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Dr. Chemi Solomon (Hebrew: ד"ר חמי סולומון; born 19 July 1942, originally Nehama Shalvi) was an Israeli-American psychologist, educator, and cancer advocate. She is known for her contributions to cancer support services and her work with adolescent cancer patients.
Biography
[edit]Solomon was born Nehama Shalvi on 19 July 1942 in jerusalem, Israel (before isael was declared as a state) and was the eldest of four children. Her mother, Ester "Beila" Shalvi (1927–1984), was born in the Jewish Quarter and was the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Groman. Ester married Rabbi Shlomo "Izik" Shalvi (1921–2000), a biblical teacher and tour guide of the Holy Land. Solomon’s parents had an arranged marriage, and she was born when her mother was just 15 years old..
The family moved from Jerusalem to Jaffa, settling in the impoverished area of Jabalia. Growing up in severe economic hardship, Solomon began working at a young age to support her family, taking on various jobs such as floor cleaning, teaching Hebrew, and babysitting. Despite these challenges, she aspired to obtain a university degree and improve her socioeconomic status.
At 19, Solomon was teaching etiquette and married Zvika "Zvi" Solomon, an IDF general whom was a romanian jew that immigrated to israel. The two married in 1961 and Solomon started her studies to become a teacher. Solomon pursued a degree in education and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education. In 1965, she gave birth to her first daughter, Liat, and in 1970, her second daughter, Hilit, was born. Solomon worked as a school principal at Miftan High School in Holon before transitioning to a counseling role, where she focused on helping students from broken homes
After 16 years of marriage, Solomon divorced and moved to Florida with her two daughters to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology. Shortly thereafter, she married Michael Wiess, a Canadian pharmacist who helped raising her daughters. In 1983, following a visit to her ailing mother in Israel, Solomon was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother, who was also suffering from breast cancer, passed away in 1984. Solomon underwent extensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a double mastectomy, ultimately overcoming the disease.
During her treatment, Solomon observed a lack of support groups for teenage cancer patients. This led her to establish a support group for teenagers, recognizing the need for a space where young people could share their experiences and receive support from peers with similar challenges. She conducted two American Cancer Society support groups: one for teenagers with cancer and another for women with breast cancer.
Solomon's research, personal experiences, and patient interactions have underscored the importance of stress reduction in cancer prevention and recovery. Her advocacy and work in the field of psychology and cancer support continue to impact many lives.
Personal life
[edit]Solomon married Zvika Solomon in 1961, and together they had two daughters, Liat and Hilit.
After relocating to Florida, Solomon married her second husband, Michael Weiss, a Canadian pharmacist, in 1982. Weiss who helped to raise her daughters. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1992, which Solomon attributed to mental cruelty.
In 1994, Solomon married her third husband, Rabbi Elliot Winograd. This marriage, which lasted for two years, ended in divorce due to conflicts related to Winograd's religious commitments.
Final Years
[edit]Before her cancer recurred, Solomon divorced her third husband, Rabbi Elliot Winograd, and relocated to New York City to be closer to her daughters. She lived with her daughter, Liat, in Manhattan, and they resided in the same building as her other daughter, Hilit. During this period, Solomon focused on fighting cancer through all available means.
Death
[edit]Solomon passed away on March 30, 1998, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Following her death, her remains were returned to Israel, where she was laid to rest beside her mother at the Holon Cemetery.
References
[edit]Coping with cancer by Paul Heidelberg