By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharonw@texasjewishpost.com

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sharsheret is working closely with synagogues and Jewish organizations across the country to host their Sharsheret Pink Shabbat events. The Sharsheret Pink Shabbat program brings members of the community together for a meaningful Shabbat experience, while raising awareness about the increased risk for hereditary breast cancer among Jewish families and the impact of breast cancer on our communities. Nationally recognized statistics show that one in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish women and men carries the BRCA cancer gene mutation, nearly 10 times the rate of the general population.
Chabad of Arlington and the Mid Cities will hold a Pink Shabbat Friday, Oct. 30 at Chabad. The evening begins with Kabbalat Shabbat services at 6:30 p.m. followed by a delicious buffet dinner at 7. Cost of the evening is $12 per person. Sponsorships are available for $180. To RSVP call 817-451-1171 or email info@arlington chabad.org.
A portion of the proceeds from the evening will go to support Sharsheret.
Chabad of Arlington’s Pink Shabbat is one of more than 150 events that will take place during October in 16 states. Events will feature pink challah baking events, breast cancer survivors sharing their stories with program participants and Sharsheret’s free informational resources. Each community works one-on-one with Sharsheret’s staff to create an event that is tailored to the interest of their constituents.
“Breast cancer is not a Jewish woman’s issue; it’s a Jewish family issue, a Jewish community issue. Welcoming so many communities to the Sharsheret Pink Shabbat program enhances our efforts and expands Sharsheret’s reach to Jews of all backgrounds,” said Sharsheret Executive Director Elana Silber.
“We are proud to lead the Jewish response to breast cancer, providing hope, strength and support for thousands of Jewish women and their families facing breast cancer.”
There’s still time to register your organization or synagogue for a Pink Shabbat. Upon registering to host a Sharsheret Pink Shabbat event, participating synagogues and Jewish organizations receive Sharsheret’s culturally-relevant educational resources, their exclusive pink challah recipe, pink promotional items and information about Sharsheret’s support and education programs. To learn more about hosting a Sharsheret Pink Shabbat in your community this October or any time throughout the year, please email Sarah at seagle@sharsheret.org or visit www.sharsheret.org/node/add/plan-event.
Sharsheret is an expert source of information, comfort, and hope for thousands of Jewish women who are at risk for breast cancer in the U.S. Sharsheret’s 12 programs provide personalized, confidential and free support for every member of the family, and by creating a chain of interactive support among survivors, diagnosed women and their loved ones, Sharsheret establishes unbreakable personal bonds within the broader Jewish community.
For more information, please visit www.sharsheret.org.