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Presidents’ Message At every board meeting, we determine how much money we can send to National Hadassah and more specifically, how we would like the money to be used. Most often we designate our funds to Hadassah Medical Organization, or HMO. In this way, our funds are used to help finance the phenomenal medical research that is conducted in the labs of Hadassah Hospital and shared throughout the world. We have often featured the marvelous breakthroughs in medical science that have been made by HMO that benefit those in Israel, us in the United States, and people worldwide at our meetings. Here is one of the most recent areas of research which is of concern to all of us.
Hadassah Dedicates New Lab To Defeat Zika Virus!
Prof. Dana Wolf, head of the Clinical Virology Unit in the Dept. of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Hadassah Medical Center, is a world-renowned specialist in viruses and the damage they can cause to unborn babies. Responding to global anxiety about the Zika virus, Prof. Wolf and her staff recently opened a new laboratory dedicated to defeating it. The Zika virus, she says, “is dangerous in the interface between mother and unborn child.”
According to Prof. Wolf, Zika, like Rubella, can cause a variety of serious birth defects. Rubella, however, once a threatening virus that plagued the Western world, has now been taken care of through vaccina-tion. The two viruses differ, though, in that unlike Rubella, Zika is transmitted by mosquitoes, like the Dengue virus. Dengue, however, though in the same family as Zika, is not associated with birth defects.
Volume 6, Issue 2 May 2016/Nisan/Iyar 5776
Southern New Jersey Region
© Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
HAMSA The Hand of Miriam
HADASSAH AT STONEBRIDGE
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Hadassah, under the direction of Prof. Benjamin Reubinoff, head of its Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center, has been conducting research on a more dangerous virus called cytomegalovirus (CVM), which remains in our bodies forever. Hadassah research has revealed the attack pattern of the virus, which strikes the fetus just as nerve cells are being developed. Prof. Wolf and her staff will apply the tools to Zika that were developed by Hadassah to study CMV. "We have had so many requests for help that we decided to work on this," said Prof. Wolf, who reports that Hadassah received the virus for research from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This is only one example of where the money we work so hard to raise -- goes! Some other headlines from HMO…… Hadassah Discovers Rare Blood Disorder & Cures it as Well Clinical Trials at Hadassah Hospital for New ALS Treatment Very Encouraging Hadassah-Developed Blood Test Detects Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer & Brain Damage We look forward to sharing these and other achievements of Hadassah with you on a regular basis. For current up-to-date HMO news you can google, Hadassah Medical News or check out the Hadassah website at: http://www.hadassah.org/myhadassah/
Hadassah the Women Who Do … would like to include you! Have you just retired or just returned from a season in Florida and have some extra time on your hands? Perhaps, this is the best time for you to become a bit more active, get more involved, and participate a little more in our ongoing effort of DOING. It is easy … just come to a meeting or check your emails to learn about all that is happening. Even better, sign up for a committee and get to know us better. If you are already involved, know how much you are truly, truly appreciated!
Susan Pomerantz and Karen Hyman Co-Presidents
CARDS, TREES, AND CERTIFICATES
Hadassah cards are for more than simchas and sympathy. We have cards for all occasions; births, birthdays, anniversaries, and get well.
We also have a new blank card which can be customized. For example,
“Welcome to Stonebridge” or “Congratulations on Your Retirement.” We also have lovely note cards. If you want to plant a tree in Israel,
there is a certificate for that as well. The tree certificate is $18.
If we address and mail your card, the cost is $5. If you wish to mail
and address the cards yourself, the cost is 5 cards for $20. To order cards or certificates, please contact:
Michele Greenfield 609-655-5193 [email protected]
Andrea Lasker 609-655-4069 [email protected]
No calls on Shabbat Please
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GIRLS NIGHT OUT
IS COMING SOON!!!
JOIN US JULY 12TH
Celebrate your Simcha
Become a Simcha Sponsor for our General Meetings
Your donation will help defray the hospitality costs at our
general meetings
Contact Gay Kassan or Roberta Neutuch
Refund Policy
A Wait List will be kept for all paid
events that have limited space. A reservation that is cancelled will be
filled by the next person on the wait list. Reimbursement will be
made directly to you by the
person who replaces you.
We cannot refund your money if we are unable to fill your space.
Calling All Bakers! We NEED Your Help!
JOIN OUR NEWLY FORMED BAKING COMMITTEE
CALL KAREN SULZMAN (609-395-8354) FOR DETAILS
DO YOU BAKE?
