As we prepared to share and publish the May newsletter, we learned of the tragedy of the evening of May 21, 2025.
We are heartbroken and shaken by the shooting that occurred at the American Jewish Committee’s event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. Our thoughts are with all those directly affected, especially the families of Sarah Milgrim z”l and Yaron Lischinsky z”l, and we pray for healing, safety, and peace.
In moments like this, when violence strikes our Jewish community, we know how vital it is to come together, to hold one another in strength and compassion, and to be reminded that we are not alone. May their memories be blessing.
May 2025 Newsletter
FROM DR. YAEL HALAAS
President's Greeting
May is Jewish American Heritage Month and an opportunity to celebrate our Jewish identity!
As noted journalist Matti Friedman has remarked, having a strong Jewish core makes us stronger and more resistant to the waves of anti-Jewish hatred passing through our world right now. When we are educated and solid with our own cultural heritage, we inspire respect and remain resilient against the ideologic tides shifting against us.
Celebrating the rich contributions of Jewish Americans to healthcare highlights who we are, what we do and why we do. Last year, with AJMA volunteers and based on the writings of the esteemed author Dr. Ronald Eisenberg, we produced the first edition of our AJMA JAHM materials. Many institutions did not even recognize JAHM nor celebrate Jewish healthcare professionals.
One year later, we have over 30 chapters of AJMA and active Jewish Employee Resource Groups celebrating across the country. Faculty, fellows and students are finding unity and community attending lectures, musical events, and festivals in institutions big and small.
Our JAHM materials have expanded to include posters, media posts, trivia games, children's activities covering our heroes of science, medicine, nursing and public health.
The education of the world around us continues with AJMA curriculum efforts. The AJMA medical education resources begin with an introduction to civil discourse, followed by education on Jewish identity, the virus of antisemitism, and medical ethics including lessons from the Holocaust. Important lessons in civility and civil discourse are welcomed by medical educators and we hope to continue expanding our efforts.
The AJMA community grows in strength and influence. And each and every one of you are contributing to make this happen. By being members and referring your colleagues to join AJMA, you celebrate our shared Jewish identity. And in light of the sheer darkness of recent times, we find ways to celebrate our heritage and shine.
Thank you.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Yael
MICHELLE STRAVITZ
From the CEO
It has been one incredible year this month since we launched AJMA’s website and we are going strong! Thank you all for your continued commitment to our mission of building an empowered community of Jewish healthcare professionals.
Because we are one year in, many members are coming up on your annual renewals since you signed up on this website, so please be on the lookout for renewal emails and make sure your credit card is up to date on our system. You can find this information in your “profile”.
With your membership, you’ll continue to access and empower AJMA through:
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A Trusted Community: Connect with our rapidly growing national network of 1,800 members across 29 states, 33 local chapters, and 50+ online Special Interest Groups, and enable us to grow further.
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Professional Growth: Access mentorship, online events and webinars, in-person events through your local chapter, and leadership roles as you advance your career.
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A Unified Voice: Support AJMA’s advocacy to combat antisemitism in healthcare, with resources and research to drive change.
Your membership matters in enabling AJMA to continue to exponentially build our growing community, create nationwide impact and broad reach, and build a bright future. We’re grateful to have you with us, and we look forward to all that is ahead for AJMA!
Our website has many resources for you and many more in the works. Take a look at the MEMBERS ONLY pages for a community forum, committee information, chapter information, and guidelines and toolkits. ADL just came out with guidance on addressing antisemitism in associations. https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/best-practices-addressing-antisemitism-within-associations
From the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “there is something profoundly spiritual as well as robustly practical about this ability to transform the bad moments of life into a spur to creativity. It is as if, deep within us were a voice saying, ‘You are in this situation, bad though it is, because there is a task to perform, a skill to acquire, a strength to develop, a lesson to learn, an evil to redeem, a shard of light to be rescued, a blessing to be uncovered, for I have chosen you to give testimony to humankind that out of suffering can come great blessings if you wrestle with it for long enough and with unshakeable faith.’”
