Rabbi goes bald in support of pediatric cancer research

Glenwood — Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker of Congregation Kol Ami was recently in Chicago to attend the Central Conference of American Rabbis and to get a haircut on behalf of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which sponsors pediatric cancer research. The group wanted to recruit 36 rabbis because of the Jewish teaching that the whole world is sustained by 36 unknown, but righteous, people. In the end, more than 70 rabbis raised $570,000 for St. Baldrick. The effort was in memory of the late “Superman” Sam Sommer, the son of Chicago-area rabbis, who died of cancer last year at age 8. Dunsker raised $7,600 with the help of Bat Mitzvah student Anna Amundson. “When we feel helpless, the thing to do is act,” Dunsker said. She was especially gratified to note that President Barack Obama signed a new pediatric cancer research funding law two days later, she said. Anyone can continue contributing to her total at www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/660841/2014.