Size: 8 MB 2014 April - Charlotte Jewish News

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An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Charlotte
Vol. 36, No. 4
Nissan 5774
April 2014
Jewish Federation: The STRENGTH of a People.
The POWER of Community.
Together our impact stretches from Charlotte to Israel to 70
countries around the world
Sue Littauer
cross-fire, needed our help and
our Federation system responded
by committing core funding and
by opening the Ukraine Assistance Fund to raise the additional
dollars needed. Through the work
of our overseas partners, the
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish
Agency for Israel (JAFI) and
World ORT, our Federation was
able to provide on the ground assistance.
I’ve seen the Federation respond to crisis after crisis, in Israel
and around the world. Just this
fall, the Jewish Federation of
North America committed the
funds to “complete the journey” –
to bring the remaining Ethiopian
Jews to Israel. Our own Federation made a commitment to join in
5007 Providence Road, Suite #112
Charlotte, NC 28226
Change Service Requested
By Sue Littauer, Development
Director, Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte
I’ve had the privilege of getting
to know hundreds of volunteers
and donors during my years as the
Development Director for Federation. I’ve listened to their stories,
laughed with them, cried with
them, and have always been interested to learn how they connect to
our community, to the Jewish Federation, to Judaism.
Reading about the crisis in the
Ukraine, seeing the images on the
internet, in the newspaper and on
television has made a huge impact
on me because I’ve had the opportunity to travel to the Ukraine a
few times during the past several
years to visit at-risk populations
and to witness the rebirth of Jewish life, all made possible through
the Jewish Federation and its
overseas partners.
The Federation system responded immediately to the crisis
in the Ukraine by doing what it
does best – providing emergency
relief and assistance to those in
need. In a part of the world where
many of us have roots, the most
vulnerable members of our Jewish
family – children and the frail elderly – became innocent victims in
a rapidly deteriorating situation.
Our fellow Jews, caught in the
the worldwide effort to resettle
this vulnerable population by raising additional funds.
In July 12, 2006, Sue Worrel
and I landed in Israel on the very
day the Second Lebanon War
started. We saw firsthand how the
Federation system responded.
Children were immediately
brought to safety, crisis counseling was put into place, food and
supplies were distributed to bomb
shelters. Financial assistance was
provided immediately without
hesitation to those in
need, before Emergency Funds were set
up throughout the
Federation system.
I
know,
that
through the my Annual
Campaign
pledge, I am able to support all of
the wonderful programs offered
by our amazing local beneficiary
agencies which provide a Jewish
education for our children and
grandchildren, build a strong Jew-
2014 Campaign at a Glance
Campaign Total to Date
$2,375,000
Number of Contributions Received
1177
Percentage of Campaign Complete
69%
as of March 18
ish life here in Charlotte, and connect our teens and the members of
our community with Israel.
I am thankful that through my
financial support of the
Jewish Federation, I am
able to provide for Jews
in Israel and around the
world – for Jewish
camps, secure and safe
environments, for social
experiences for thousands of seniors who are
alone and need financial
assistance.
And I know that because of my own pledge to the
Annual Campaign, the organization that means so much to me –
the Jewish Federation - will respond immediately to crises
around the world.
One gift really makes a
difference.
If you have not had your opportunity to make your pledge to the
2014 Annual Campaign, please
join me by pledging online at
www.jewishcharlotte.org or by
contacting me at sue.littauer@
jewishcharlotte.org Y
April 6 Seminar Helps Teens Find Their
Passion and Turn it Into a Business
Who is Vanessa Van Petten?
* Author of one of Amazon’s
“Top 5 Hottest Books”
* Youthologist
* Teen whisperer
* International speaker
* Guest of Dr. Drew and The
Real Housewives of Orange
County
* CEO
* Website developer
* Behavioral investigator
* Huffington Post, Forbes, and
CNN columnist
* Mom’s Choice Award winner
* Emory University Magna
Cum Laude graduate
* Certified in Subtle Expression Training Tool (SETT), Subtle
Expression Recognition Training
(SubX) and Statement Analysis
* All of the above
If you answered, “All of the
above” then you would be right.
