A century-old organization, present on five continents, expands its presence in Brazil and connects Brazilian philanthropy to one of the world’s most advanced medical centers.

Long before the State of Israel existed, a group of women decided that healthcare in the Land of Israel could not wait. In 1909, during a visit to the region, American educator Henrietta Szold was struck by the poverty and preventable diseases she encountered. Back in the United States, she mobilized other women and, in 1912, founded Hadassah. The first step was sending two nurses to Jerusalem.

More than a century later, that gesture has grown into one of the largest Zionist women’s organizations in the world — present on five continents, with over 300,000 members, and responsible for sustaining the Hadassah Medical Center, a global reference in cutting-edge research and medicine. Now, Brazil’s Jewish community is taking on a leading role in this story.

Currently under the presidency of Michelle Shayo, Hadassah Brazil has been expanding its activities, focusing on strengthening volunteer work, growing its network, and connecting the country to an international agenda that unites health, science, and philanthropy. Brazil is part of Hadassah International, created in........

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