After the war broke out in Israel on October 7, 2023, I decided to get involved with JOWMA—the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association. I felt the urgency to help in any way possible, just like so many from our community. Without hesitation, Dr. Mimi Knoll, the CEO and co-founder of JOWMA, gave me numerous opportunities to help coordinate volunteer doctor missions to Israel.

The more I got involved with JOWMA, the more I was exposed to all of the great opportunities the organization has to offer. I realized how wonderful it would be if the doctor volunteers were to come speak to me and my peers at SAR High School about their day-to-day routine, and how they got to where they are today. SAR is such an amazing learning environment. The students are driven and it is evident how much they love to learn.

That brainstorm led to a first of its kind event that was held at SAR on Thursday February 1, after school. More than 30 students showed up to learn about the medical profession from awesome JOWMA volunteers. Working alongside Dr. Mimi Knoll and Dr. Yarden Goldman, we planned a terrific night with many educational activities. We wanted the event to feel like a community, where students would feel comfortable asking questions that they might have on their minds.

As an aspiring pre-med student, it’s easy to feel discouraged by all the work a medical student must do to become a doctor, but the JOWMA volunteers made us realize how special it is to pursue a career in medicine. They all love what they do. They talked with so much passion and it made me realize how much I want that for myself. Seeing how passionate they are about their jobs and how happy they are doing what they love was inspiring. At the end of the day, students were encouraged to pursue what they love, no matter what challenges they may face.

SAR’s famous motto is: “It’s not just what you learn, it’s who you become.” Those words are repeatedly said in the SAR building. They are practically plastered on the walls and engraved into our heads. The JOWMA event was so much fun to partake in, as it allowed me to think about who I want to become. I was able to see what topics most interested me. Each JOWMA volunteer truly cared about each student and thoughtfully answered questions. It was inspiring to see how much we were able to learn in only a couple of hours. Hopefully a few of my friends who were there were inspired to join me in the pursuit of becoming a doctor!

For more information about JOWMA, please check out www.jowma.org.