TEANECK, N.J. — As the year 2025 draws to a close, a poignant milestone looms over the American Jewish community and the national landscape of cancer support. It has been ten years since the passing of Rochelle Shoretz, the visionary founder of Sharsheret, an international non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer.
To mark this decade of loss and legacy, Shoretz’s sons, Shlomo and Dovid Mirsky, have issued a public appeal for the organization’s annual year-end campaign. Their message is more than a plea for funding; it is a reflection on how a grassroots initiative, born out of a young mother’s isolation, transformed into a global movement that now serves over 275,000 individuals annually.
The Genesis of a Movement: From Isolation to Connection
The story of Sharsheret—the Hebrew word for "chain"—began in 2001. At the time, Rochelle Shoretz was a 28-year-old high achiever, a graduate of Columbia Law School, and a former law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her life was defined by intellectual rigor and the joys of raising two young sons, Shlomo and Dovid, then aged 5 and 3.
Her world was upended by a diagnosis of breast cancer. In the early 2000s, cancer remained a deeply stigmatized topic within many segments of the Jewish community. Shoretz found herself in a vacuum of specific support. While general cancer resources existed, there were few places where a young Jewish woman could discuss the intersection of her illness with parenting young children, navigating religious life, and the unique genetic risks prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.
"Initially, Mom struggled to find someone in a similar situation," Shlomo and Dovid recalled in their recent address. "She needed someone who could relate to her concerns about parenting, career, religion, and just Jewish life with cancer."
The turning point came when Shoretz met Lauryn Weiser, another young Jewish mother who was slightly further along in her own treatment journey. That connection provided the emotional and practical blueprint for what Shoretz realized was missing in the healthcare system: a specialized peer-support network.
Shoretz famously began Sharsheret with just five women sitting around her dining room table. Her goal was simple but revolutionary: to ensure that no Jewish woman would have to face cancer alone.
A Chronology of Growth and Grief
The trajectory of Sharsheret over the last quarter-century is a testament to the scale of the need Shoretz identified.
- 2001: Sharsheret is founded in Teaneck, New Jersey. The organization initially focuses on peer-to-peer matching for young breast cancer survivors.
- 2003–2010: The organization expands its scope to include ovarian cancer and genetic counseling, specifically addressing the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are significantly more common in the Ashkenazi Jewish community.
- 2015: After a 14-year battle with the disease, Rochelle Shoretz passes away at the age of 42. Her death sparks a nationwide outpouring of grief and a renewed commitment to her mission.
- 2016–2024: Sharsheret experiences exponential growth, moving beyond local chapters to become a major player in national health policy, education, and advocacy. It establishes partnerships with major medical centers and national cancer institutes.
- 2025: On the 10th anniversary of Shoretz’s death, the organization reaches a milestone of serving 275,000 people per year, offering 15 national programs ranging from financial subsidies to mental health support.
For Shlomo and Dovid Mirsky, these years were marked by a duality of experience: watching their mother become a national hero while privately navigating the "difficult realities" of her treatments. They recall the "Busy Box"—a Sharsheret initiative designed to provide toys and activities for children of mothers in treatment—as a vital tool that helped them cope as children.
"She has missed so many milestones—from graduations to grandchildren to Sharsheret reaching incredible heights," the brothers stated. "Despite Mom’s passing, Sharsheret has continued to grow and develop to help so many people and families who desperately need it."
Supporting Data: The Impact of Culturally Competent Care
The necessity of Sharsheret is backed by sobering clinical data. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are ten times more likely to carry a BRCA gene mutation than the general population. This genetic predisposition significantly increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer at a younger age.
Sharsheret’s model of "culturally competent care" addresses the nuances that general healthcare providers might overlook:
- Genetic Counseling: Providing education on why testing is critical for both women and men in the Jewish community.
- Religious Navigation: Helping women balance treatment schedules with Shabbat and holidays, or discussing the implications of surgery on ritual practices like the Mikvah.
- Family Dynamics: Addressing the "sandwich generation" concerns—women caring for both young children and aging parents while undergoing chemotherapy.
Internal metrics from Sharsheret indicate that their intervention significantly reduces feelings of isolation. Their Peer Support Network has facilitated tens of thousands of matches, while their "Best Face Forward" program provides financial subsidies for non-medical services like wigs and cold caps, which are often not covered by insurance but are vital for a patient’s psychological well-being.
Official Responses and Community Leadership
The call to action by the Mirsky brothers has resonated throughout the non-profit sector. Elana Silber, the CEO of Sharsheret, has frequently spoken about the "living legacy" of Rochelle Shoretz.
"Rochelle didn’t just build an organization; she changed the culture of the Jewish community," says the leadership team at Sharsheret. "Before Sharsheret, people spoke about cancer in whispers. Today, we speak about it with a focus on proactive health, genetics, and unwavering community support."
Medical professionals have also noted the organization’s role in the broader healthcare ecosystem. Dr. Kenneth Offit, a leading expert in cancer genetics, has previously lauded Sharsheret for its role in translating complex genetic data into actionable community education. By bridging the gap between the lab and the living room, Sharsheret has effectively saved lives through early detection and preventative screenings.
The year-end campaign, titled "Carry Forward Our Mother’s Legacy," aims to secure the funding necessary to maintain these high-touch, personalized services. As a non-profit that does not charge for its services, Sharsheret relies heavily on private philanthropy to sustain its operations.
Implications for the Future of Cancer Support
The ten-year mark since Rochelle Shoretz’s passing serves as a critical inflection point for the organization. As Sharsheret looks toward the next decade, several key implications emerge:
1. The Globalization of Specialized Support
What began as a Jewish-specific resource is increasingly being used as a model for other ethnic and cultural groups. Sharsheret’s success demonstrates that "one-size-fits-all" support is often insufficient. Their model of addressing the "whole person"—including their heritage and faith—is now being studied by healthcare administrators worldwide.
2. The Evolution of Genetic Advocacy
With the rise of personalized medicine and affordable genomic sequencing, Sharsheret’s role in educating the public about BRCA and other hereditary cancers is more vital than ever. The organization is now expanding its outreach to include the "next generation"—young adults who must decide when and how to test for genetic markers.
3. Sustaining the "Dining Room Table" Ethos
As Sharsheret grows into a massive international entity, the challenge remains to maintain the intimacy that Shoretz fostered. The year-end appeal by Shlomo and Dovid Mirsky is a strategic effort to ground the organization’s massive scale in its original, personal mission. By reminding donors of the "two young boys" who were helped by a Busy Box, they humanize the data of 275,000 annual participants.
A Call to Action for the Next Generation
The Mirsky brothers concluded their appeal with a vision of a "healthier and brighter future for the next generation." Their message, timed with the celebration of Chanukah—the Festival of Lights—emphasizes the theme of bringing light into the darkest moments of a family’s life.
"We know that thanks to your generosity, Mom is looking down with pride," they wrote.
As Sharsheret enters its 25th year of operation and its 10th year without its founder, the "chain" Shoretz started remains unbroken. The organization continues to prove that while a diagnosis can be isolating, the community built around it can be a source of transformative strength.
For those looking to contribute to the legacy of Rochelle Shoretz and support the thousands of families currently navigating a cancer diagnosis, donations can be made through the official Sharsheret portal at link.Sharsheret.org/EOY.
About Sharsheret:
Sharsheret is a national non-profit organization improving the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer through personalized support and community education. Since its founding in 2001, Sharsheret has responded to more than 275,000 inquiries and remains the only organization of its kind in the United States.
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