Hadassah L.E.A. Hosts Free Screening of "The Branch" on June 10

The L.E.A. Chapter of Hadassah (Littleton, Englewood & Aurora, CO) is hosting a free screening of The Branch podcast episode “A Sisterhood for Change” via Zoom on Thursday, June 10th at 10:00 AM (MST). The Branch Podcast is sponsored by Hadassah and hosted by Dina Kraft. Each month, The Branch explores the unlikely and amazing stories of regular, everyday Israeli Jews and Arabs who are reaching out, breaking barriers, living in a peaceful co-existence, creating meaningful connections despite profound differences. Dina Kraft will be in attendance via Zoom from Israel to answer audience member questions. There is no admission charge. Donations to Hadassah are welcome. Zoom links will be sent with registration confirmations. For more information, email lea@hadassah.org. Advance register required at http://www.hadassah.org/events/dinakraft.

“A Sisterhood for Change” features Samah and Hamutal, feminist activists who are part of the “Red Flag Coalition,” a collective of Jewish and Arab feminist organizations. The episode takes place in a village called Neve Shalom/Wahat as-Salam. Translated as “Oasis of Peace,” it is the only communal village of its kind in Israel, created by Jews and Arabs who wanted to show the world that they could live together in peace.

Dina Kraft is a journalist based in Tel Aviv who writes for the Christian Science Monitor and the Los Angeles Times where she reports on Israeli and Palestinian politics, culture and society. Kraft is drawn to stories featuring unlikely connections, dual narratives and the impact of conflict and crisis on ordinary lives. In addition to hosting “The Branch,” she also hosts “The Patient is In,” a podcast which features conversations with people navigating chronic illness sponsored by Stuffthatworks.

Kraft is a long-time foreign correspondent who began her overseas career in the Jerusalem Bureau of The Associated Press. She was later posted to AP’s Johannesburg Bureau where she covered Southern Africa. She’s also reported from Senegal, Kenya, Pakistan, Jordan, Tunisia, Russia, and Ukraine. Kraft is also an educator and has taught journalism classes at Northeastern University, Harvard University, and Boston University. Kraft was a winner of the 2020 B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage. She was a 2012 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and a 2015 Ochberg Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University.

Andy Mallen, Vice President of Advocacy and Education, L.E.A. Chapter, states, “I started listening to The Branch Podcasts in 2020 and found them all so engaging. If Hadassah stands for ‘The power to heal our world. Together,’ these podcasts provide real-life examples of how we can do this. ‘The Sisterhood’ episode focuses on a longtime friendship between a Jewish and an Arab woman and how they’ve come to understand and appreciate each other’s sameness as well as their differences. Clearly it takes the belief and interest on both sides to develop their strong bond and respect for their friendship and continually learn from one another. This will forever be an important concept in Israel - making peace one relationship at a time. And how critical is this now more than ever with the fighting and hostility we’ve been witnessing these past weeks in Israel. The challenge of bringing these societies together in peace is such an overwhelming idea, but the stories from these podcasts convey hope, albeit on a small, individual level. We need the understanding of one another however we can get it - one relationship at a time!”

Hadassah believes in the power of women for Israel and that positive stories from Israel can make a powerful impact. Today, the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) serves one million patients a year, regardless of race, religion or nationality. HMO doctors, nurses and staff work together, Arab and Jewish, building bridges to peace through medicine. HMO is the only medical organization in the world to have been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

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