In November 2025, Drew Greenberg marked his Bar Mitzvah in a way that moved everyone who heard his story. At just 13 years old, Drew chose to honor his father, Dr. David Ross Greenberg, by turning this milestone into a mitzvah project supporting neuroendocrine cancer research.
David died from neuroendocrine cancer in May 2025, only months before Drew’s Bar Mitzvah. He was a brilliant engineer, a lifelong learner, and a deeply compassionate person who was known for his warmth, humor, and generosity. After a distinguished career in electrical engineering, David devoted himself to his family and to his community, volunteering his time and sharing his knowledge freely with others. Above all, he was a devoted and loving father who took immense pride in his son.
In his D’var Torah, Drew spoke movingly about his father and the loss his family experienced. “He was the best dad I could have ever asked for, and I want to make sure no one else in the world has to go through what I did,” Drew shared.
Through his mitzvah project, Drew raised nearly $12,000 to help advance NETRF-funded research so that other families might have more time, more options, and more answers. Drew also spoke with remarkable insight about responsibility, caring for those who are sick, and how neuroendocrine cancers are often misdiagnosed — a reality that profoundly affected his family. As he explained simply and powerfully, “My fundraising could stop people from dying, and that is very important to me.”
Drew’s mom, Cantor Sally Neff Greenberg, expressed so poignantly, “Keep doing the research so no other 13-year-old needs to be without a father.”
We are deeply grateful to Drew and his family for honoring David’s life in such a meaningful way. Drew’s mitzvah reminds us that research is personal, urgent, and transformative — and that love, when paired with action, can change lives.
Thank you, Drew, for your courage and generosity, and for carrying your father’s legacy forward with such heart.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See our community fundraising page to learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of those affected by neuroendocrine cancer.