This is my third year attending Sharsheret’s annual Benefit.  The loving, accepting atmosphere envelops me as I walk in to the room.  It feels so familiar even though I only know a handful of people.I think back to May of 2011.  I was undergoing chemo.  The… Continue reading →

As all great adventures do, this one started on Facebook and a post by Rochelle Shoretz, the Founder of Sharsheret, about running the NYC Half Marathon. In an instant, when some of the best decisions are made, I hopped on the band wagon and said, “I should run in honor of my… Continue reading →

‘Will my insurance cover genetic counseling and testing What do I do if coverage is denied’Boy, if I had a penny for every time I heard these questions…It is well established that 1 in 40 individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry carries a BRCA mutation, predisposing them… Continue reading →

An article published yesterday in the Wall Street Journal highlights cancer survivorship care programs, not only as an emerging trend in the medical field, but as an essential accreditation standard for U.S. cancer centers by 2015, according to the Commission on Cancer. … Continue reading →

Today’s New York Times article outlining a proposed population-wide BRCA screening program in Israel notes Sharsheret’s work in genetics as part of a “campaign to raise awareness about the genetic susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer among Ashkenazi Jews.” … Continue reading →

In the year 175 B.C.E., it was forbidden to practice Judaism openly.  The Jewish people went to great lengths to secretly perform rituals, often times hidden in caves. People did not speak openly about their Jewish identities, that is, until a small militia of Maccabees stood… Continue reading →

“Because of Sharsheret, a woman living with a rare form of hereditary breast cancer finds a new friend who shares her concerns about talking to her teenage daughters.  Because of Sharsheret, a doctor connects his patients with resources that speak to her concerns as a… Continue reading →

There are certain moments in life that you can forever replay in your mind as if they just happened. One of these was the moment I found out my mother had cancer. I was nine years old and until then the only knowledge I had of the word “cancer” was from family members who… Continue reading →

Meet our incredible Team Sharsheret athletes who will be running the ING NYC Marathon on Sunday.  Click on each athlete’s name to read their stories and find out why they joined Team Sharsheret! Jonathan Blinken Sarah Feit Steven Gottlieb Daniella Kohlhagen Ilana… Continue reading →

Cancer gene panels were a hot topic at the recent National Society of Genetic Counselors conference in Anaheim, California. The annual educational conference is a chance for genetic counselors to learn about the latest developments in the field, discuss these developments as… Continue reading →

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York (JWFNY) visit to Sharsheret headquarters the other day just impressed us all.   We were there to learn about the latest and greatest idea coming out of this amazing organization, the Financial Wellness Took Kit, which is… Continue reading →

Sharsheret’s new video series, “One Woman At A Time”, showcases the stories of ten inspiring women who have used Sharsheret’s programs.  I named the series “One Woman At A Time” to honor how Sharsheret values the women involved in the organization’s national… Continue reading →

This past year, I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. My team of doctors prescribed chemotherapy and a dizzying array of tests and surgeries. As of this writing, my last surgery occurred a little over four months ago. There are moments when I think about what I’ve… Continue reading →

We are proud to announce that Sharsheret has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. America's premier charity evaluator, Charity Navigator works to advance a more efficient and responsive… Continue reading →

We know that 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews carry a BRCA gene mutation that increases the risk of developing breast cancer by approximately 80% and ovarian cancer by approximately 40%. However, approximately 25% of the world Jewish population is not Ashkenazi, and begs the question:… Continue reading →

Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled on a significant gene patenting case.  The issue before the Court was whether or not a company’s patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes could be upheld. The landmark ruling states that a gene is a naturally occurring product of nature,… Continue reading →

This morning, the Supreme Court rendered its decision in the gene patenting case, holding that “genes and the information they encode are not patent eligible under §101 [of The Patent Act] simply because they have been isolated from the surrounding genetic material.” … Continue reading →

National Cancer Survivors Day is on Sunday! Survivors in Sharsheret’s National Peer Support Network have shared when they considered themselves survivors.  Read their inspiring words below and join us in honoring all of the incredible women of Sharsheret. We would love to… Continue reading →

The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.  It is recorded that the people heard thunder and lightning, and clouds and smoke filled the air.  The experience was overbearing to the senses.  The children of Israel… Continue reading →

Finding a Mother’s Day gift for my wife Aviva is impossible. Let’s just say for her birthday in March, she got a sponge cake…that she made herself. The one reasonable gift I could get her is flowers, but she says she dislikes them because they’re expensive, die quickly,… Continue reading →