As a young entrepreneur, Vanessa
will be the keynote speaker at
Jewish Family Services Family
Reunion on April 6. The keynote
address for parents of teens,
pre-teens, and young adults, titled
“Decode Your Teen,” will focus
on bridging the differences between young people and parents
so each understands what the
other is thinking. This free event
will teach ways to communicate
and build trust, as well as
deal with lying, drama, and sulk-
Vanessa Van Petten
ing. Tapping into her experience
as a “behavioral investigator,”
Vanessa will share stories, advice,
and research with parents and
their children wanting to build
better relationshis.
Following the 10 AM program,
teens are invited to join Vanessa
for an informal discussion on
finding their passion projects and
achieving success. “Many students are constantly told that they
are too young to know what they
want to do or start their careers,”
says Vanessa. In this talk, she will
share her journey of starting her
business at 16-years-old and then
continuing to grow it from the
cramped desk of her college dorm
room. She will address ways to facilitate and inspire young people
to find their passions and act on
them. She gives practical, humorous, and inspiring advice on how
to deal with naysayers, where to
find funding and how to get over
mental blocks when you feel like
you are stuck.
Vanessa tells true stories that
give insight into the minds and attitudes of both parents and teens
on issues ranging from friendships
and bullying to school, sex, alcohol, and drugs. Her advice is realistic; some of it is challenging.
But, she gets her insight from
being able to break through the
barriers that exist between teens
and parents. Many parents will be
shocked to find out that for the
most part, their teens not only
need them, but truly want them involved in their lives.
“When I was 16,” says
Vanessa, “I thought it was my
Dad’s goal in life to make me miserable. I was convinced that he
had a running list of all the ways
he could embarrass me in front of
my friends, trick me into doing
more chores, or make my curfew
earlier. I realized my dad was
reading books that were all written by adults, and I wondered why
nothing
was
written
by
teenagers.”
This inspired her to write
“You’re Grounded!” from a teen
point of view at age 17. It was a
critical success and launched her
(Continued on page 14)
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT # 1208
CHARLOTTE, NC
The Charlotte Jewish News - April 2014 - Page 2
JEWISH FEDERATION NEWS
Tributes to the
2014 Annual
Campaign
Families Enjoying PJ Library Events
at Shalom Park
The Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte thanks and acknowledges the following tributes
made January 7-March 7
Through PJ Library, parents can create a special time with their
children to learn and appreciate their Jewish heritage. Interested in
learning more? Contact Tair Guidice, Director of Outreach and Engagement, 704-944-6759 or tair.guidice@jewishcharlotte.org. Y
In honor of Meg Goldstein’s
Birthday
By Sue and Mike Littauer
In memory of David T. Feldman
By Harriet Meetz
In memory of David Kipnis
By Ira and Stacey Slomka and
Family
In memory of the beloved mother
of Barry Klemons
By Sue and Mike Littauer
In memory of Anita Stolov
By Harriet Meetz
If you would like to make a Tribute to the Jewish Federation, please
contact the Federation office at
704-944-6761.
SHABBAT AND HOLIDAY CANDLE
LIGHTING FOR APRIL 2014
Friday, April 4, 7:28 PM
Monday, April 14, Erev Pesach, 7:36 PM
Tuesday, April 15, 2nd night of Pesach, after 8:34 PM
Sunday, April 20, 7th night of Pesach, 7:41 PM
Monday, April 21, last night of Pesach, after 8:39 PM
The Charlotte Jewish
News
5007 Providence Road, Suite 112
Charlotte, NC 28226
Phone
(voice mail after office hours)
Office 704-944-6765
FAX 704-365-4507
email: charlottejewishnews@shalomcharlotte.org
An Affiliate of the
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Amy Krakovitz - Editor
Advertising Sales Reps:
Jodi Valenstein, 704-609-0950 or
Scott Moskowitz, 704-906-2474
Art Director, Erin Bronkar, 704-847-2185,
ebronkar@carolina.rr.com
CJN Editorial Board
Chair - Bob Davis
Members: Bob Abel, Evelyn Berger, David Delfiner,
Jeff Epstein, Ann Langman, Linda Levy
The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality or kasruth of any
product or service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political
party or position by this newspaper, the Federation or any employees.
