On selichos night, Motzei Shabbos, September 24, at the Elmora Avenue Shul in Elizabeth, NJ, Renewal, a world-renowned, nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating living kidney donations within the Jewish community, held an inspiring event.
The event was sponsored by the Jewish Educational Center and all of the local shuls, Jewish Family Services and YM-YWHA of Union County, and approximately 60 people attended and learned about living kidney donations facilitated by the Renewal organization.
Rabbi Josh Sturm, Director of Outreach at Renewal, began the program with a halachic overview of living kidney donation that was both insightful and entertaining. Citing numerous sources, he concluded that altruistic living kidney donation is a beautiful and praiseworthy act. Following his presentation, Dr. Tamar Green shared her personal story of her decision to donate a kidney, including how an otherwise routine school field trip with her daughter became a life-changing event. A local kidney donor, Sharon Langert then shared how her life was changed because of this mitzvah and passionately described her experience as one of the greatest events of her life. Afterwards, a local recipient of a kidney, Henry Krauss, described his gratefulness at having received a kidney through an anonymous Renewal donor, and how it saved his life and gave him a greater appreciation for everything in life. An informative question-and-answer session with Rabbi Sturm concluded this most meaningful event. Questions ranged from age limits for donation (70) to how one becomes a donor (blood test and other tests), to if there are any major restrictions on the donor afterwards (none).
Among the attendees was a woman whose 34-year-old niece, Rachel, is in need of a kidney. If you have blood type B or O and are interested in the possibility of saving her life with a kidney donation, please contact Rabbi Sturm at Renewal at 718-431-9831 ext. 206 or by email at [email protected] for more information. If you have a different blood type, perhaps you can help save someone else’s life.
Aside from donating a kidney, there are other things you can do to help those in need of a kidney! You can help spread the word about Renewal by having an event in your community to inspire and educate people about this praiseworthy mitzvah. Please contact Rabbi Sturm via the methods above for more information. Please tell others about the Renewal organization and the opportunity to possibly donate a kidney to Rachel or others in need.
