March 2025 Newsletter
FROM DR. YAEL HALAAS
Presidents Greeting
Chag Sameach Chevra!
As we celebrate another Purim together, we are reminded of the struggles our people have faced in exile from our homeland, Israel. But through resilience, unity and thoughtful action, we persevere. This Purim, we unite again under the umbrella of the AJMA to represent our people.
To this end, AJMA board members, student representatives, and advisors met with a strategic planner to begin to develop the Key Pillars of our mission. We are planning a research study to better understand the landscape of antisemitism in healthcare and to further define these pillars and will share more information as our planning develops.
AJMA is dedicated to fighting antisemitism, education, fostering medical students and a supportive community for healthcare professionals.
In our battle against hatred of the Jewish people, the AJMA compiled over 80 pages of testimony for the Senate Judiciary committee who held the first Seante hearing on anti-semitism in early March. This confidential document outlined the breadth and depth of horrifying actions against the Jewish people. This opportunity expands the AJMA’s role in educating our congresspeople and builds on our work with the House Energy & Commerce Committee which is currently investigating UCSF, Gladstone and Columbia’s healthcare institutions.
Continuing our education and medical school efforts, the AJMA has developed curricular materials tailored for healthcare students.
Overall, this speaks to the absolute need for the AJMA to exist and for all our colleagues to join in the effort! We appreciate guidance from AAMC on piloting these materials for evaluation.”
In addition, this past month has seen the growth of our Latin Jewish subsection who have already began making significant inroads with our Latin American colleagues.
Remember that May is Jewish Heritage Month! Now is the time to ask your administrators to celebrate our culture and people. AJMA’s Jewish Heritage Month materials are factual and a beautiful way to celebrate the Jewish contribution to science and medicine throughout the millenia.
So Chag sameach everyone, and, as ever,
Am Yisrael Chai.
Yael
MICHELLE STRAVITZ
From the CEO
Hello to the AJMA Community!
Tonight starts the holiday of Purim, a reminder that …
One person who stands up to antisemitism can save a whole generation.
Thanks to AJMA, none of you has to stand alone. You have a large, strong, committed membership of Jewish healthcare professionals behind you. We have resources, guidance, and strength in our numbers and together we form a safe, enriching community with a unified voice.
I have no doubt that, B'yachad, together, we will prevail. As always, I am honored to work with all of you at this pivotal time in Jewish history.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Michelle
Growing AJMA Membership
Joining AJMA in March, Ellen Gurevich is spearheading AJMA's membership growth strategy. In her role, she is leading cross-channel member acquisition campaigns with a compelling brand message while creating member engagement, enhancing member experience, and developing communications to drive AJMA’s future growth.
Before joining AJMA, Ellen served as SVP of Marketing and Communications at IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), bringing extensive experience in nonprofit and association management. Previously, she held various leadership roles in marketing, product management and development, and partnerships at American Express. She also has a background in project management and commercial underwriting from her time at HSBC Bank USA.
Ellen holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Brandeis University.
Ellen Gurevich
Spread the Word
Invite Your Colleagues to Join AJMA
We need every voice and every Jewish medical professional in the U.S. to be a part of our vital community. Please copy and paste to share this message via text, WhatsApp, social media, or email to encourage all Jewish medical professionals in your network to join:
I want to personally invite you to join AJMA, the American Jewish Medical Association. AJMA was founded just over a year ago in response to the alarming rise of antisemitism directed at physicians, patients, and medical students.
This issue has reached unprecedented levels and has become a pervasive challenge that none of us can face alone. We need to view this as our first and most essential medical society, representing and protecting Jewish physicians, healthcare professionals, students, and patients.
Joining AJMA isn’t just another membership. It’s a critical necessity.
AJMA provides a powerful network, a community of like-minded peers, local chapters and events, webinars, special interest groups and forums, mentorship, and resources and legal support to those affected. Your dues go directly toward fighting antisemitism in medicine and offering meaningful programming.
We need the collective power and voice of all Jewish physicians and medical professionals to build advocacy at state and national levels and to create a national community of support. Please join us and be part of the solution. We need every voice.
Go to theajma.org/join and use discount code ONEVOICE for 10% off your first-year dues.
Let me know once you've joined, and please share this with every Jewish medical professional in your network.
Meet AJMA Head of Policy
Andrea Wolf is the founder of Uppermost Strategies, an advisory firm that helps launch new ventures in the education and healthcare spaces. She also co-founded Ellevate Health, an advisory firm focused on cutting-edge women's health ventures. Andrea currently serves as the Head of Policy for the American Jewish Medical Association.
Andrea began her career as an attorney and then became the Director of Public Policy for Girls Inc., a large afterschool nonprofit for low-income girls. She went on to become the CEO of the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, where she worked to pass laws related to insurance coverage and developed educational programs to democratize early-detection education among a wide swath of communities. Andrea graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Political Science and then received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. She currently serves on the board of the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School and on the Parent Advisory Council of the Chalres E. Smith Jewish Day School. She lives in Potomac, MD with her four daughters and husband.
Andrea Wolf
.jpg)
Jewish American Heritage Month
Get Ready to Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with AJMA!
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is coming up this May, and the AJMA student section is hosting a contest to see how YOU celebrate! This is your chance to showcase how your AJMA student club celebrates Jewish heritage in the month of May, get featured on AJMA’s Instagram, and win an exciting prize!
How to enter? Plan an event-big or small-like hosting a speaker, organizing an educational event, or leading a cultural activity.
Document it, post it on Instagram, and be sure to tag @americanjewishmedical and use #AJMAstudents in the caption to enter.
Start planning now. Entries are due by May 31st! Stay tuned for more details.
AJMA Missions to Israel!
