Congregation Chaverim will partner with the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation and the Union for Reform Judaism to hold a bone marrow registration drive at Yom Kippur services.
“This new year, 5775, our congregation will be performing pekuach nefesh, saving a life,” says Rabbi Stephanie Aaron.
“With the simple act of swabbing the inside of our mouths, the possibility of cure begins for many who suffer from blood disease or other malignancy,” says Patrice White, drive coordinator.
Even with the success of modern-day blood marrow transplants, she explains, there are many who do not match or are less than an optimal match (Jews have a 70 percent match rate). Registering more people increases the chance of finding a person who is a close or almost perfect match.
“Our participation in Gift of Life is in memory of Cynthia Joy Present Wool,” says Aaron. “Her name was her blessing and her truth; she brought the gift of joy wherever she went. Cindy had that from-the-heart beautiful smile that always created more smiles: you just had to smile right back at her. We do this mitzvah for her because she gave so much ‘life’ to our world with her kindness, her caring and her joyful way of living.”
As part of its commitment to nurture physicians as well as patients, Chaverim will provide free admission to medical students for High Holy Days services, says White. For more information, call Chaverim at 320-1015 or White at 979-0141.
