Anne and Jeff Rothenberg, former long-time residents of Albany, now residing in Jerusalem, Israel, recently received the “Builders of Jerusalem” Award, the highest honor given to a volunteer, from Hadassah-Israel.  At a dinner on Sept. 4, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hadassah-Israel, with over 100 people in attendance, the couple received a lithograph created by Jerusalem artist, Sharon Binder,  to note their  hard work and devotion to the organization.  

Former president of Hadassah Capital District, Anne, a Hadassah Life Member and a Keeper of the Gate, has served as president of Jerusalem’s Nachama-Tamar Chapter of Hadassah- Israel for the past decade.  In 2016, with her board members, she organized and was chairperson of the Hadassah-Israel National Conference. In addition, for many years, she has been chairperson and served as master-of-ceremonies for the annual Hadassah – Israel Special Gifts Dinner, the organization’s major fund-raiser. As the National fund-raising chairperson, Anne led a successful campaign to purchase 20 electric beds for Hadassah Hospital’s Rehabilitation unit.

Throughout these endeavors, Jeff, a Hadassah Associate, and former managing partner of Heslin, Rothenberg, Farley and Mesiti Law Firm, has provided strong, behind-the-scenes, moral and financial support.

For the past two years, Hadassah-Israel has been raising funds for a cutting-edge research project seeking early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. A team, led by Prof. Tamir Ben-Hur, head of the Division of Clinical Neurosciences at the Hadassah Medical Organization, is developing a blood test to determine, in advance, if a patient will develop Alzheimer’s disease, so that medication and care can be administered before any symptoms even occur, thereby preventing or postponing its onset. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years after the age of 60.  Prof. Ben-Hur views this disease as an epidemic crying out for an early-detection solution.

To support this project, one may donate directly online at www.causematch.com/en/hadassah-israel-pef/ and obtain a U.S. tax receipt for the charitable contribution.