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October 26, 2001/Cheshvan 9, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 7
Mishpacha brings new face to traditional Hadassah
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Ron and Tiffani Hamilton walk the runway at a Mishpacha fashion show.
Photo courtesy of Mishpacha
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When you think of Hadassah, what image comes to mind? A group of middle-aged women doing community service projects? Maybe a monthly game of bridge? How about an ice cream social/pool party with a bunch of kids, husbands and a magician?
The latter is the face of a new Hadassah group, Mishpacha, made up of mothers and their young children, ages birth-six years.
Mishpacha (Hebrew for "family"), made up of women living all over the Valley - most in Scottsdale and North Phoenix - was formed more than a year ago.
Co-founder Jacqui Breger, mother of 3-year-old Chloe, says she was involved in Hadassah but was interested in starting a group for moms with young kids. After holding two events to gauge interest - pottery painting for moms and a family picnic - it was determined that this was just the type of group many women were looking for.
Breger became the first president and spent the first year forming a board and developing programs. This year the group is "looking to be more in line with Hadassah goals," says Breger. "(The goal) is to instill in our children the (concepts) of tzedakah (righteousness) and community service and give our children ... a Jewish up- bringing."
Hadassah, or The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc., is a volunteer women's organization founded in 1912. The goal of Hadassah, according to its Web site, is to "promote the unity of the Jewish people." The group focuses on areas such as support of Israel, health awareness, education and community service.
Lila Baltman, co-membership vice president and mother of Evan, 17 months, calls Mishpacha "a support group for young families."
"A lot of us live in Phoenix or Scottsdale and have family elsewhere, so we don't have moms and sisters and aunts that help. ... (We) are really coming together and helping each other."
Mishpacha holds several events each month. The stay-at-home moms with young children meet on Thursday morning for a playgroup - either at a member's house or at an entertainment facility or park.
Each month there is an adult event, sometimes just for moms, other times for moms and dads, such as a CPR class and a breast cancer awareness speaker. The monthly "mom's night out" consists of a movie and dinner - with no husbands or kids.
Recently, the men had their first men-only event - a poker game in which all proceeds were donated to Hadassah.
The main event each month is a family event, held on a Sunday. The most recent activity was the pool party held at Baltman's house. Many of the family activities have a community service element. Last New Year's Eve, the families traveled during the day to Kivel Campus of Care to have a party with the residents there.
"The residents at Kivel were telling us they hadn't held a baby in years. Here we come with our cute babies and toddlers and the elderly people were just aching to hold the babies. That was so special," says Baltman.
The group also planned a "pretend" birthday party at Gymboree - the event was set up like a regular birthday party with games and cake, but all of the gifts were donated to charity. Fund raisers have included a fashion show, Tupperware parties and Discovery Toys parties.
Baltman says the friends she has made in Mishpacha are like an extended family.
"When I came (to Phoenix), I was pregnant and being a new mom is kind of scary. When I discovered Mishpacha, I discovered moms who were in the same boat as me," she explains.
Likewise, Breger is a transplant to the Valley. An immigrant from South Africa, Breger says Mishpacha brings the community together.
"It's given me an avenue to provide my child with a Jewish sense of being. It's allowed me to integrate into the American society very, very rapidly. It's also given me the opportunity to keep my ties with Israel," Breger explains. "For my daughter, it has given her lots of Jewish friends."
Baltman says the group is always recruiting new members. Upcoming events include a pumpkin party 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at My Gym in Scottsdale, and a Mad Hatter Tea Party, to be held at a member's house, Nov. 11. Call Baltman for more information, 602-482-8262.
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