By [Your News Name] Health & Culture Desk
September 20, 2025
As the Jewish calendar turns toward the year 5786, the familiar scents of autumn and the symbolic preparations for Rosh Hashanah begin to permeate households across the globe. For many, the transition into the New Year is marked by the ritual of dipping apples into honey—a physical manifestation of the hope for a "sweet and fruitful" year ahead. However, for those navigating the harrowing landscape of a cancer diagnosis, these traditions often carry a weight that transcends the culinary.
In a recently published reflection, Shera Dubitsky, a Senior Advisor at Sharsheret—the leading national non-profit organization supporting Jewish women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer—delves into the complex emotional architecture of the High Holidays. Dubitsky’s insights highlight a growing movement within the healthcare and communal support sectors: the need to move beyond "sugar-coating" the patient experience and instead embrace a more profound, soul-centric resilience.
Main Facts: The Intersection of Tradition and Trauma
The High Holidays, encompassing Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), are the most significant dates on the Jewish liturgical calendar. Central to these observances are themes of introspection, mortality, and renewal. For the thousands of individuals currently undergoing treatment for breast or ovarian cancer, these themes are not merely theological abstractions but daily realities.
The core of the holiday’s symbolic diet—the apple and the honey—serves as a starting point for Dubitsky’s analysis. Traditionally, the apple is viewed as a symbol of the "tenacity of the Jewish spirit." Historically, Jewish scholars have noted that the apple tree protects its fruit even in harsh conditions, mirroring the determination of a people who have survived centuries of upheaval. The honey, conversely, represents the desire for a "sweet" year—defined as peaceful, protected, and enjoyable.
However, for a patient facing chemotherapy, radiation, or the aftermath of a mastectomy, the disconnect between the "sweetness" of the ritual and the bitterness of their physical reality can be jarring. Sharsheret reports that during the holiday season, requests for emotional support and counseling spike as patients grapple with the "Happy New Year" expectations of their communities while managing the "fatigue, stress, and fear" inherent in their diagnosis.
Chronology of the Holiday Experience: From Preparation to Prayer
The emotional journey of a cancer patient during the High Holidays typically follows a chronological progression that mirrors the holiday’s timeline, each stage presenting its own set of unique hurdles.
The Pre-Holiday Burden: Logistics and Delegation
In the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the focus is often on domestic preparation. For many women, who historically take the lead in organizing large family meals and hosting guests, the physical toll of cancer makes these tasks insurmountable.
"Having to shop and prepare meals for the holiday may be overwhelming," Dubitsky notes. The act of delegating these tasks—while necessary—often serves as a painful reminder of the loss of autonomy. What used to be a source of pride and communal connection becomes a logistical battleground, forcing patients to confront their physical limitations before the holiday has even begun.
The Synagogue Experience: The Liturgy of Mortality
The peak of the holiday’s emotional intensity often occurs during the synagogue services. One of the most haunting prayers in the High Holiday liturgy is the Unetanneh Tokef, which contains the lines: "Who shall live and who shall die? Who by fire and who by water? Who by sword and who by beast?"
For a healthy individual, these words are a call to repentance. For a cancer survivor or someone in active treatment, they are a "trigger." The existential uncertainty of the prayer mirrors the uncertainty of a biopsy result or a scan. The communal setting, while intended to be supportive, can often feel isolating when one is surrounded by families who seem untouched by the specter of illness.
The Social Performance: The "Happy Face"
Following the services, the tradition of gathering with family and friends introduces the burden of the "social performance." Dubitsky highlights the immense energy required to "put on a happy face" when feeling internal exhaustion. The societal pressure to appear optimistic—often referred to as "toxic positivity"—can prevent patients from expressing their true emotional state, leading to further isolation.
Supporting Data: The High Stakes of Cancer in the Jewish Community
The psychological challenges outlined by Sharsheret are backed by significant clinical and demographic data. The Jewish community, particularly those of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) descent, faces a disproportionately high risk for certain hereditary cancers.