Contact info@theajma.org for information
Medical Student
Mission to Israel
Medical student mission to Israel in conjunction with OU and Birthright. Trip will include volunteer opportunities and interactions with Israeli medical professionals and students at several medical centers across Israel.
June 16th-25th
APPLY HERE
Trauma Mission to Israel
This mission is designed for mental health professionals who are sympathetic to the plight of Israeli victims of October 7, 2023. The focus will be limited to understanding and supporting Israeli victims of terror and conflict. Participants will commit to attend the entire trauma mission program, and to become AJMA members.
June 17th-24th
APPLY HERE
APF and AJMA 2025 Solidarity Healthcare Mission to Israel
A delegation of healthcare professionals (and other interested parties) traveling to Israel to understand and support the humanitarian efforts being implemented to restore the security and safety of Israeli society, with a focus on healthcare services. Medical professionals will be eligible for CME.
June 6th-10th
APPLY LEARN MORE HERE
AJMA Jewish Voice of Health
In Episode 8 of "The Jewish Voice of Health" podcast, hosted by Dr. Robert Belfer, Rabbi Gideon Black shares his deeply personal narrative titled "The Terrorist Who Murdered My Cousin Now Walks Free." This episode, released on February 27, 2025, delves into the tragic events of 2002 when Rabbi Black's cousin, Yoni Jesner, was killed in a Hamas suicide bombing in Tel Aviv-a bombing that Rabbi Black narrowly survived.
D’Var Torah
Queen Esther: Strong as Steel but Iron Deficient
By: Leonard J. Hoenig, MD
The Megillah we read on Purim is named after Queen Esther, the heroine whose fortitude and courage helped to defeat the wicked Haman. According to the Megillah, Esther was called by two names: Esther and Hadassah (Esther 2:7).
According to the Talmud (Megillah 13a), Rabbi Yehudah explains that she was called Esther because she used to conceal (“masteret” in Hebrew) the facts about her Jewish origins. Rabbi Nechemyah states that she was called Esther because the nations of the world called her after the moon (“Astahar” in Aramaic), due to her beauty.
Rabbi Meir says she was called Hadassah after the designation of the righteous that are
called myrtles (“hadassim” in Hebrew) as in Zechariah 1:8. Ben Azzai says Esther was called
Hadassah because, like a myrtle, she was of perfect height, neither tall nor short. Finally, Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Korchah says Esther was called Hadassah because she was of greenish complexion, like a myrtle, yet she was endowed with a touch of grace that made her appear beautiful to everyone.
There is a fascinating medical condition, rarely seen nowadays, called chlorosis or “green sickness”, that once was commonly observed by European physicians in past times, especially during the 16th through the 19th centuries. Chlorosis typically occurred in young women afflicted by iron deficiency anemia and was characterized by a greenish discoloration of the skin. Queen Esther may have suffered from this condition.
During the 20th century, chlorosis disappeared as a clinical feature of iron deficiency anemia, perhaps because iron deficiency was more readily diagnosed and treated than before. In 2006, the first case of chlorosis in 70 years was reported in a 9 year old girl. A striking photograph of the patient with her greenish skin can be seen in the article. Her skin condition resolved with iron therapy (1).
And so, on Purim, we remember the heroism and courage of Queen Esther, as immortalized by the Megillah that bears her name. The name Hadassah graces the facades of renown hospitals in Jerusalem as well as a famous women’s Zionist organization.
The name Hadassah also captures Queen Esther’s beauty, righteousness, and charm. It reminds us of Queen Esther’s startling greenish complexion that in all likelihood was caused by one of the most common disorders in the world today: iron deficiency anemia.
Happy Purim!
Reference
Perdahl-Wallace E, Schwartz RH. A girl with green complexion and iron deficiency:
chlorosis revisited. Clin Pediatr 2006;45:187-189.
The Ellie Goldenberg z”l Speaker Series
The AJMA is pleased to announce the March 2025 launch of the 2025 Ellie Goldenberg z”l Speaker Series named in memory of Ellie Goldenberg, z”l whose voice inspires us all.
Ellie graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami’s prestigious bachelor of fine arts program just one day before her passing. She was the only student in her class to be awarded the Friends of the Theatre Award by the program.
An accomplished actor and singer, Ellie Goldenberg showed early promise as a performer while a young student at Beth T’filoh Dahan school in Baltimore. By the end of high school Ellie had performed in at least 23 productions, many of which she starred in.
She also performed in community theatre. After high school, she traveled to Israel for a gap year, working with underserved immigrant populations and victims of domestic abuse.
In addition to her musical and theatrical gifts, Ellie was known for her passion, dedication, loyalty and work ethic. “Ellie cared about those she loved like no other,” he said. “She did all she could for you when you were sad, cheered you on when you succeeded and, most importantly, pushed you to be your very best self.” “Ellie was always singing,” “She would sing when she was happy, when she was sad and when she was angry. When Ellie sang, we would stop whatever we were doing to listen. Ellie did everything with purpose and determination and with all her heart.”
The Ellie Goldenberg z”l Speaker Series will launch on March 20, 2025 at our Boston area event with featured speaker Dr. David Goldenberg who will present information on The History of Antisemitism.
For more information on scheduling a speaker in your area, please contact our Speaker Series Committee Chairs, Aliza Machefsky amachefsky@gmail.com or Hedy Wald hedy_wald@brown.edu.
Support AJMA
All donations fund AJMA's vital work, ensuring that Jewish healthcare professionals can uphold their personal and professional commitment to healing and Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Your generous donation will help us achieve our mission to be a safe, enriching community with a unified voice for all Jewish healthcare workers.
The American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA) is proud to be a recognized 501(c)(3) non profit corporation. Donations made to AJMA are tax-deductible by the donor.