NA'AMAT USA Installs National Board

August 17, 2016 - WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. - NA'AMAT USA, which provides vital services for women, children and families in Israel, installed its new National Executive Board at its Gala Celebration in Las Vegas. Chellie Goldwater Wilensky of Chicago was installed as National President, together with her National Vice Presidents and Board members to serve a 3-year term. Additionally, the organization installed four Area Coordinators. The Gala Celebration also marked NA'AMAT USA's 90th anniversary.

In her acceptance remarks, Wilensky described her lifetime involvement in NA'AMAT USA and her hopes for its future. She said that as President she will focus on member recruitment, especially among younger women, and expanding the organization's support for NA'AMAT Israel.

"With our help, NA'AMAT Israel can continue to do things like build a new Women's Center in Sderot where women can go for preventative health care, as well as classes on nutrition, issues affecting women's health, and a place to socialize," she said. Wilensky added that NA'AMAT USA will also help in the construction of new day care centers, in providing computer technology for NA'AMAT high schools and in supporting scholarship programs for young women pursuing Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees.

Outgoing National President Elizabeth Raider spoke of some of the milestones of her tenure, which included the relocation of the national office from New York to California, the organization of a NA'AMAT International Solidarity Conference in Israel, the presentation of NA'AMAT USA's Humanitarian Award to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the 90th Anniversary Gala. Raider called it "a journey that has led to opportunities and experiences that I could not have imagined when I was first installed in Florida in 2010."

In a prepared statement, NA'AMAT Israel President Galia Wolloch praised NA'AMAT USA for its continuing support. "We want to express our deep appreciation to each and every one of you for your hard work, your contributions, and above all, your ongoing concern and solidarity with NA'AMAT and the State of Israel. All of us together in NA'AMAT are making a difference in the lives of women, children and families in Israel," Wolloch said.

Other highlights of the Gala Celebration included a keynote address from Anat Katz, Commercial Attaché from the Israeli Embassy. Katz spoke about the importance of international trade in Israel, citing the benefits of the country's trade agreements with Egypt and the United States. She noted that buying Israeli and Egyptian products helps all three countries economically and promotes peace.

NA'AMAT Israel representative Judy Telman described its current activities in Israel including the presentation of scholarship awards to 210 female students studying for Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees and advocacy work in the Knesset to promote legislation of benefit to women. Prof. Shula Reinharz, Founder and Director of Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center, talked about the challenges faced by Jewish women's organizations today. Linda Meisel, Executive Director of the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Mercer County, talked about fundraising strategies.

At the opening night ceremony, North Las Vegas Councilman Richard Cherchio presented a proclamation on behalf of the Mayor and City Council proclaiming July 29, NA'AMAT USA Day.