Sharsheret (organization) facts for kids

Sharsheret is a special group that helps Jewish women and families. They focus on those dealing with breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Sharsheret gives support, helpful information, and educational programs. They also offer some financial help.

This group helps thousands of women and their families across the United States. Sharsheret has offices in places like California, Florida, and New York. Their main office is in Teaneck, New Jersey. While they mainly help young Jewish women, they also support men and women from all backgrounds. This is because Ashkenazi Jews have a higher chance of having a specific gene change called a BRCA gene mutation.

How Sharsheret Started

Sharsheret was started in November 2001 by a woman named Rochelle Lee Shoretz. She was 28 years old when she founded the group. Rochelle started Sharsheret after she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself.

Before this, Rochelle had a great career as a lawyer. She even worked for a very important judge, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Rochelle was also a mom to two children and a leader in her Jewish community. Sadly, she passed away in 2015 when she was 42.

Rochelle said her own experience with cancer inspired her. She wanted to talk to other young women like herself. She looked for someone who had young children and was also Jewish. After a long search, she found Lauryn Weiser. Sharsheret now connects women with cancer so they can support each other. Rochelle believed that real support needs to be special for each person. It's not just about the sickness, but about living your life with cancer.

An organization called the Joshua Venture fellowship helped Sharsheret begin. This group gave money and advice to new leaders for two years. Rochelle Lee Shoretz was one of the first people chosen. This help allowed her to create Sharsheret.

Sharsheret also has programs for high school and college students. These programs help young people learn about breast cancer risks. Sharsheret works with students on 250 campuses in America. They have 12 national support and education programs. The group also creates special awareness events. These include Pink Day, Pink Shabbats, and Pink Challah Bakes.

What Sharsheret Does

The word "Sharsheret" means "chain" in Hebrew. This group is a non-profit organization in America. It aims to support young Jewish women with breast cancer. They also help women who have a higher chance of getting it due to their genes.

Most Jewish people in the United States are Ashkenazi Jews. They have a higher risk of having a BRCA gene mutation. About 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish women carry this gene change. For other women, it's about 1 in 345. Only about 1 in 400 people in the US have this gene change. But if a woman has it, she has an 85% chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer.

Our goal is to offer a community of support to women diagnosed with breast cancer or at increased genetic risk. We do this by connecting them with other women, health experts, and helpful resources. Since Sharsheret started in 2001, we have answered over 55,000 questions about breast cancer. More than 5,300 people have offered support to others. We also present over 250 educational programs each year across the country.

Sharsheret holds online meetings and other public events. These events teach women about the benefits of genetic testing.

Events and Friends

Working with Others

Sharsheret works with many companies and groups. Some of these include Pfizer, Moishe House, and 23andMe. They also partnered with a sorority called Alpha Epsilon Phi. This sorority chose Sharsheret as one of its main charity groups in 2008.

Pink Day

In 2010, Sharsheret started "Pink Day." This day helps raise awareness and show support for breast cancer survivors. On February 13, people are asked to wear pink clothes. Many students across the country take part.

Jewish student groups like Hillel and Chabad plan yearly events for Pink Day. These events include making challah bread, "Pink Shabbat" meals, and setting up information tables on campus. In 2018, over 100 schools across the country joined Pink Day. Sharsheret gives them "Pink Day Tool Kits." These kits have ideas for events, learning materials, and items to display. They also include words to use for breast cancer awareness on social media.

Awards and Recognition

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) gave Sharsheret a big award. In September 2019, they received $1.8 million over five years. This money helps fund Sharsheret's "LINK Program." This program provides education and services for women under 45 with breast cancer.

Elana Silber, the Executive Director, spoke about the award. She said, "Working with the CDC and over 100 Sharsheret partners, we will help more than 150,000 women and caregivers. This will improve their lives and lessen the burden of cancer."