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May 3 - Tuesday, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon - Lecture Series with Rabbi Adena Blum in the Stonebridge Theater; registration closed. May 3 - Tuesday, 7:00 pm - General Meeting - Sandy Rubenstein, educator and daughter of a Holocaust survivor, will share her father’s story as told in his memoir, Mark It With A Stone. RSVP to Roberta Neutuch, [email protected]
May 11 - Wednesday - Hadassah Southern NJ Region’s full-day Education Symposium at the Forsgate Country Club. Save the Date and mark your calendars now - this is an event not to be missed!
May 12 - Thursday - Bronx Tour - Once again we will be escorted to the insider’s spots with renowned tour guide, Art Zuckerman, as he takes us through “The Bronx” - sign-up in progress.
May 17 - Tuesday, 7:30 pm - Membership Tea for new and prospective members. Please contact Membership VP’s Judy Freilich or Barbara Levine if you know someone who should be invited.
June 6 - Monday - Hadassah Southern NJ Region’s full-day Golf Outing at the Battleground Country Club - Save the Date. This event is sponsored by our Region's Associates and all funds raised will support men's health research at Hadassah Medical Organization. Both men and women are invited to participate. Look for future details and sign-up. June 7 - Tuesday, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon - Lecture Series with Rabbi Adena Blum - in the Stonebridge Theater. Details to follow. June 7 - Tuesday, 7:30 pm - Author Event: Nationally known news correspondent and author, Martin Fletcher (his new book, The War Reporter) is our guest speaker and will present “From Fact to Fiction.” This event, held at the Monroe Township Senior Center, is open to the public, so please bring spouses, significant others, family, and friends. Checks payable to “Hadassah” at $18 per person and the registration tear-off should be left in the Stonebridge Clubhouse Hadassah Mailbox. Registration ongoing. June 23 - Thursday, 7:00 pm - Book Discussion - Saving Sophie by Ronald Balson. Please RSVP to Patty Winetz, [email protected]. Discussion groups will be assigned at a later date. July 12 - Tuesday, 6:30 pm - Girls Night Out - Save the Date - details coming soon. August 2 - Tuesday, 7:00 pm - Annual Summer Social - Save the Date - details coming soon.
Ongoing Outreach Projects:
Knit Witz - New projects are being started. Contact Shirley Zuk, ([email protected]) if you would like to join the corps of knitters. Magazine Collection - Magazines (no more than 3 months old) will be distributed to local nursing homes and medical facilities. Please continue to save your magazines for the next collection dates: May 23 - June 2
All General Meetings are held at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road
Hadassah members from all chapters are welcome to General Meetings, Non-Member Guest fee: $5.00 Study groups and certain events are for Stonebridge members only, except where noted
Heads Up! Save These Dates
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Membership News Judy Freilich and Barbara Levine Membership Co-Vice Presidents
We would like to welcome the following women to Hadassah at Stonebridge. They have become part of our chapter since the last quarterly publication of Hamsa. Our newest members include: Bonnie Brenner (new Life Member), Sandra Flicksteinn, Carin Finando, Stacey Goldman, Candy Wachtel, and Barbara Premisler (Life Member transfer from the Marlboro Chapter). We welcome you to Hadassah at Stonebridge and look forward to seeing you at the meeting on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:00 pm.
In addition, the following women have upgraded from annual to Life Membership: Marlene Diamond, Renee Leffler, Alice Snow, and Connie Zaref.
Life Membership is currently $212.00, but...Current 2015 members can upgrade to Life Membership for $180.00 when they renew on or before their 2016 expiration date. Call Judy or Barbara for more details and information.
And - Save the Date - Annual Summer Social - Tuesday, August 2nd
Programming/Outreach News
Roberta Neutuch and Gay Kassan Programming/Outreach Co-Vice Presidents We must be doing something right - attendance at our meetings keeps growing! Our meetings are perfect for mingling with neighbors, hearing the latest Hadassah happenings, and enjoying our programs.
Here’s a brief recap of the past three months’ programs: Jordan Feldman of Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare spoke about enhancing our memories; Rabbi Dinerstein-Kurs presented an intriguing program about the Jews of the Inquisition and where they are now; and April was topped off with a fabulous presentation by Larry Wolfert on Comedians of the 20th Century; we couldn’t stop laughing!