- Genetic Predisposition: Statistics show that 1 in 40 individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation—nearly ten times the rate of the general population. This mutation significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
- Psychological Impact of the Holidays: A study published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology indicates that cancer patients experience a 30% increase in reported anxiety and depressive symptoms during major cultural or religious holidays. The "holiday blues" are exacerbated by the contrast between communal celebration and personal suffering.
- The Role of Support Systems: Data from Sharsheret suggests that patients who engage in "reframing" exercises—shifting focus from physical outcomes to spiritual or emotional resilience—report higher scores on quality-of-life assessments.
Official Responses: Reimagining the Ritual
In response to these challenges, health advocates and spiritual leaders are advocating for a shift in how the community approaches the holidays. The goal is not to ignore the cancer, but to integrate it into a broader narrative of resilience.
Shera Dubitsky argues that instead of trying to "honey coat" a difficult experience, patients should be encouraged to "reframe" the tradition. This involves looking at the apple and honey not just as a wish for a better future, but as a reminder of the "precious, enjoyable, serene, and secure" elements of life that remain untouched by disease.
"Perhaps this is the time to reframe this tradition," Dubitsky suggests. "To not only see this practice for what you want for the New Year, but rather as a reminder of everything you hold precious… that cancer and treatment can never touch."
This sentiment is echoed by those on the front lines of the battle. One Sharsheret caller shared a perspective that has become a cornerstone of the organization’s philosophy: "Even though I can’t keep cancer from invading my body, one thing I have come to realize is this: Cancer can’t touch my soul."
Medical professionals also emphasize the importance of emotional honesty. Dr. Adina Rosenbaum, a clinical psychologist specializing in oncology, notes, "Allowing both tears and laughter to flow equally and freely is therapeutic. We often tell patients they must be ‘warriors’ and remain positive, but the true strength lies in acknowledging the grief of the diagnosis while still dipping the apple in the honey."
Implications: A New Paradigm for Communal Support
The insights provided by Dubitsky and Sharsheret have broader implications for how religious and communal organizations support their members. As the medical community moves toward a more holistic "whole-person" approach to oncology, the role of cultural and spiritual reframing becomes essential.
1. Moving Beyond "The Cure"
The emphasis on the "soul" over the "body" allows for a definition of wellness that is not dependent on a clean scan. While the ultimate goal is always remission, the "sweetness" of the New Year can be found in the quality of connections, the depth of one’s spirit, and the tenacity of one’s resolve. This paradigm shift is crucial for those living with metastatic or chronic forms of cancer.
2. Communal Sensitivity
For the wider community, the message is one of sensitivity. Recognizing that the High Holidays can be a "trigger" allows friends and family members to offer more nuanced support. Instead of asking, "Are you feeling better?" or "Are you cancer-free?", supporters are encouraged to ask, "How are you holding up during the services?" or "Can I take the lead on the holiday meal this year?"
3. The Power of Vulnerability
The final implication of Dubitsky’s reflection is the validation of the "un-sweet" parts of the journey. By acknowledging that the holidays are difficult, organizations like Sharsheret give patients permission to be vulnerable. This vulnerability, paradoxically, is what fuels the "tenacity" represented by the apple.
Conclusion: A Spirit Unbroken
As the shofar sounds to usher in the New Year, the message from the heart of the cancer support community is clear: The honey may not always be able to mask the bitterness of the treatment, but it can serve as a potent symbol of a spirit that remains unyielding.
The apple remains a testament to Jewish tenacity—a fruit that grows in the face of the wind. For those facing cancer, the New Year is not just a time for "sugar-coated" wishes, but a time to reaffirm that while the body may be under siege, the soul remains a sanctuary of peace and light.
In the words of Shera Dubitsky, the goal is to allow the "cleansing and renewal of spirit" to take precedence. Whether through tears of grief or laughter of defiance, the resilience of the individual remains the true "sweetness" of the season.
Wishing the entire community a year of health, strength, and an unbreakable spirit.
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