"For me, the trip was a meaningful journey of connection to the past and the future of Jewish women and the state of Israel, " said Kaplan, Kochava's programming chair.

For Hudson, a life member of Hadassah and an ardent supporter of Israel, the Hadassah Renaissance Mission was her eighth trip to Israel. The mission focused on places and events related to the founding of the state of Israel, such as Independence Hall, where Ben Gurion declared the State of Israel, and the Herzl Museum, which tells the story of Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism.

The group also met with Nancy Falchuk, the national president of Hadassah.Falchuk shared the tremendous contributions Hadassah has made to Israel over the years, and her experiences including meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"The trip was very moving and inspirational," said Hudson.

Yom Ha'atzmaut (yom ha-'a?ma'u?) is the national Israeli independence day, commemorating the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948. The trip also included visits to several Hadassah sites: the Hadassah Hospitals in Mt. Scopus and Ein Kerem in Jerusalem; the memorial to the 78 people killed in an attack on a Hadassah medical convoy in April 1948; a Hadassah youth village for "at-risk" children; and the Judean Youth Hostel, which houses participants in the Young Judea year course.

Founded in 1912, Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is the largest women's, largest Zionist, and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States.

In Israel, it supports medical care and research, education and youth institutions and reforestation and parks projects. In the U.S., Hadassah promotes health education, social action and advocacy, volunteerism, Jewish education and research, and connections with Israel.

Kochava wants hear from you!

If you are interested in learning more about Santa Clarita Valley's Hadassah Kochava Group, call Kochava's President Leah Pollack at 661-309-3195 or e-mail kochavagroup@yahoo.com.