woo!)

Legislating (hey!)

and Empowering (yeah, yeah, yeah)

We’re Hadassah Super South

Tell you what we’re all about

Bold and brilliant, we’re resilient

C’mon, let’s hear ya’ll cheer…

We were fortunate to hear from our Region Presidents – Sharon Goretsky, Susan Smolinsky and Paula Zucker, and our National President Carol Ann Schwartz, whose passion for Hadassah shines through their words and actions. Having Carol Ann Schwartz, our National President, attend this event added an extra layer of excitement and inspiration to our quilt of experiences, making the fabric of gathering even richer. Debbie Knight, the Chair of Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation introduced us to Evolve members who led us in icebreakers that wove humor, commonalities and differences together. The evening ended sweetly with a Nashville classic, the Bushwacker cocktail, in our hospitality suite.

Inspire – Saturday: Day 2 began with a lovely Shabbat service, featuring Nashville Evolve Member Julia Motis as vocalist and Susan Smolinsky who led the service and delivered a wonderful D’var Torah. It also marked the 86^th anniversary of Kristallnacht, which we commemorated with readings and poetry, leading into a powerful panel on antisemitism. Panelists included Barbara Dab (Editor Nashville Jewish Observer and Life Member of Hadassah), Eytan Davidson (Director, ADL Southeast Region) and Joyce Laiter (Co-coordinator, Hadassah Education & Advocacy Division). The ADL, Hadassah, the Federation and the Jewish press stand as pillars in the fight against antisemitism. Just as the foundation of a quilt is essential to its integrity, their collective efforts and resources provide a robust and essential base, empowering our communities to confront and dismantle hatred with resilience and unity.

During lunch, we enjoyed a spirited game of Never Have I Ever with our National President, Carol Ann Schwartz and my mom, Marcie Natan, a past National President of Hadassah. The room was filled with laughter as we learned amusing tidbits about their lives and experiences. This lighthearted moment added a fun and memorable layer to our quilt of events.

After lunch, we had a session where a group of Hadassah women, one as young as 24, shared their feelings around antisemitic incidents they had encountered. Their experiences reminded us that we are all grappling with difficult thoughts and feelings about what is happening in Israel, and here at home. Not only did this group of women connect on a deeper level, but Hadassah observers also engaged in this heartfelt session, finding solidarity and support. To become empowered and take meaningful action, we must first prioritize taking care of ourselves and each other, building the strength and resilience we need to face these challenges head-on.

Following this powerful session, I had the pleasure of introducing my mom and sharing a little-known story:

Picture this. It’s the year 2012, and I’m dating a ‘nice Jewish boy.’ I casually mention to my mom, Marcie Natan— newly minted as National President of Hadassah—that we’re ‘talking’ about marriage. Quick as a flash, she hands me a list of three she’s available for my own not-yet-planned wedding! Yes, I had a wedding date before I had a ring! Talk about dedication to Hadassah.

Fast forward to me asking my mom about her favorite memory as Hadassah’s Past National President. She fondly recalls planting Methuselah, a date palm grown from a 2000-year-old seed found at Masada. In her words, ‘Down on my hands and knees adding dirt to stabilize the tree was an amazing connection to the history of Israel and the resilience of the people of Israel.’

She shared stories of resilience from Herietta Szold and our Youth Aliyah children, highlighting Hadassah’s strength through unity and perseverance. Afterward, author June Hersh spoke about her cookbook “Food, Hope & Resilience” blending humor and heart into tales of survival. I’m still chuckling over the matzoh ball “sink or swim” conversation – honestly, I’ll never look at Ashkenazi beige food the same way again without cracking up!

After a beautiful Havdalah service, the evening reached its crescendo with a special private concert by the Promise Sessions. This Nashville-based multi-media platform uses the power of music to amplify and empower voices affected by war.  Born from the tragic events of October 7^th, their mission is profound: to heal, bridge divides, and repair the world though the universal language of music. The audience was moved by the deeply emotional and soul-stirring performances, each note and lyric resonating with the themes of hope, resilience and unity.

The Promise Sessions’ dedication to using music as a tool for healing and connection beautifully mirrors Hadassah’s own commitment to fostering resilience, supporting our communities and creating a more connected and inspired world!  Their stories of overcoming adversity and finding strength in solidarity offered a poignant reminder of the power of collective effort and compassion.

This concert was more than just an evening of entertainment; it was a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable bonds that music can forge. It was a fitting and inspirational end to our day, leaving everyone feeling uplifted and ready to continue their efforts to heal and empower.

Empower – Sunday: We began the day by premiering a new Gandel Rehabilitation Center video – aired for the very first time. The accomplishments at the center highlight the incredible work being done by Hadassah to heal and support those in need. We were inspired by Carol & Larry Hyatt, who were so moved by the work at the center that they donated two nurses’ stations! Adding to the excitement, Carol Ann Schwartz announced that an anonymous donor has agreed to match up to $1 million dollars through the end of this year, providing a tremendous boost to our efforts.

Esther Panitch, the only Jewish GA State representative and a Hadassah Life Member, delivered a passionate talk about the power of our voices, encouraging us to speak out and make a difference. Her words were incredibly empowering and set a powerful tone for the day. Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon further inspired us with her call to continue building bridges, reinforcing our commitment to unity and collaboration.

Mother/Daughter photo from the Tri- Region Conference.

Tri-Region Experience Logo

The three co-chairs, National President Carol Ann Schwartz, conference advisor Diane Taub with Nastasha and Yossi Amit of the Promise Sessions

This infusion of resilience, commitment, and compassion makes us unstoppable.  Together, we will make a difference, heal the world and forge a brighter future. This completed our quilt, forming a beautiful, cohesive whole. Stitched together with care and purpose, it reflected the richness of our Hadassah community, providing warmth, connection and a sense of belonging to everyone involved.