http://www.jstandard.com en-us http://www.jstandard.com N/A editor@jstandard.com Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:47:17 MDT 20 http://www.jstandard.com/articles/3254/1/SCIENCE-AND-SENSIBILITY Jerome Groopman's approach to healing may be best summarized in a framed print of Maimonides' physician's oath that hangs in his office: "Inspire me with the love of my art and for thy creatures. In the sufferer let me see only the human being." When Groopman is not in his lab at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (part of Harvard Institutes of Medicine), where he is chief of experimental medicine, he focuses his expertise as a hemotologist and oncologist - and perhaps equally as important, his compassion - on the inner workings of his patients. It is this unusual blend of science and spirituality - a nexus of medicine, healing, and faith in the preciousness of life - that not only characterizes Groopman's career but also defines his deepest essence. Eleven years ago, at the age of 44, Groopman turned his gentle yet meticulous lens to writing about his patients' courage, endurance, and resilience. His approach may be best summarized in a framed print of Maimonides' physician's oath that hangs in his office: "Inspire me with the love of my art and for thy creatures. In the sufferer let me see only the human being." Rahel Musleah Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT http://www.jstandard.com/articles/3202/1/Englewood-Hospital-first-in-New-Jersey-to-offer-the-Aurora-breast-MRI Patients at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center now have access to the most advanced technology in breast imaging with the addition of the Aurora® 1.5T Dedicated Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System. Englewood Hospital is the only hospital in New Jersey to offer the Aurora System, which is the only FDA-approved, dedicated breast MRI system. "Patients at the Medical Center have had access to breast imaging services for the past few years with a whole body MRI unit," said Dr. Mindy Goldfischer, chief of Breast Imaging and associate director of the Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Hospital. "Aurora's unique system of magnetic gradients and coils was designed to only image breast tissue. The exclusive design of this system tailors the examination to each woman's specific breast composition. This means that the images are of the highest quality." Jewish Standard Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT http://www.jstandard.com/articles/3060/1/Familiar-refrain-at-CAJE-meeting%3A-Teachers-need-more-money%2C-respect Rachel Cooper and Jonathan Moneta were among the few young people choosing careers in Jewish education who attended the CAJE conference Aug. 5-8 in St. Louis. photo by Andy Wise ST. LOUIS - Bright, engaging, and full of energy, Bethany Spielberg is the kind of classroom teacher any Jewish school would be lucky to have. Spielberg, 18, an education major at California State University, Fullerton, already teaches second grade at her Reform temple's religious school. Sue Fishkoff Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2343/1/Stem-cell-research%3A-Breakthroughs-and-controversies Barry Schindler, a patent attorney, will speak about legal obstacles to stem cell research at a March 15 Hadassah program. Science correspondent Embryonic stem cell research has generated much discussion worldwide despite the fact that it has not yet yielded concrete applications for human therapy. Gov. Jon Corzine signed legislation two months ago authorizing $270 million towards human embryonic stem cell research in New Jersey. This has opened up many doors to scientific breakthroughs and also stimulated much new discussion on the controversial topic. In response to the New Jersey legislation, Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, is presenting a program to address the latest breakthroughs and controversies in stem cell research. A Hadassah Young Leaders event, scheduled for March 15 at the Montclair Art Museum, will tackle the issues generated by this provocative technology. Barry Schindler, of Mountain Lakes, a patent attorney with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, which supports firms pursuing stem cell research, will speak about the legal barriers. He will be joined by Dr. Gary Friedman, a nephrologists, transplant specialist, and founding trustee of the New Jersey Stem Cell Research and Education Foundation, who will talk about therapeutic applications of the technology. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2017/1/Hands-on-science-turns-on-students The Koffler Accelerator of the Canada Centre of Nuclear Physics; this building serves as a symbol of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Photo by Miryam Wahrman On her first trip to Israel, Ridgewood resident Michelle Kortenaar learned how to turn a human ear into a radio speaker. And when she returned to New Jersey, she brought that skill, and many other novel science teaching strategies, back to her physics and biology classes at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union in West Orange. She learned the unique approaches to hands-on science teaching at a summer institute for teachers sponsored by the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. "Every single day I came back to my room having changed my way of thinking about teaching," said Kortenaar, recalling her experiences during the 10-day Schwartz International Leading Science Teachers' Seminar. She attended the seminar together with 10 other North American teachers and nine Israeli high school teachers. "The sessions were extremely practical. I've come back with many things that I've been able to implement in my class this year." Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/1911/1/Hadassah-hears-about-vaccine-against-HPV-and-cervical-cancer Dr. Gara Sommers, left, tells members of the Paramus Bat-Sheva chapter of Hadassah that all women should be vaccinated against HPV. With her, from left, are program chair Rhoda Fried and chapter president Laura Menter. photo by Miryam Z. Wahrman PARAMUS - There's finally some good news for women about cancer, specifically, cancer of the cervix. That dreaded disease - the second most common cause of death from cancer (after breast cancer) worldwide - is caused by the HPV virus, and now a new vaccine is available that is virtually 100 percent effective in preventing HPV infection and cervical cancer. "There are 10,000 cases diagnosed annually [in the U.S], and 10 women die each day of cervical cancer," according to Dr. Gara Sommers, a gynecologic oncologist at Valley Hospital in Paramus and Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, who spoke on Nov. 21 at the JCC here on behalf of the Paramus Bat-Sheva chapter of Hadassah. The topic - "HPV, its relationship to cervical cancer, and the new vaccine, Gardisil" - was intended to introduce and explain what Sommers described as "a phenomenal breakthrough in my subspecialty." Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/1906/1/Where-to-find-genetic-testing Local medical centers provide services in the areas of prenatal, pediatric, and cancer genetics. For prenatal and cancer genetic services, board-certified genetic counselors are on staff and they consult with patients, arrange testing, provide counseling, discuss options, and make recommendations. Hospitals with pediatric genetic services typically also employ pediatricians/geneticists who examine, diagnose, recommend testing, and treat youngsters. Prenatal and cancer genetic counseling services are available at... Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/1905/1/Direct-To-Consumer-genetic-testing%3A-Let-the-buyer-beware One of DNA Direct's genetic testing kits. If it runs in your family, it doesn't have to be your destiny. Find out if genes are really involved - and what you can do about them," states the Home Page of DNA Direct (www.dnadirect.com), a direct-to-consumer genetic testing service. I filled out an online questionnaire, indicating my Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, and that I have no family history of either cystic fibrosis or breast cancer, and I was offered cystic fibrosis (CF) testing ($260) and testing for the breast cancer gene, BRCA ($695). Most Ashkenazi Jews are aware there is a higher incidence of certain genetic mutations within their population group that are associated with genetic disorders. Genetic tests are available that can reveal the presence of some of these genetic mutations and markers. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/1904/1/The--gene-scene For years now, worried patients - and even just the medically curious - have been able to glimpse their possible health futures through genetic testing. And until recently, the nearly 1,000 genetic tests on the market have been available mainly through the mainstream medical establishment - clinics, hospitals, and doctors' offices - and have been cautiously interpreted for lay folks by trained genetic counselors. But that is changing rapidly with the advent of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, a booming and controversial subset of the $6 billion genetic testing and molecular diagnostics business. Because of its potential to mislead consumers - or at least waste their money - the DTC genetic testing industry is generating concern among doctors, patient advocates, and, most recently, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, which held a hearing in July tellingly entitled, "At Home DNA Tests: Marketing Scam or Medical Breakthrough?" "It's a buyer beware marketplace now," said Gail Javitt, law and policy director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University. "While the public believes genetic testing is subject to government oversight, that is largely not the case." Judy Foreman Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/1344/1/Jewish-groups-support-stem-cell-research This week the Senate passed a landmark bill, HR 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would allow federal funding for stem cell research using surplus embryos from reproductive clinics. Three prominent Jewish organizations spanning the religious spectrum - the Orthodox Union, Hadassah, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - issued statements in strong support of the legislation. HR 810 originated and was passed by the House of Representatives in the spring of 2005. Although President Bush vetoed the bill and neither the House nor the Senate appears to have enough votes to override the veto, it still remains a key piece of legislation, as members of Congress are rallying around the issue as a matter of principle and for political reasons. Recent polls have indicated that more than 70 percent of Americans support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:00:00 MDT http://www.jstandard.com/articles/799/1/Flood-Theory Spar Ira Spar is using his knowledge of cuneiform to unearth the story of the flood Imagine that the last time anyone read the words on this page was more than 3,800 years ago. And now further imagine that sometime around the year 1800 BCE the person reading them was one of only about three people who for thousands of miles around and thousands of years to come could decipher their meaning, there being no widespread literacy until the early 20th century. The thrill you would undoubtedly feel coming across a story or a fragment of a story that had remained buried for centuries is exactly what Ramapo College Prof. Ira Spar experienced one day several years ago. During his painstaking translation of one of 600 ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablets housed in the basement of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, where he has also worked as a research Assyriologist since 1973, Spar realized he was looking at lines from the ancient Babylonian flood story that broke new ground in scholarship. Jane Calem Rosen Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/782/1/A-guide-for-the-perplexed-about-end-of-life-issues Rabbi David Feldman's new book "Where There's Life, There's Life" addresses the most difficult topics in bioethics, namely, end-of-life issues, with sensitivity and compassion. Feldman is well known in the field of bioethics, as author of the often quoted seminal work "Birth Control in Jewish Law" and as an articulate and insightful speaker. His vision, and his vast experience as a practicing rabbi come through loud and clear in his treatise on life and death. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/781/1/Where-there%92s-life%2C-there%92s-life Rabbi Dr. David Feldman and Dr. Michael Harris aim to help people deal with end-of-life issues Jewish Institute of Bioethics launches new book TEANECK - About 10 years ago, Rabbi Dr. David Feldman was being interviewed on radio about end-of-life issues. The interviewer's take on the discussion was: "You mean, 'Where there's life, there's hope.'" But, Feldman replied, "I wouldn't be so unoriginal. What we need to guide our lives by is, 'Where there's life, there's life,' even if it's futile and the quality of life has descended." Now, he told The Jewish Standard, he's written a book called just that, "with the idea of explaining how life is precious and Jewish law tells us so." "Where There's Life, There's Life" (Yashar Books) which addresses end-of-life issues from the perspective of halacha (Jewish law) was unveiled earlier this month at an event sponsored by the Jewish Institute of Bioethics. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/100/1/Ben-Gurion-U.-pushes-to-be-major-biotech-player BEERSHEBA - Steam pours out of a towering microscope so powerful it can reveal the inner space of cells, as Ohad Medalia uses liquid nitrogen to cool down the instrument.   Dina Kraft Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 MST http://www.jstandard.com/articles/34/1/Flashes-of-Brilliance%3A-An-update-on-ADD%7B47%7DADHD Mattes Weingast is a successful member of the Jewish community. He's even achieved some degree of celebrity. An original producer and frequent guest host of the acclaimed WFMU radio program "JM in the AM," he lives in Passaic with his wife and two children and is the principal of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center's congregational school. Eight years ago, Weingast discovered that he had ADD, attention deficit disorder. Dr. Miryam Wahrman Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:00:00 MST