As always, I am honored to work with you at this critical time in Jewish History.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Membership Update
AJMA Member Update: It’s Time to Renew – Let’s Keep Growing Together
As AJMA enters its second year, we’re proud to see nearly all of our members renewing. Your continued commitment speaks to the strength of our community and the shared belief in what we’re building together.
Thank you for renewing in the months ahead. Your support helps grow our powerful network of Jewish medical professionals dedicated to connection, leadership, and purposeful impact.
We’ve also launched a new communication journey to keep you informed and supported, from onboarding through renewal. We want you to feel connected, every step of the way.
2,000 Members and Growing — Can You Help Us Reach More?
Since our founding and in a short time, AJMA has welcomed over 2,000 members - and we’re just getting started. We’re launching a marketing campaign in the coming months to reach thousands more.
You can help! Share AJMA with a friend, invite classmates to join, or repost our updates on social media. Every small action helps strengthen our collective voice. Share this language or your own.
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.
AJMA Advocacy Update
AJMA continues to monitor key developments in the healthcare landscape, including federal funding shifts, ongoing investigations, and emerging legislative challenges that may affect Jewish medical professionals and institutions.
In recent weeks, AJMA has responded swiftly and strategically to legal and policy concerns—particularly around ensuring that medical graduations and academic ceremonies remain safe, inclusive environments for all. We are also addressing recent events at top institutions, offering measured, proactive guidance rooted in principle and professionalism.
To strengthen our long-term impact, AJMA is actively recruiting members for a newly forming Advocacy Committee. This group will help develop a consistent, policy-based approach to advocacy across the federal, state, and institutional levels.
Our goal is not just to react—but to lead. By building relationships and policy frameworks before institutions face investigations, funding challenges, or legal exposure, AJMA is laying the foundation for durable, values-driven partnerships across the healthcare and academic sectors.
If you are interested in joining the Advocacy Committee or supporting this work, please reach out to Andrea Wolf, awolf@theajma.org
Israel Missions
The AJMA Medical Student Mission in partnership with Birthright Volunteer/OU, the 2025 Ilene Serlin z”l Trauma Mission to Israel, and the APF and AJMA 2025 Solidarity Healthcare Mission to Israel are preparing to head to Israel in June and July. The Student mission is SOLD OUT but the Trauma and Solidarity missions still have a few remaining spaces. To learn more about AJMA Israel missions, please visit AJMA’s Programming Page
AJMA at the CELEBRATE
ISRAEL PARADE in NYC!
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with AJMA
We are well into the month of May celebrating Jewish contributions to healthcare and our heritage. Here are some of the ways you can still participate with us:
Print and display our JAHM poster & booklet. A downloadable poster that can be displayed in offices, clinics, hospitals, workplace bulletin boards, or any shared space to help raise awareness. Take a picture of the poster at your workplace or school, and tag @americanjewishmedical on social media - you just may be featured on our social channels. Print and share our JAHM booklet. A resource to reflect on, learn from, and use to help document and share the history of Jewish contributions to medicine and healthcare.
Share our social media stories on your channels. We will also feature AJMA physician members who have made an impact in medicine and the Jewish American healthcare community for you to recognize.
Ask your school or organization to publicize JAHM.
Purchase your AJMA swag here and wear it with pride!
AJMA Jewish Voice of Health
Episode 10- In this compelling episode, Dr. Anna Goldenberg, Trauma Surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery, and Dr. Phil Koren, Cardiovascular Specialist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, share their mission to bring advanced trauma training to Israel.
From the frontlines of a Level I Trauma Center to the logistical puzzle of transporting cadavers and clinical materials overseas, these two physicians offer an inside look at medicine, mobility, and meaning. Listen now to hear how dedication and education are saving lives across continents.
Programming
AJMA LA Launch Event SOLD OUT!Sun, Jun 08Beverly Hills
News and Updates
SPARC entrepreneurship program for clinicians in the US.
SPARC is an integral part of the ARC’s Entrepreneurship Program at Sheba Medical Center. Over the course of three months, a selected group of clinicians and researchers from around the globe receive comprehensive support on their entrepreneurial journey. This program provides participants with invaluable exposure to the US healthcare market and opportunities to engage with US healthcare innovation leaders. SPARC equips participants with essential entrepreneurial skills, business insights, and mentorship, empowering them to navigate the journey from idea to pitch with maximum efficiency.