Mark your calendar to attend our upcoming program on Tuesday, May 3rd, 7 pm, at the Monroe Township Senior Center. In recognition of Yom HaShoah, Sandy Friedman will share her father’s story, as told in his memoir, Mark It With A Stone.
Our meetings would not be complete without the assistance of our Hospitality Committee. They help purchase and set up our refreshments and light snacks. New volunteers are always welcome - please call us!
Outreach Projects:
Passover Food Collection - What a success! A huge carload of food was delivered to Jewish Family Services. In addition to your generosity in donating Passover food, a number of volunteers assisted with delivery. Thank you to our team: Karen Slater, Judy Rubenstein, Cindy Block, and Carol Kallman. Knit Witz - Chaired by Shirley Zuk. This dedicated group of knitters spends countless hours knitting baby hats and blankets for distribution to local hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing facilities and Ronald McDonald House. Contact Shirley, [email protected] to get involved.
Magazine Collection -- This program, led by Maxine Stearn and Ann Steinberg, recently collected over 200 magazines that you donated. The magazines were delivered to local hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes. Please continue to hold onto your magazines (no more than 3 months old) for this quarterly project. Our next magazine collection will be May 23 - June 2.
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Mitzvah News – Announced at our General Meetings:
Patty Winetz: on the birth of her grandson, Asher Henry Sharon Cohen: on the B’nai Mitzvah of her grandchildren - Shayna, Jenna, Alyson, and Sam Cohen Judy Neuman: on the birth of her granddaughter, Stella Drew Neuman
Celebrate Your Mitzvah with Us! What better way to celebrate your mitzvah than to share the news with your Hadassah at Stonebridge family! Just sponsor the refreshments at one of our general meetings, and an announcement will be made in recognition of your mitzvah. To schedule your sponsorship, please contact Roberta Neutuch, [email protected].
Fundraising Anne Hausman, Doris Entin and Sheila Hertz Fundraising Co-Vice Presidents
Game Night on February 25th at the Monroe Township Senior Center provided a fun night for our members and guests, who began the evening with a delicious light supper, followed by games of Mah jongg, Canasta, Scrabble and Sequence -- enjoyed by all. Karen Sulzman, who chaired the event, put together a group of women who baked some tempting and fantastic desserts. Stonebridge Hadassah proudly announces that our first Shalach Manot Project was a great success! With the creative abilities of Barbara Sambol, Joyce Gorsky, Joyce Hoenig, and Marlene Diamond, everyone who participated was able to be part of the mitzvah of giving gifts for Purim. The beautiful packages were enjoyed by all. The total profit for our chapter was $787. On April 27th “Asher Lev” at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick sold out very quickly. With lunches out prior to the curtain rising, more than 40 women had the opportunity to mingle with friends. Thank you to Phyllis Weisblum for organizing this day out. We are concluding our campaign to sell VISA Raffle books. This major fundrasing event provides money for HMO. The final tally of this event will be completed the first week in May. At this point, we have already surpassed last year's campaign by hundreds of dollars. Congratulations to all who participated for a job well done! Our next anticipated public event will be June 7th for our annual Author Event. Be part of the audience at the Monroe Senior Center as Martin Fletcher, renowned war correspondent and author, takes the stage and speaks to us about his illustrious career and his most recent book, the “War Reporter” - and look for signed copies of his book, available for sale that evening. Coffee, tea, and luscious desserts prepared by our “own committee of bakers” organized by Karen Sulzman, will be served. This event is open to the public, so please invite spouses, friends, and family to join us. Checks (made out to “Hadassah” for $18 a person) can be left in our new Hadassah mailbox located in the Stonebridge Clubhouse lobby. The May 12th Bronx Trip is almost full. Come join us as we travel to the Bronx and go down memory lane. Art Zuckerman, who last year took us on a fabulous Nosh Tour of Brooklyn, is leading us again. Bring home some treats from Arthur Avenue and don't forget to take pictures -- the Hebrew Home located in Riverdale, is a sight not to be missed. Check the flyer for the full schedule.
