The Austin Chapter of Hadassah is honoring Dolly Golden at the organization’s 2020 Virtual Luncheon and Silent Auction. Credit: Amber Kilgore

By Leslie Goltzman Suez

Dolly (Moskowitz) Golden is being honored by the Austin Chapter of Hadassah at the 2020 Virtual  Luncheon and Silent Auction, Wednesday, Nov. 4, for her years of commitment to Hadassah.

The effervescent Golden is thankful for the honor, but she humbly explains that she has merely done for Hadassah what her mother, siblings, nieces and family of four generations of Life Members and Associates have always done – volunteer.

Golden was already a Hadassah volunteer at eight years of age. She recalls helping her mom and the ladies of Baytown, Texas, organize the Yearly Hadassah Rummage Sale. Thanks to Jewish families like Golden’s across the United States, precisely that same year, 1939, the brand new Mount Scopus Hadassah Hospital opened its doors in Jerusalem.

After graduating from the University of Texas and marrying her sweetheart, Eddy Golden, z”l, she jumped into the Austin Jewish community, joining Congregation Beth Israel and the local Austin Chapter of Hadassah.

From past president to the editor of the indispensable Hadassah phone directory, Golden has been a dedicated and inspiring leader. As chair of the 1973 Southwest Region Hadassah Convention, she relays a conversation with keynote speaker, Luci Baines Johnson, when their call was abruptly interrupted by the sad news of the passing of Johnson’s father, former President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Unable to fulfill her keynote obligations, Luci graciously promised to find a replacement. True to her word, Luci asked Diane Hobby, wife of newly elected Lt. Governor William Hobby, Jr., to speak. The convention was a success with Diane’s delightful presentation.

Golden was the best ambassador for Hadassah through her former travel agency, Golden World Travel. Since 1997, she successfully arranged spectacular Israel tour packages for Congregation Beth Israel and the Austin community.  Every tour package included a visit to Hadassah Hospital with its famous Chagall Windows. Golden was most likely responsible for introducing hundreds of Austinites to Hadassah’s life saving, life changing initiatives.

When the Hadassah Leadership Academy class of 2009 was unable to fund a graduation trip to Israel, Golden took it upon her tiny, mighty shoulders to find the means to make the dream come true.

She said, “There was a little Jewish lady on my shoulder” to have pulled off the trip, but the class of 2009 knows that Golden is the living angel of the Chapter. True to character, she said, “Showing the young future leaders Israel and the wonderful work of Hadassah was my greatest moment in Hadassah.”

Golden epitomizes the Hadassah logo, “The power of women who do.” Please join us for the Austin Chapter of Hadassah’s event Nov. 4 to honor the chapter’s own, dear Dolly Golden. ■