Help Central Synagogue save lives

Yom Kippur is the day where Jews pray for their names to be inscribed in the book of life. It is also a day to give the gift of life at Central Synagogue of Nassau County, where this year, the synagogue will hold a bone marrow donor drive on Yom Kippur.

Unlike a blood drive, a bone marrow drive just involves swabbing the inside of a person’s cheek with a Q-tip. People are then added to the registry of potential donors. If a person is a match for someone who needs a transplant, they are contacted.

“Our tradition teaches us that to save one life is to save an entire world,” said Rabbi Elliot Skiddell. “The simple act of swabbing the cheek to determine if someone is a potential match as a bone marrow donor for someone in need is a life-saving act.”

Skiddell is the rabbi of Beth Emeth Synagogue, Central Synagogue’s sister temple.

The bone marrow drive is part of the Yom Kippur Project. Founded in 2013, the Yom Kippur Project is a partnership between the Union for Reform Judiasm and the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. Seventy-six synagogues around the country will hold bone marrow drives that day. This is Central Synagogue’s first year participating.

Coordinator Lynne Deutsch has almost a dozen volunteers who have signed up to swab cheeks at Central Synagogue.

“We understand from others who have run the drive that many people do not sign up [to get their cheek swabbed] before hand,” Joy Gluzman, the Program and Social Media Coordinator, wrote in an email. “However, between individuals who will be in synagogue that day, as well as others who may come in as a result of our advertising, we are hoping for an excellent turn out.”

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, every year 20,000 people need a bone marrow transplant, due to diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. Of those, 70 percent need to look outside their family to find a match.

The bone marrow drive will be held on Oct. 4 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Signups are encouraged but not required. Interested people can email 430demott@gmail.com or call 766-4300. Potential donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and in general good health.