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On June 16th Tzofim will be back at the Senior Center. A small group of highly talented Israeli Scouts will entertain us. This is a joint project presented by Congregation Bet Shalom and the other Hadassah chapters located in Monroe. Watch for a sign-up flyer with further information. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, July 12th and Save the Date for a very special evening in the works. Our third annual Girl's Night Out will include food, fun and BYOB. Watch for the flyer, this will be an event you will not want to miss! Save the Date for our very first Sunday Brunch at the Stonebridge Clubhouse, on October 16th -- Shelly Strickler, a multi-award winning broadcast journalist who has worked for more than a quarter century for WOR radio, will be our speaker. Make sure you do not miss this event that will include spouses, significant others, and friends. Our Work Out with Hadassah has been postponed until October 28th. Princeton Fitness will be offering the latest in classes to our members. The number of classes will be determined by the enrollment of participants. Stay tuned for further information in the next few months.
If you would like to work with us on the Fundraising Committee or assist with any of these events, please contact us at [email protected]. Without your help, we can’t Put the Fun Back in Fundraising!
Education News
Patty Winetz and Gay Kassan Education, Co-Vice Presidents
The education committee has run some wonderful programs the last few months. On March 5th, over ninety people joined together to celebrate Saturday Evening Havdalah with a beautiful creative service followed by an evening of music and desserts at the Freehold Jewish Center.
The March 24th book discussion had 42 women in attendance for a thought provoking look at All I Love and Know by Judith Frank. This novel combines the experience of being gay and Jewish with grief, and the political Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Our film festival continued on April 13th with the screening of “Crossing Delancey” for 55 people. The film tells the story of Isabella (Amy Irving), a Jewish girl from NY, in her early 30’s, who works for a literary bookstore. To please Bubbie, Isabella agrees to dinner with the matchmaker and the pickle man (Peter Riegert). She’s an uptown girl and this match does not fit in with her current life style. It is warm and amusing and led to an interesting discussion after the viewing, facilitated by Ilene Karp.
On May 5th, Rabbi Adena Blum led a fascinating discussion on The Wild and Wicked Women in the Bible. This session was filled to capacity, but Rabbi Blum will be returning for a second lecture on June 7th at 10:00AM, more details will be coming soon.
Mark your calendars for our June 23rd book discussion at 7:00PM. Our novel will be Saving Sophie by Ronald Balson. We need volunteers to facilitate and host this event. Please RSVP to Patty Winetz, [email protected]
Cards, Certificates, and Trees
To order, call or email Michele Greenfield or Andrea Lasker
9 am - 10 pm, Mon - Thurs 10 am - 4 pm - Friday
No calls on Shabbat Please
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Hadassah at Stonebridge Presents
Renowned NBC Foreign News Correspondent and Author
Martin Fletcher “From Fact to Fiction”
Author of “The War Reporter”
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Dessert and Coffee Served
Monroe Township Senior Center 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township, NJ
Checks payable to “Hadassah” for $18 per person by May 30th
Open to the public: Men, Women, Non-Members Welcome
Signed books will be available for purchase
Please leave checks in the Stonebridge Clubhouse Mailbox - sorry no refunds
Proceeds will benefit Hadassah Youth Aliyah
Name(s) __________________________________________________
Phone #_____________________ email address__________________
#of people attending @ $18 per person ________ total $_______
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Hadassah-Developed Blood Test Detects Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer & Brain Damage Monday, April 4, 2016 www.hadassah.org | News & Stories
A new blood test that uses the DNA strands of dying cells to detect diabetes, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative disease has been developed by researchers at Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) and The Hebrew University.
In a study involving 320 patients, the researchers were able to infer cell death in specific tissues by looking at the unique chemical modifications (called methylation patterns) of circulating DNA that these dying cells release. Previously, it had not been possible to measure cell death in specific human tissues non-invasively.
The findings are reported in the March 14, 2016 online edition of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, in an article entitled “Identification of tissue specific cell death using methylation patterns of circulating DNA.” Prof. Benjamin Glaser, head of Endocrinology at Hadassah, and Dr. Ruth Shemer and Prof. Yuval Dor from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem led an international team in performing the groundbreaking research.
Cell death is a central feature in health and disease. It can signify the early stages of pathology (e.g. a developing tumor or the beginning of an autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease); it can illuminate whether a disease has progressed and whether a particular treatment, such as chemotherapy, is working; and it can alert physicians to unintended toxic effects of treatment or the early rejection of a transplant.
As the researchers relate: “The approach can be adapted to identify cfDNA (cell-free circulating DNA) derived from any cell type in the body, offering a minimally invasive window for diagnosing and monitoring a broad spectrum of human pathologies as well as providing a better understanding of normal tissue dynamics.”