Published monthly except July
An affliate of:
CONTENTS
Federation News .....................................pp. 1, 2
Jewish Family Services.................................p. 1
Youth Visions ..........................................pp. 3, 5
Schools......................................................pp. 6-9
Community News ..................................pp. 9-15
Synagogues/Congregations ................pp. 16-19
Jewish Community Center................pp. 20, 21
Women’s News ............................................p. 22
Levine-Sklut Judaic Library .....................p. 23
Mazel Tov ....................................................p. 24
Dining Out...................................................p. 25
Passover & Yom HaShoah..................pp. 28-31
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Youth Visions
Israeli Soldiers’ Stories: A New Side of the IDF
By Sarah Fellman
Editor’s Note: MZ Teens is a
high school leadership program
run by StandWithUs that prepares
students for the challenges they
may encounter regarding Israel in
college and in their communities.
Temple Israel member and Providence High senior, Sarah Fellman, is an MZ Teens intern.
http://www.standwithus.com/abou
tus/mzteens/
I first heard of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as a third
grader when I attended Camp
Mindy. Every day, at Israel Education class, we simulated IDF
training and learned about Israel
and its neighbors. But it wasn’t
until my involvement with StandWithUs as an MZ Teen intern this
year that I learned about an aspect
of the IDF beyond the training and
wars.
In December, as an MZ Teen
Intern, I ran a program at my
BBYO regional convention about
the IDF moral code, the Ruach
Tzahal, which translates to “Spirit
of the IDF.” I wanted to educate
my peers about the extensive effort made by the Israeli military to
preserve human life on both sides.
I opened up a fact-based discussion where everyone could add his
or her thoughts on the IDF’s
morality. We discussed topics that
ranged from its precautionary
phone calls and leaflets before
bombing a Hamas stronghold to
Israel’s promise of unconditional
return for its soldiers, as well as
the IDF’s portrayal in international news and social media.
After conducting the research
necessary, I was much more informed about morality during
both war and peace in Israel, but
Sarah Fellman
that was just statistics and trends.
I still had little personal connection to the IDF. However, when I
worked with Charlotte Teen
Coalition to host StandWithUs
“Israeli Soldiers’ Stories” Shabbat, I had the chance to hear about
and understand the genuinely
good intentions – and importance
– of the IDF.
StandWithUs “Israeli Soldiers’
Stories” features reserve duty Israeli college students who talk
about their backgrounds, interests,
and life in Israel and share personal experiences upholding the
Ruach Tzahal, even while facing
an enemy that hides behinds its
civilians. Shay and Hen attended
our event and put human faces to
the IDF uniform. They shared incredible experiences.
In particular, Hen’s story struck
a nerve. Hen, whose grandparents
were Jewish Iranian refugees who
fled to Israel when his great
grandfather was hanged by the
Iranians for being Jewish, witnessed a suicide bombing in an Israeli ice cream shop as a young
boy. But he was not bitter about
any of this hatred or anti-Semitism that had affected his life. Enlistment is mandatory in Israel at
age 18, and Hen joined the
COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories)
unit. For five years, Hen was a liaison among the IDF, the United
Nations, and the Palestinian Authority. He and his unit worked to
serve the Palestinian civilians and
help outside organizations do the
same.
One day in Hebron, the U.N. liaison office reported that two
Palestinian kids had accidentally
set off an unexploded device left
for Israeli jeeps to drive over. The
kids were hurt and the Palestinian
medics were called, but they
weren’t coming. That left the IDF
to take over and within five minutes an ambulance was at the
scene and within 10 minutes, they
were transported to the closest
army base – Hen’s base – where
their care was taken over by IDF
doctors. Hen then facilitated permits allowing the parents into Israel to visit their children.
