feature: taking charge
T2T Torah: Parshat
Vayeishev
by Stephanie Steinberg
Dec. 20, 2008 - by Avi Buckman
save our women
Young entrepreneur's clothing helps fund breast cancer research.
respond
`here am i'
This week's parshah is Parshat Vayeishev.
S
The beginning of this parshah is the introduc-
amantha Kelman of Farmington Hills
' West Bloomfield, but has grown
is saving lives one T-shirt at a time.
to every state and Canada.
tion to the story of Joseph. The Torah begins
with showing the rising tension between Jo-
Kelman, a University of Michigan
"A large proportion of our
junior, started making breast cancer aware-
customers are Jewish because
ness T-shirts in high school to raise money
breast cancer is very prevalent
The first aliyah of Vayeishev encompasses
for the entry fee of Michigan's three-day
among Jewish women," Kelman
a vital stage for the fulfillment of God's brit
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk. Now,
said.
bein habtarim (the covenant between the
seph and his brothers that ultimately leads
up to Joseph's migration to Egypt.
her apparel has become so popular, she
She said the local Jewish corn-
pieces) with Abraham, which promises that
has established her own business, Save
munity has been very supportive
the descendents of Abraham will be enslaved
Our Women LLC, with all profits donated to
of her, especially when she fund-
in Egypt and then redeemed. The beginning
breast cancer foundations.
raises at events like Relay for Life
phase of this promise is found in 37:13, "And
Kelman began selling T-shirts with the
at West Bloomfield High School.
Israel said unto Joseph: 'Do not thy breth-
logo "Save Our Women" while a senior at
Sara Lebovic, 17, of Farming-
ren feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and
I will send thee unto them.' And he said to
North Farmington High School. She sold
ton Hills brought back the tradi-
shirts from a box during lunch and soon
tion of selling Save Our Women
him: 'Here am I.- Jacob gives his other sons
earned enough to pay the $1,700 breast
apparel at NFHS when she start-
custody of Joseph, which turns into Joseph's
ed taking orders one month ago.
— and ultimately the nation's — migration to
Alb
cancer walk entree fee.
Katie Cohen and Samantha Kelman sell shirts
"Weeks later, people were still asking me
where they could get the shirts," said Kel-
man, 20. "So I designed some new logos,
at U-M's "University Students Against Cancer"
fashion show.
and then I came to college and formulated a company and
Web site so you can order online. I've been going ever since."
Kelman's grandmother, who died of breast cancer, was her
"I started selling for Sam be-
When I look at this verse, the question
Women clothes and people told
arises, what is the significance of Joseph
me they were really interested in wearing it," Lebovic said.
Thus far, Lebovic has sold 25 T-shirts and plans to con-
tinue taking orders throughout the year.
responding, "Here am I"? The placement of
this phrase is very awkward. Rashi comments
that this phrase is that of humility and stead-
inspiration for becoming so involved in breast cancer aware-
"I think it's an amazing cause," Lebovic said. "I think it's
ness. Though breast cancer runs in her family, she noted that
great she started it that early in her life, and the message is
one in eight women suffers from the cancer.
really inspiring."
"So many young people don't realized how prevalent
Egypt.
cause I was wearing Save Our
fastness to perform mitzvot.
Rashi comments almost identically on
Genesis 22:1., when God commands Abraham
Save Our Women apparel is sold at stores including Warren
to sacrifice Isaac, "And it came to pass after
breast cancer is," Kelman
Prescriptions in Farmington Hills, She-Chic Boutique in
said. "I've been doing this
these things, that God did prove Abraham, and
the McNamara Northwest Terminal at Detroit Metro-
said unto him: 'Abraham'; and he said: 'Here
for two years, and I didn't
politan Airport, Link in New York City, five W hotel gifts
am I.- Rashi says that the phrase "Here am
know how high risk I am be-
shops in Texas, Chicago and New York, and a clothing
cause of my grandmother
I" is that of humility and preparedness to per-
store called Bivouac in Ann Arbor.
form mitzvot. He further comments that this
and relatives. So many of
Within 18 days, the Save Our Women T-shirts at
my friends are in the same
Bivouac sold out. Pam Blakely, Bivouac's assistant
risk category and they don't
manager, said she couldn't believe a 20-year-old had
"Here am I" contains a significant message
even know."
started her own clothing line and gives all the profits
for humanity in this modern age. Recently,
to breast cancer foundations.
the world has been reminded of the power
Running a business and
attending college are not
"I think it's extraordinary that someone would think
easy tasks. She drives to
to do that at that young of an age," she said.
phrase is the response of the righteous.
Rashi's commentaries of the response,
of destruction with the organized terrorist at-
tacks in Mumbai. Thousands of Africans are
Farmington Hills at least
The T-shirts cost between $25 $40, depending on
slaughtered in Darfur as the masses stand
once a week to organize
the style. Kelman also sells hoodies, yoga wear and
idly. Hamas and Hezbollah place targets on
and pick up clothing stored i
sweatpants, among other accessories, with the logo
Israeli villages, and virtually the whole world
at house.
-
Jack Kelman and Sam Orley
"Day to day, I spend
hours doing work via e-mail like contacting my reps, making
sure we have proper inventory, balancing my checkbook and
taking care of financial stuff," she said.
Kelman's mother, Karen, helps by shipping online orders
and labeling apparel. Karen doesn't mind the work.
"I am constantly impressed by Sam," she said. "I think
that usually incorporates the pink ribbon denoting
is dealing with hunger, poverty and lack of ad-
breast cancer.
equate water.
Kelman estimates she has sold 8,000 Save Our Women
products since she started, with 3,000 this year alone.
"It's so hard to keep track because I started doing this out
of the box in high school," she said.
Kelman is contemplating continuing Save Our Women LLC
after she graduates from U-M's Ross School of Business.
In this time of global need, the Jewish
people, along with the rest of the world, must
respond with the same two ways that Joseph
and Abraham responded: with preparedness
and steadfastness. We, as part of the hu-
man race, must expect, prevent and quickly
she is genuinely an inspiration for young people, and I think
"I have to decide whether I want to go into the corporate
aid the large-scale struggles that humanity
for her to be this self-motivated to do something like this for
world," she said. "The business school
faces, and with this, hopefully, the world we
charity is impressive. I'm unbelievably proud of her."
provides you with a lot of entrepreneur-
live in will become a bet-
Since she started selling T-shirts in 2005, Kelman has
ial skills, and if I could make this a suc-
ter, holier and righteous
raised more than $100,000 to donate to the Canadian Breast
cessful adventure, I'd be very happy do-
Cancer Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
place.
ing this the rest of my life."
Foundation. Her contract with Komen requires her to donate
Avi Buckman, 15, Is a
Stephanie Steinberg, 18, is a U-M fresh-
$12,500 each year, but she ends up giving more.
sophomore at the Fran-
man in Ann Arbor
kel Jewish Academy in
Kelman's customer base started in Farmington Hills and
West Bloomfield.
teen2teen December • 2008 B3