Dorothy M. Adelman is one busy lady. Her schedule is packed with lunch dates, art projects and classes—she teaches an art class of her own each week. And she's kept this busy for a long time: She recently turned 100. "Time creeps up on you when you're busy working hard," Dorothy says.
Dorothy, of Newton, Massachusetts, has worked hard since she was a child. She began fundraising for Young Judaea, the premier Zionist youth movement (then supported by Hadassah and now run by Young Judaea Global, Inc.), when she was 10 years old. "We went out on the streets to collect money. It was fun, but we were very serious about what we had to accomplish."
At 17, Dorothy became a chapter president for Junior Hadassah.
"We held teas and luncheons that brought in a lot of young women who became very active," she recalls.
"As young as we were, we were "determined to raise money to send to Israel to build the Hadassah Hospital."
While a Junior Hadassah president, Dorothy attended a Hadassah conference in Boston— but confesses she spent most of the time with her new beau, Henry. The pair were married for 60 years, during which time Dorothy raised their three children—and began developing her interest in creating artistic works, starting with oil painting but moving into a mixed media style that was her own invention. She started teaching the technique 45 years ago and continues today.
Showing persistence and longevity in everything she does, Dorothy remains committed to Hadassah Medical Organization nine decades later. Her commitment to Hadassah is shared by her sisters. At age 95, Dorothy's sister Sara Gelfond remains very active in the West Orange chapter, of which she is a past president. Her late sister Fay Liebling was president of her chapter in Michigan and was later active on Long Island. "I am very proud of both of my sisters," says Dorothy.
A gift in her will to Hadassah is earmarked for medical research. "I think that's the most necessary area in this world now, if we're going to go into exciting new forms of medical training and accomplish things that no other country can do," Dorothy says. After all, what's more hard work? "I feel it's what we do so well."
A Simple Way to Extend Your Support
A gift in your will or living trust can be completed in as little as one sentence. Contact Planned Giving & Estates at (800) 428-8884 or giving@hadassah.org if you have any questions about naming Hadassah in your estate plan.