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The Charlotte Jewish News -April 2014 - Page 26 Rabbi Jonathan Freirich of Temple Beth El to Shave Head to Raise Awareness of and Funding for Pediatric Cancer Research During the 125th Annual Cen tral Conferenee of Ameriean Rab bis (CCAR) Convention, Rabbi Jonathan Freirieh of Temple Beth El will join over 60 male and fe male Reform Rabbis when they shave their heads to raise aware ness of and funding for pediatrie eaneer researeh. In addition, some partieipants are shaving in their home eommunities, ineluding sev eral Reeonstruetionist and Con servative eolleagues who were moved to join their Reform peers in this important endeavor. The “Shave for the Brave” event will take plaee on April 1, at the CCAR Convention, whieh will be held at the Fairmont Chieago Millennium Park. The CCAR is the representative organ ization of nearly 2,000 Reform Rabbis, the world’s largest group of Jewish elergy. The rabbis’ “Shave for the Brave” fundraiser benefits St. Baldriek’s, a eharity eommitted to funding ehildhood eaneer re seareh. So far, the CCAR Rabbis have raised over $330,000 for St. Baldriek’s, and hope to reaeh their goal of $360,000. “I am honored to partieipate in the ‘Shave for the Brave’ fundraiser, and to support St. Baldriek’s in their efforts to re seareh pediatrie eaneer, and find a eure,” said Rabbi Jonathan Freirieh of Temple Beth El. “I hope that my small saerifiee of hair will bring attention to the eause of eonquering ehildhood eaneers.” “The role of a rabbi is to right wrongs identified in the world, and the ‘Shave for the Brave’ event allows rabbis to do that, by raising awareness of pediatrie ean eer and helping to work towards a eure,” said Rabbi Steven A. Fox, CCAR Chief Exeeutive. “We are proud and honored that the CCAR Convention eould host this inspir ing event.” The eonneetion between the Reform Jewish eommunity and pediatrie eaneer advoeaey began with the story of Samuel Sommer, the son of Rabbis Phyllis and Miehael Sommer. Phyllis Sommer serves Am Shalom in Gleneoe, IE, and her husband has served Con * III I loiiiidiitiuli >. Conquer Kids' Cancer Rabbi Jonathan Freirich will say good-bye to his curls (temporarily) on April 1. gregation B’nai Torah in Highland Park, IE and North Shore Congre gation Israel. The Sommers had doeumented Sam’s battle with eaneer on their blog, “Superman Sam.” From the blog, there eame an outpouring of support from people all over the eountry who sympathized with Sam and his family. Rabbis aeross denomina tions prayed Mi Shebeiraeh for Sam’s reeovery. In Oetober 2013, Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and Rabbi Rebeeea Sehorr had the idea to organize a massive fundraiser, “36 Rabbis Shave for the Brave,” in whieh 36 rabbis would shave their heads, raising awareness of the reality that only 4% of United States fed eral funding for eaneer researeh is earmarked for all ehildhood ean eers. The initial fundraising goal for “Shave for the Brave” was $180,000, to fund pediatrie eaneer researeh. “We have surpassed our initial goal, but will not stop. Not now; not ever,” says Rabbi Re beeea Sehorr. Sam sueeumbed to leukemia in Deeember 2013. Rab bis of “Shave for the Brave” are banding together to help save other families from having to go through what the Sommers went through. “[We are] slightly meshugennah (“erazy” in Yid dish), but very devoted rabbis who are yearning to do something,” ex plains Sehorr. “We eouldn’t save Sammy; perhaps, though, we ean save others like him.” The “Shave for the Brave” event will take plaee at the CCAR Convention after a Loss and Mourning Serviee, led by Rabbi Rex Perimeter. St. Baldriek’s is a volunteer- driven, non-profit eharity that is eommitted to funding pediatrie eaneer researeh to find eures for ehildhood eaneers and to give sur vivors long and healthy lives. The group has helped organize thou sands of head-shaving events sinee 2000 and has raised millions of dollars for pediatrie eaneer re seareh. You ean visit www.st- baldrieks.org/partieipants/my- page/682150/2014 to make a donation to St. Baldriek’s in mem ory of Samuel Sommer. Ik mmmm.i':-. vsn IIB ns . na. ■■IS “ ill About the CCAR The Central Conferenee of Ameriean Rabbis, founded in 1889, is the oldest and largest rabbinie organization in North Ameriea. As the professional or ganization for Reform Rabbis of North Ameriea, the CCAR proj- eets a powerful voiee in the reli gious life of the Ameriean and international Jewish eommunities. Sinee its establishment, the CCAR has a rieh history of giving profes sional and personal support to Re form Rabbis, providing them with opportunities for study, profes sional development, and spiritual growth beginning while they are still in seminary, through mid-ea- reers, and into retirement. The CCAR is uniquely positioned to meet the ongoing needs of its nearly 2,000 member rabbis (vir tually the entire Reform rabbinate) and the entire Reform Jewish eommunity. For more information please visit the CCAR’s website at http://eeamet.org/. ^ t^Provid io (^elehrctie 25 Quarts Charlotte Jewish Preschool 25^"" ANNIVERSARY Create Uou^ewisn aii JOT a A BENEFICIARY AQBICY OF JEWISH^ FEDEMTION^ lour 704-944-6777 • cjpkids.org CJP Would Like to THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR MAKING OUR 25th Anniversary Party SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS: XL Events • Charlotte Sound 8c Visual Melanie Rowe Catering Eklispe Entertainment • Tapsnap Creative Events • Temple Israel Silent Auction Donors Dena Hurst • Summer Minchew • Rubina Batt Jodi Greenwald • Nathalie Freidlander • Andrea Hudson Elizabeth Wren • Shiri Rozenberg • Emily Osborne Levine Jewish Community Center • Heidi Kirschner Liz Greenhagen • Brian Siegel • Gary Stern • Caren Hill Will Pickett • Leroy Fox • Secret Chocolatier Custom Burp Clothes *Jill Coughlin Jessica Cohen • CJP Teachers CJP is a partnership of Tempie Beth Et, Tempte israet and Levine JCC
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