Please join us for our annual gathering as we shine a light on the work of
The Hamsa Wellness Community and Nishmah, the St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 7pm
Mirowitz Performing Arts and Banquet Center
Donations of all levels are appreciated.
Honor or remember someone with a Leaf of Light at the event with a donation of $118 or more. Leaves will help build our tree of life at the event.
Pillar Sponsorships
Become a pillar of connection, hope, education, strength, and support for others! Each Pillar includes a Leaf of Light.
Pillar of Connection – $10,000
Pillar of Hope – $5,000
Pillar of Education – $2,500
Pillar of Strength – $1,000
Pillar of Support – $500
Debbi Braustein has made the Hamsa Wellness Community the cancer support program that it is today. From Beyond Pink to Monthly Support Groups to Strength Over Cancer, Debbi has left her mark on our community.
In honor of Debbi’s retirement from the J, we are asking anyone who has been impacted by her work to donate to Lynnie’s Light for Life.
We thank Debbi for her immeasurable impact on our community, and we thank all of you for your support.
Pillar of Life Award
We are proud to announce the creation of a special recognition that will be given annually at Lynnie’s Light for Life. The Pillar of Life Award celebrates an individual who has made a meaningful impact on the cancer community and demonstrated exceptional support for the mission and work of The Hamsa Wellness Community at the J. The award recognizes those who embody the spirit of Hamsa’s five foundational pillars—Connection, Hope, Education, Strength, and Support—whether through advocacy, education, compassionate care, or community engagement. The recipient exemplifies a deep commitment to empowering individuals and families facing a diagnosis through increased awareness and meaningful support.
Dr. Ron Bose, MD, PhD
Pillar of Life Award Recipient
Dr. Ron Bose is a medical oncologist who focuses on breast cancer patients and breast cancer research. He has worked at the Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine for 18 years.
He earned his MD and PhD degrees from Cornell University. His PhD is in cancer research and he did this research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He first came to St. Louis in 1999 to do internship and residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He then went back to the East Coast for 5 years to do Medical Oncology fellowship and research at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was recruited back to St. Louis in 2007 to work at Siteman.
Dr. Bose shares a meaningful connection with the Palan and Isaacs family—most notably with the late Lynne Isaacs Palan z”l, whose commitment to the J’s cancer support services inspired the creation of Lynnie’s Light for Life. Dr. Bose developed a deep bond with the family and, in turn, a lasting commitment to the broader community. He actively participates in the J’s cancer support initiatives, including Beyond Pink, an annual day of education, exercise, and wellness, and frequently shares his expertise at hereditary cancer awareness events. Dr. Bose also encourages his patients to connect with The Hamsa Wellness Community’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Group. His decades of service in cancer research and compassionate care exemplify the mission of the Hamsa Wellness Community and make him a deserving recipient of the inaugural Pillar of Life Award.
Thank You to the Lynnie’s Light for Life Committee!
Co-Chairs
Vickie Shuchart & Ricki Tischler
General Committee
Marcie Brook, Amy Burman, Lisa Cohen, Nikki Goldfeder, Judith Isaacs, Marcia Lisker,
Michelle Mills, Rhonda Oberman, Griffin Palan, Debbie Polinsky, Clare Richardson, Sheri Schneider-Dicker, Tracey Singer
Staff
Debbi Braunstein, Director, Hamsa Wellness Community
Avital Kadosh, Director, Jewish Experience & Innovation
Emilie Brockman, Manager, Jewish Community Engagement
About Lynnie’s Light
In 2013 the J established Sharsheret Supports STL, a program of Nishmah, and a community partner of the national Sharsheret organization. Through personalized support and lifesaving education, this program has improved lives of women and families living with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Inspired by the success of this program, the J is proud to expand our focus and launch The Hamsa Wellness Community. This expansion allows for the continuation of our current activities while broadening our educational programming to address a broader range of hereditary cancers that impact both women and men. This also allows for the expansion of free psychosocial support to those facing a cancer diagnosis or at risk of developing a hereditary cancer. The Hamsa Wellness Community will focus on pillars of Connection, Hope, Education, Support and Strength.
Lynn Isaacs Palan (Lynnie) was a pioneer and leader of both Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project and Sharsheret Supports STL. Through her passionate volunteerism and professional work in these organizations and many others, she was dedicated to building vibrant communities and changing lives, especially for individuals living with, or at increased genetic risk of developing cancer. Lynnie lost her battle to breast cancer on April 10, 2018, leaving a legacy of philanthropy among her family, friends, and the entire St. Louis community. Lynnie’s passion and drive will forever remain the legacy of The Hamsa Wellness Community and Nishmah.
For more information or to donate to Lynnie’s Legacy, contact Director of the Hamsa Wellness Community, Chelsea Leon, at cleon@jccstl.org.