The Chemo Siddur Pilot Project

 BACKSTORY

When Sarah Fenner was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 she bought a small photo album and transformed it into a "Chemotherapy Siddur (prayer book)." She filled it with computer printouts of blessings and poems that were meaningful to her and added cards from friends and photos of people and places she loves. Intended as a personal and creative expression, the resulting product was powerfully compelling to the nurses, as well as to fellow patients and the people who accompanied them to treatments. What started as curiosity about this little book that Sarah held, flipped through, read parts of, and had other people read aloud from was quickly followed by a request, "How can I get one of those?"

In the months and years that followed, Sarah would honor these requests, spending hours cutting, pasting, assembling and mailing them out. As word of the "chemo siddur" began to spread, an article about it appeared in the New York Times as well as the j. (the Jewish newspaper of Northern California). Soon the project began to be overwhelming, and Sarah explored a variety of options for manageable reproduction and distribution. Sarah, who is a strong supporter of Jewish Milestones, asked if this was something we would consider taking on. Honored and excited, we began to explore a wide variety of options for content, format, and distribution, including a mock-up entitled "Hineni-Here I Am: A Companion for Chemotherapy."

Sarah's cancer has recently returned. A new sense of urgency in making the Chemo Siddur a concrete expression of Sarah's multifaceted and profound legacy has been ignited in us.

 UPDATE - WHAT NOW?

We are in the process of piloting a few models of the “chemotherapy siddur.” We are working with an artist and art educator, Barbara Selvidge, and have developed a model for an engaging, collaborative-creation “house party” to result in a high-quality, aesthetically-pleasing, unique copy of the siddur. Ten people would meet in someone’s home, using a “tool box” with supplies for the group to make a personalized version of the Chemo Siddur. They would then gift an individual they know in common or someone they don’t know via Jewish Milestones. Some of these gatherings also serve as fundraisers – where each person would contribute a specific amount of money (to be determined in consultation with the hosts) to the Chemo Siddur project.

On February 18, 2010, the board of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties approved a generous technical assistance grant to help Jewish Milestones advance the development of this powerful and innovative new ritual object. 

SUPPORT NEEDED

• Pro bono graphic design services.
• Materials donations – paper, art supplies, albums, etc.
• People interested in hosting a gathering; creating a guest list, issuing invitations, providing space and refreshments.
• Money – donations can be made directly to a restricted fund that Jewish Milestones has established in honor of Sarah.
  
• Pro bono help in developing the business and marketing plan

If you would consider becoming involved with this project in any of the ways listed above, or in ways we have yet to consider, please be in touch with Rachel Brodie.