Registration link and information: LINK
The cost per participant is $5800 to cover all expenses and deadline to register is July 15th.
To share with your colleagues:
Israel Trip opportunity for non-Jewish Healthcare leaders:
A trip to Israel is being organized this November for non-Jewish young healthcare leaders (physicians, investors, entrepreneurs, operators, etc.). It’s a curated group that will meet top leaders in Israel’s health and biotech ecosystem — it should be a really powerful experience. If anyone in your network comes to mind, please pass along the link to apply.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UxVxmD9hMXLd8XE4lbUh4DFOITUy4OedDRjbTNx0vZw/edi
From our Friends in Canada:
Most American Jews agree on one thing- antisemitism is on the rise in the USA but there is a safe and welcoming alternative nearby. Doctors, particularly family doctors, are welcomed in Nova Scotia, Canada.Pictou County is a beautiful community located on the northern shore of Nova Scotia with a population of approximately 43,000 spread over five towns and rural areas featuring amazing year round facilities in recreation, culture and sports. We invite you to experience our rich culture and heritage in the seafood you taste, the lush trails and sandy beaches and explore a meaningful and beautiful life and practice. From sunrise to sunset, you can enjoy our year-round amenities while you experience our hospitality and unique sense of community. Pictou County is known as a welcoming and inclusive community, respectful and supportive to a variety of diverse cultures and religious affiliations. Pictou County is also served by Healthy Pictou County, a grassroots physician-led community organization supporting the attraction and retention of healthcare providers through settlement support and ongoing community and social connection opportunities for physicians and their families, and a focus on medical learners. Those considering exploring a medical career in Pictou County can see current job postings at Nova Scotia Health’s More Than Medicine, and to learn more about Pictou County, including a 360 virtual platform to see for yourself, you can visit www.healthypictoucounty.ca. The Aberdeen Hospital is the regional acute care facility serving Pictou County offering primary and secondary services through inpatient, outpatient and community-based services and programs. We are the orthopedic regional centre, with (6) orthopods, with specialties in pediatrics (3), internal medicine (5), a redeveloped emergency department, hospitalist, the oldest Palliative program east of Ottawa, general surgery (3), anesthesiology (5), OBGYN (4), radiology (5), medical oncology and family medicine. In the hospital and the community you’ll find: Collegial teams and access to supportive colleagues State-of-the-art technology, and a dedicated team, who put community first Supportive educational community for placements and ongoing learning, including residency Opportunity for balance to enjoy time with family, friends and what our community has to offer Diverse practice opportunities for fulfilling and meaningful work Pictonians like to say the only thing warmer than Pictou County waters is the people. Come see for yourself!
AJMA D’Var Torah
Resuscitation at the Revelation
By: Leonard J. Hoenig, MD
The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the most momentous event in Jewish history: the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Maimonides writes that the revelation on Mount Sinai is a great mystery that is difficult to understand since there has never been anything like it before and after (Guide for the Perplexed II:33). The experience at Sinai had supernatural features in which people could see things that were audible (Rashi, Shemos 20:15).
According to Maimonides, what Moses experienced at Mount Sinai was quite different than the rest of the people. Moshe clearly heard the words of Hashem and all Ten Commandments. The Children of Israel, however, only perceived a mighty sound but no actual words or possibly heard only the first two commandments.
The Gemara in Shabbos 88b records a most remarkable teaching by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. When the Jewish people heard the voice of Hashem, their souls left them. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi then asks if the people died during the first commandment, how did they receive the second? To which the great Rabbi explains: Hashem “brought down the dew with which He will resurrect the dead in the future, and He resurrected them”.
The Maharsha (Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, 1555-1631) elaborates on Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi’s teaching, reconciling it with his other statements in the Gemara. According to the Maharsha, the experience at Mount Sinai was so terrifying that many Jews simply ran away, while others passed out, whereas very frail persons died, requiring immediate resuscitation.
We may never fully comprehend all the mysteries of the revelation. It is still noteworthy that the most momentous event in Jewish history was accompanied by a unique form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation; one in which the Master of the Universe ran the code!
Happy Shavuot!
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.