The Power of a Hadassah Membership Pin

Madeline Albright, z’l (zichrona livracha – May her memory be for a blessing), US Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001 and US Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997, was known for the pins she wore. Her pins visually expressed messages of hope, determination and even diplomatic displeasure to those with whom she met. While pins can be identifiers of authority when worn on lapels, Ms. Albright’s pins provided a cautionary tale, emblematic of her values and where she stood on a given matter of diplomacy.

According to Antique Jewelry University, pins and brooches (ornamental  pins) were historically worn by everyone from royalty to commoners. Many organizations today have their own pins. They signify membership in the organization or support for a philosophy, mission or societal issue. (I proudly wore my “Snoopy for President” pin as a 10-year-old.)

Designed to be attached to garments, pins are the pieces of jewelry most often imbued with symbolic significance – announcing a sort of  “secret handshake” of agreement about a specific issue or mission.

A Hadassah membership pin is a piece of jewelry issued to members when they join the organization or attain a new special status, such as “life member.” The pin serves as both a symbol of identity and commitment to Hadassah’s mission and as a memento of personal service and belonging within the organization. Other Hadassah pins display leadership roles, such as chapter president, or recognize years of service or a philanthropic giving level.

My Hadassah Life Membership pin was gifted to me by my sister EJ, at a time when we were still grieving the unexpected loss of our dad. My sister recognized the importance of my new Hadassah family; Hadassah had become a lifeline for me.

Years later, after discovering my grandmother’s Danbury, Connecticut Chapter of Hadassah’s cookbook and reading letters my mom wrote to my dad while they were dating (“I attended my first Hadassah Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, and came out of the meeting as secretary!”), I discovered I was a third-generation Hadassah member!

At the 2016 National Hadassah Convention in Atlanta, I was telling   a member from Noank, Connecticut how I learned I was a third-generation Hadassah member, whereupon she gave me her third-generation pin. It was all the more special to me as it came from another Hadassah sister.

Collecting and wearing these pins has become a social tradition among Hadassah members, especially at conventions. Over time, different designs and special pins reflect both organizational history and personal milestones.

Hadassah Past National President Marlene Post penned an article for Hadassah Magazine a decade ago relating stories of how the wearing of various Hadassah pins allowed women to lead by example.

Lately, when representing Hadassah in my Advocacy capacity attending various D.C. functions where I am surrounded by many people from various backgrounds, I have taken to wearing my Hadassah generational pin as my only jewelry. When I am unfamiliar with other attendees, my Hadassah membership pin can be a conversation starter. Other members recognize the pin and begin to share stories of their experiences: how they were gifted the pin or inherited it from their mothers or grandmothers. Many rich conversations and friendships have ensued thanks to my wearing my Hadassah third-generation pin.

By the same token, wearing any of my Hadassah pins has provided me with the superpower of a sense of belonging to a powerful sisterhood! It is my symbol of connection to Hadassah’s Zionist mission and dedication to health equity for all, both in the US and Israel. My beautiful Keepers of the Gate pin (a silver harp) expresses my commitment to making an annual donation to Hadassah. I’ve switched it to a necklace and wear this decorative jewelry about town.

Ms. Albright used the power of jewelry to convey messages. My pins remind me of the importance of my role in helping to repair the world.

Randi is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle, a dynamic and diverse writing group for leaders and members to express their thoughts and feelings about all the things Hadassah does to make the world a better place. It’s where they celebrate their personal Hadassah journeys and share their Jewish values, family traditions and interpretations of Jewish texts. Hadassah members are proud of their Zionist mission and their role as keepers of the flame of Jewish values, traditions and beliefs as well as advocating for women’s empowerment and health equity for all. Since 2019, the Hadassah Writers’ Circle has published nearly 800 columns in The Times of Israel Blogs and other Jewish media outlets. Interested in writing? Please contact hwc@hadassah.org.