Hadassah Santa Cruz

06/06/2026

This is Hadassah 🙏

06/05/2026

❤️

Not many people can say a complete stranger recognized them by their voice alone.

When a man approached Pnina Sharon while she was shopping in Jerusalem and insisted he knew her from somewhere, she immediately asked: "You underwent open heart surgery?"

"I reassured him before surgery and he remembered my voice. It was very moving."

For 40 years, Sharon has been a source of comfort, compassion and leadership at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. From caring for patients undergoing open-heart surgery to leading emergency preparedness efforts across the hospital, her commitment has never wavered.

As head nurse of the Emergency Department, she even created a "boutique shop" for patients who had no clothing to wear home after treatment.

"So they wouldn't leave in pajamas, we would give them clothing along with the respect they deserved."

Today, as Director of the Internal Medicine, Emergency Department and Emergency Preparedness Division, Sharon continues to shape the future of nursing and patient care while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Her guiding principle remains simple:

"I tell the nurses: Be good to the patients. In the end, we are here for them."

Congratulations to Pnina Sharon, recipient of the Nancy Falchuk Outstanding Nursing Award, for her extraordinary professionalism, leadership and dedication to compassionate care.

👉 Tap the link in the comments to read her full story.

06/05/2026

And I’m off to attend our first Hadassah Chapter meeting at Dominican Oaks! Our next one is Thursday 7/2 from 3-3:45 pm in the chapel. See you there!

06/05/2026

We find the weekly Israeli News Roundup in substack [email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">[email protected] to be informative. Here's #1 from today:

Israel at War - Day 238 of Trump Gaza Ceasefire, Day 58 of Israel/US Iran Ceasefire, Day 94 of the Israel-Lebanon War
1. President Trump Called PM Netanyahu “F**king Crazy” and Forbade Him From Attacking in Beirut
A vocal and difficult discussion between president Trump and PM Netanyahu earlier this week, where Trump called Netanyahu “f**king crazy”. President Trump called PM Netanyahu to order him not to do anything hasty in Lebanon, since the US wants to create a truce with Iran and the Iranians demand that Israel stop all its attacks on Lebanon as part of the deal with the US. Later both President Trump and PM Netanyahu tried to play down the first conversation, saying it was a talk between two family members. Trump also confirmed the quote.

Later President Trump announced that during the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, the parties agreed to a ceasefire. But shortly after, Hizbollah leader, Naim Qassem said that his organization did not agree to any ceasefire with Israel.

Israel is suffering from an intensive attack on northern communities by Hizbollah, while southern Lebanon is suffering from intense attacks by the IDF (Israel Defense Force). The situation in northern Israel is dire and there is no solution in sight, military or diplomatic.

Earlier this week, the Israeli military occupied the crusader castle site - the Beaufort - which is more symbolic than a strategic military location.

In the first invasion of Lebanon, back in 1982, the Beaufort castle was occupied by a military special forces unit. When PM Begin came to the site, nobody told him that six soldiers had died in the battle to take the castle. Begin seemed oblivious to the human toll, and he was celebrating the achievement. Unfortunately the achievement has no tactical or strategic significance, only symbolic. Something that can raise Israeli morale.

The app for independent voices

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Our Chapter’s Steering Committee got together this week to plan our Chapter’s upcoming events. So many fun and informative events in our future ❤️

06/04/2026

Thank you Assembly Member Gail Pellerin 🙏

06/04/2026

Don’t miss the world premiere 6/6 at Temple Beth El, Aptos !

06/04/2026

Does our theme for our Sunday, June 28th workshop on whether we have outlived the Golden Age of American Jewry sound too heavy to you? A downer perhaps?

Guess again!

The topic may be serious but Rabbi Debbie Israel will help us share our thoughts in a safe space, with friends, old and new.

And our special National Hadassah speaker, Linda Freedman Block will bring her Texas humor and a fun presentation! You don’t want to miss meeting Linda!

The event is on Sunday, 6/28 from 10 am - 2 pm at the Temple Beth El, Aptos cafe and lounge. $18 gets you a wonderful, interactive workshop AND lunch (we can accommodate vegan, kosher and GF dietary needs, with notice). Full flyer and information in the comments below. Or DM us.