"In the long run,” notes Prof. Glaser, “we envision a new type of blood test aimed at the sensitive detection of tissue damage, even without a-priori suspicion of disease in a specific organ. We believe that such a tool will have broad utility in diagnostic medicine and in the study of human biology."
The research was performed by Hebrew University students Roni Lehmann-Werman, Daniel Neiman, Hai Zemmour, Joshua Moss and Judith Magenheim, aided by clinicians and scientists from Hadassah Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, and from institutions in Germany, Sweden, the USA and Canada, who provided precious blood samples from patients.
Scientists have known for decades that dying cells release fragmented DNA into the blood; however, since the DNA sequence of all cells in the body is identical, it had not been possible to determine the tissue of origin of the circulating DNA. Knowing that the DNA of each cell type carries a unique methylation and that methylation patterns of DNA account for the identity of cells, the researchers were able to use patterns of methylated DNA sequences as biomarkers to detect the origin of the DNA and to identify a specific pathology. For example, they were able to detect evidence of pancreatic beta-cell death in the blood of patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes, oligodendrocyte cell death in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, brain cell death in patients after traumatic or ischemic brain damage, and exocrine pancreatic tissue cell death in patients with pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
Support for the research came from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Human Islet Research Network of the National Institutes of Health, the Sir Zalman Cowen Universities Fund, the DFG (a Trilateral German-Israel-Palestine program), and the Soyka pancreatic cancer fund.
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Hadassah at Stonebridge Officers and Board Members
January - December 2016
Co-Presidents Executive Vice President Susan Pomerantz Lynn Bender Karen Hyman
Membership, Co-VPs Membership Committee Judy Freilich Helene Cohen, Sharon Cohen, Michele Greenfield Barbara Levine
Fundraising, Co-VPs Fundraising Committee: Anne Hausman Ellen Adelson, Roz Blinder, Jane Bloom, Mollie Brod, Phyllis Doris Entin Cossin, Jane Cutler, Marlene Diamond, Flo Emin, Marsha Fais, Sheila Hertz Ruth Fagin, Lisa Fischer, Sally Goldstein, Joyce Gorsky, Michelle Greenfield, Joyce Honig, Andrea Lasker, Renee Leffler, Melanie Margolis, Barbara Sambol, Karen Sulzman, Edie Vigdor
Education and Study Education & Study Groups Committee
Groups, Co-VPs Irene Baden, Roz Blinder, Flo Emin, Judy Freilich, Sheila Hertz, Patty Winetz Susan Klein, Barbara Levine, Vivian Newmark, Susan Pomerantz, Barbara Nalitt Bobbie Schwartzberg, Judy Spiegel
Programming/Outreach, Co-VPs Programs & Community Outreach Committee Roberta Neutuch Cindy Block, Anita Gore, Carol Kallman, Sylvia Lynn, Nancy Gay Kassan Mayrowetz, Judy Rubenstein, Lynn Schutzberg, Karen Slater, Maxine Stearn, Ann Steinberg, Marion Weitz
Communications, Co-VPs Communications Committee: Gloria Meyer Helene Cohen, Sharon Cohen Ellen Adelson
Co-Treasurers Historian: Diane Needelman Irene Baden Cindy Block
Recording Secretary Past President: Lisa Fischer Rhoda Cutler
Corresponding Secretary Bobbi Schwartzberg
Board Members at Large Helene Cohen Sharon Cohen Bea Grossberg Betty Henkel Andi Mitzner Edie Vigdor
Founding Co-Presidents Emeriti: Glenda Beller and Suzy Klein-Eisner
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HAMSA
Gloria Meyer Ellen Adelson
Co-Editors
HADASSAH, THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA, INC.2015 ©2015 Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah is a registered trademark of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
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The news coming out of Israel may give some people (including you!) some pause when it comes to considering a Mission to Israel, but as Marcie Natan, Hadassah National President has said:
“There is no time more important to visit than when Israel feels vulnerable and isolated. That time is now. Coming on a mission, you will be taken as a group, with appropriate security and mission operators who understand where it is safe and appropriate to go. The hotels here, I am proud to say, are buzzing with missions and now the Jewish Agency participants. Supporting Israel through advocacy and financial support for HMO is also critical, but coming now is a unique opportunity and a true expression of our Zionism.”
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SAVE THE DATE
HADASSAH 98TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
JULY 25 – 28, 2016
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS, GO TO:
http://www.hadassah.org/hadassah-national-convention.html
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