Congregation Beth Sholom in Napa this week distributed an email that seeks to find a stem-cell match for John Glaser, who is fighting two types of cancer: multiple myeloma and leukemia.

People with a German-Jewish background have the best odds of being a match with Glaser, 62, the superintendent of the Napa Valley Unified School District for seven years before retiring in 2010.

Potential donors ages 18-60 are urged to visit www.marrow.org. A cheek-swab kit by mail can be requested.

“John is not a congregant … but as a Jewish community, we support all in need, not only our congregants,” Ellyn Elson, Beth Sholom’s president, wrote in an email. “He is very ill and this is a desperate situation.”

For information, contact the synagogue at (707) 253-7305.