Recent Rutgers University graduate Monica Rozenfeld decided before starting her own career she wanted to undertake a major project promoting the Jewish concepts of tzedaka and learning.

The idea she hit on is a concert to be held at the university Sunday, Dec. 2, to benefit an organization helping young Jewish women with breast cancer. It will also promote the work of Rutgers organizations for Jewish students.

"One of my goals is to do good things for our communities," said Rozenfeld.

The concert will feature Sephardi recording artist Sarah Aroeste and her band; ShockWave, the all-female Rutgers a cappella group; and others.

Speakers will include Cantor Anna West Ott of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, a recent breast cancer survivor, as well as several other survivors sharing their experiences.

All money raised will benefit Sharsheret, a national organization based in Teaneck.

"I am very excited to be raising money for Sharsheret," said Rozenfeld. "They focus on the specific needs of young Jewish women, and not only on the physical needs, but the emotional and spiritual as well, which is crucial in overcoming any obstacle, including breast cancer. What they do is provide more than a service, but a friendship as well. And that can sometimes be as important as treatment is."

Officials at the organization see the concert as an opportunity to educate young women.

"We are thrilled that Monica is so eager to spread the word about Sharsheret and the many ways we can serve Jewish women," said its executive director, Eillene Leistner, in a phone interview. "We really believe she can further our cause through this."

The concert is cohosted by Rutgers Jewish Xperience and Rutgers Hillel. Rozenfeld is also being advised by Gerrie Bamira and Lee Livingston, the executive director and president, respectively, of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County.

"I've gotten them some donations to offset the costs," said Livingston. "Gerrie had been advising them and we've been trying to help her get this off the ground."

Rozenfeld grew up in an unaffiliated home in Edison, but found a connection to the Jewish community after becoming associated with Hillel and Rutgers Jewish Xperience, an educational organization on campus.

Rozenfeld became inspired to help the Jewish community after studying Torah and Jewish texts with Esther Lewis, the wife of Jewish Xperience codirector Rabbi Yehoshua Lewis.

The 22-year-old Rozenfeld works part-time at the Lippman Kanfer Institute, a think-tank for Jewish learning and engagement at the Jewish Education Service of North America. She also does work for Sinailive.com, a Web-based nonprofit helping Jewish organizations establish a multimedia presence.

A May graduate of Rutgers with a degree in journalism and mass media, Rozenfeld is still unsure of her career goals. "I might be a journalist and want to do something benefiting the Jewish world in some way," she said. "I love to write about people who make things happen — and I also like to make things happen."

She recently returned from two weeks of study in Israel. Determined to make the concert a "Jewish involvement affair," she said, attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of and gather information about Hillel, Jewish Xperience, Sharsheret, and Rutgers Chabad.

About 30 representatives of B'nai B'rith Youth Organization's Greater Jersey Region will also be on hand as volunteers.

"I'm truly hoping this event will reach out to girls who have no interest in Judaism and gets them more engaged in the future," said Rozenfeld. "I think having a strong Jewish identity is key, and this is one way of introducing that in people who are not affiliated."

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