Hadassah Installs 2026 Officers, Board of Directors

Hadassah Greater Atlanta held its annual installation of Officers at Ippolito’s Restaurant in Roswell on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Anita Otero, installation chair, began the event by thanking all the Hadassah volunteers who have helped make Hadassah so great during the previous year. Terry Nordin, Hadassah Greater Atlanta president, was invited to the podium to accept a special award for her work and successes for the past year.

The keynote speaker for the event was Esther Panitch, Georgia State Representative since 2023 and a life member of Hadassah. Panitch explains, “Jewish optimism is not about pretending everything is fine — it’s about looking at thousands of years of Jewish survival and choosing to bet on the future. As Hadassah women step into leadership roles, they are continuing an unbroken chain of Jewish women who have always been keepers of hope. Every hospital we support, every advocacy effort we lead, every young person we mentor is optimism in action.”

The installation was conducted by Linda Hakerem, national chapter leadership development co-chair of Hadassah. She said “It is my pleasure to install the new officers and board of Hadassah Greater Atlanta for 2026. I was so happy that this took place during Chanukah when we commemorate the joy of regaining possession of our temple and the ability of Jews to practice our religion freely again. I used the menorah during the installation to symbolize how our volunteers work together, creating light in order to accomplish great things for Hadassah.

Terry Nordin, second term president, Hadassah Greater Atlanta, thanked the audience for their support and recalled, “Our founder, Henrietta Szold, saw suffering and acted, bringing emergency health care to mothers and their infants in pre-state Israel. Henrietta’s passion is in our DNA and continues to drive us. This is our practical Zionism. Each of us has the power to make an impact.”

Hadassah Greater Atlanta champions a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, fights against antisemitism, and stands up for women’s health equity. Hadassah makes a difference by bringing healing and justice to the world. Every day, Hadassah members are speaking out in multiple ways — from sending messages to meeting face to face with elected officials — locally and on the Hill. For more information, go to www.Hadassah.org.