WJC's Inaugural Pink Shabbat

[NicoleOustatcher]

This year, WJC partnered with Sharsheret to host a series of events in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Sharsheret is a national nonprofit organization formed to improve the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer. While Sharsheret focuses on young women and Jewish families, their programs are meant to serve all women and men. Some of our members may remember, when, through the efforts of Linda Nudelman in the early 2000’s, the founder of Sharsheret, Rochelle Shoretz z”l spoke to us. Her presentation was incredibly powerful, and while Rochelle passed away from metastatic breast cancer in 2015, her mission and program lives on.

On the morning of Saturday, October 16th, WJC hosted it's inaugural Pink Shabbat, where Nancy Cohen, Sharsheret’s LI Program Coordinator, and Marissa Piazzola, a breast cancer survivor, addressed the congregation during Shabbat morning services. And, on the evening of Tuesday, October 19th, a panel discussion was held in the sanctuary, including Paul Woldar as moderator and the following panel for experts: Drs. Randall Feingold, Rebecca Obedian and Edward Obedian speaking from the perspective of their fields of plastic surgery and breast reconstruction, radiologist and women’s imaging, and radiation oncology; Dr. Alison Mishkit, a noted breast surgeon; Nancy Cohen from Sharsheret; and breast cancer survivor Jen Camhi.

Both events were well received, and we look forward to continuing to partner with Sharsheret to host programs to help promote breast cancer awareness at WJC and in the broader community.