Big news! Earlier this week, National President of Hadassah, June Walker, was nominated as the Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Identified as: “the central coordinating body for American Jewry; the voice of organized American Jewry; the proven and effective advocate of affiliated American Jews; and the central forum for key American, Israeli, and other world leaders to address critical issues of concern to the American Jewish community,” the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations has (shockingly) had only one woman Chair in its history: Shoshana Cardin who served from 1990-1992.

It’s inspiring that Walker, admired internationally for her outstanding leadership, will assume this position after her term as Hadassah President. Founded in 1912, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, has had a tremendous impact in transforming American Zionism and Jewish fundraising due to the vision and service of its founder, Henrietta Szold, a Jewish scholar and activist passionately dedicated to Judaism, Zionism, and the American ideal. Though the organization has changed over time, Hadassah remains the largest women’s, largest Zionist, and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States. Walker’s nomination as Chair of the Conference of Presidents underscores the importance of having nexuses for women’s activism within Jewish life.

Hopefully, Walker’s new leadership role will catalyze more nominations of women leaders within the organized Jewish community!