with an ache in his hip bones, somewhat
"like pulled muscles in my lower back,"
he says. "Looking back at what I went
through, it was no big deal when consid-
ering a day or two off from work could
save someone's life. I would do it again."
Planning to be at Sunday's drive,
Linda Newman, administrative assistant
at Temple Israel, says, "I pray and hope
I am a match."
Newman was a pheresis donor in
1991, undergoing a procedure that
removed stem cells from her blood.
Knowing that her donation provid-
ed a cure for a then-9-year-old girl
with blood disease, she says, "It's the
greatest feeling — I can't even explain
the feeling. There is nothing more spe-
cial than knowing you've done such a
mitzvah to help someone with their
life. It's halachah (Jewish law) to reach
out and help other people in need."

Thursday March 8th
10 am to 8 pm

Friday March 9th
10 am to 6 pm

Choose Life

'Anything we Jews do that can somehow
bring a better physical or spiritual quality
of life is an important Jewish act," says
Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel.
He says biblical references, such as
"Therefore, choose life," show that
"Judaism has placed the value of life as
paramount in our tradition."
Rabbi Bennett describes Weiss as "a
wonderful, committed member of the
Jewish community and Temple Israel
community." He stresses that becom-
ing a donor should not be something
done only for one individual, but
rather "we should do it because we
value Jewish life and existence."
Mills says: "Dr. Jaiyesimi is very sup-
portive of our religious beliefs and of
prayer as an additional method of heal-
ing. He is not just zoning in on med-
ication — but medication with prayer."
Dr. Jaiyesimi explains that long-term
survival for those with bone marrow
transplantation is about 40 to 50 per-
cent, depending on the patient and
the disease. He says, for Gary Weiss, a
transplant is vital.
"My hope is that someone from the
testing will prove to be a match for my
dad," Mills says. "That would be a
wonderful miracle."

❑

The blood and bone marrow drive in
honor of Gary Weiss will be in the
Sarah and Irving Pitt Reception Hall
at Temple Israel's Purim carnival from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4
(page 34). People may give blood or
be tested for bone marrow donation,
or both. Guidelines on becoming a
bone marrow donor are available at:
wwvv.marrow.orWNMEDP/registlyhtml

Saturday March 10th
10 am to 5 pm

248.626.0886

Inside Orchard Mall
6337-B Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322

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