This week, April 18-24, 2021 is National Infertility Awareness Week and we are proud to share that alum Becca Shimshak (K’92) co-founded Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Journeys. Becca met her co-founder Dalia Davis and Vice President Naomi Less over a decade ago while working at the Foundation for Jewish Camp directing their Cornerstone Fellowship.
Uprooted articulates that they acknowledge everyone who is currently struggling to grow their family. Uprooted’s work allows those struggling to turn toward the Jewish community as they navigate their fertility journey, to break through feelings of isolation and shame, and to connect with others traversing the same path. Uprooted does this by:
- Raising awareness about fertility journeys within the Jewish community.
- Fostering greater inclusivity and support for those who are struggling to grow their families.
- Educating Jewish leaders as to how to assist families experiencing fertility challenges.
- Providing direct support through programming which focuses on emotional and spiritual healing.
Becca’s professional expertise is working with the Jewish community and working in the field of non-profit education. Her experience as a Jewish communal professional is both national and pluralistic with organizations such as the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Gann Academy and currently with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. Becca is currently the Director of Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy at JCRC. Prior to her work in the Jewish community, Becca developed a mentoring tutoring program for Goddard Riverside Community Center in New York City and managed professional development programs for the Department of Literacy in the Office of Curriculum and Professional Development at the New York City Department of Education. Becca is currently pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Psychology at William James College.
Becca began her Yavneh journey in the Gan at age 4 when her mom Marsha Slotnick (camper in 1959!) was a Hebrew teacher, met her husband at Yavneh at age 23 while they were Roshes and now over two decades later is thrilled to return to camp this summer in her first summer as a camp spouse. Becca’s husband Steve will be Rosh Tzeirim, Head of Lower Camp, and their daughters Zoe and Isabella will continue the dor l’dor masoret as they begin their time at Yavneh as Gan campers. Becca had her own arduous fertility journey to bring her daughters into this world and cannot wait to bring them to her favorite place on earth.