This story exemplifies Israel’s
willingness to come to the aid of
its neighbors and its unwavering
commitment to helping civilians,
regardless of nationality. It also
inspired in me the hope for peace
and understanding between Israel
and its neighbors: Hen remarked
that when he brought the parents
of the Palestinian children to see
their kids, there was no resentment of Palestinian against Israeli
or Israeli against Palestinian.
Though I never heard of
COGAT before, I now realize
what an important role it plays. It
gives me hope that the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict can be solved
peacefully and makes me proud of
my country’s efforts to help innocent people everywhere. I wasn’t
the only one impressed and intrigued by the soldiers’ stories.
My peers from all denominations
of Judaism jumped at the chance
to ask questions about life in Israel, service in the IDF, and more.
It is this kind of experience – a
chance for direct communication
and interaction – that will bring
Jewish kids from Charlotte (or
any other city) close to Israel.
StandWithUs “Israeli Soldiers’
Stories” is about truth, teaching,
and learning, and in order to cre-
ate a generation of Jewish leaders
with a meaningful relationship to
Israel, it is important to arm them
with the truth.
The program also instilled
something even more important
than pure knowledge: curiosity.
While Shay and Hen could only
stay for about two hours, the desire to learn more about Israel and
to take an active role in its future
is something that lasts a lifetime.
But even beyond curiosity, I believe that the most important message for Charlotte Jewish teens
and for people everywhere is one
of hope: hope for peace, hope for
a time when the IDF is not
needed, and hope for a better future for everyone.Y
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Attention: Teens, Teachers, and Parents
Is Holocaust Education Important to You?
The Levine-Sklut Judaic Library is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a Center for Holocaust and Tolerance Education to serve as a clearinghouse for the diverse and valuable Holocaust educational resources this
community offers.
As the region’s only Judaic resource center, the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library
regularly fields inquiries from our community and beyond about the Holocaust,
how to teach it, and how to make this complex topic relevant in today’s classrooms. Currently there is no centralized source of information on local Holocaust
resources; the creation of a Center for Holocaust and Tolerance Education would
provide a single point of access for all things related to the Holocaust for the
greater Charlotte community. By coordinating and consolidating information about
the full breadth of the region’s opportunities, the Library can do what a Library
does best – connect patrons with the resources that most effectively meet their
needs.
Thanks to a generous grant from Stan Greenspon, the Library has convened
an exploratory commission that will investigate the possibilities and options of a
potential Center for Holocaust and Tolerance Education in Charlotte. A Library
Board Task Force will conduct the research, and an important part of the process
is soliciting input and feedback from our constituents, educators and the public
about how such a Center could be most valuable, accessible and useful to you.
Please assist us in our efforts by taking a few minutes to complete a brief survey.
Please visit www.lsjl.org to fill out survey. Y
(704) 376.7434 U greenspon.com
Two Charlotte Teens Elected to Youth Group International/North
American Boards
Roni Rose and Debbie Rabinovich are making Jewish Charlotteans proud. Both were elected
to the highest board in their respective youth groups’ organizations.
During President’s Day weekend, Roni Rose, a proud member
of Chai Chaverim BBG, was
elected as the 70th International
Mazkirah (VP of global communications and strengthening global
Jewry) of BBYO. In this role,
Roni will be part of a ten-member
teen board that will help chart the
organization’s vision for the coming year and provide leadership
and support to teen leaders in
local communities throughout the
BBYO system.
Roni has been involved in Chai
Chaverim since the 9th grade. She
has served on her chapter board,
most recently as N’siah (president), and is currently the North
Carolina Council Gizborit (VP in
charge of fundraising). Roni has
helped the 21 chapters across the
Eastern Region raise close to
$2,000 for BBYO’s International
Service Fund and Globalization
initiatives.
Debbie Rabinovich, a Temple
Beth El High School senior, is the
newly-elected president of the
North American Federation of
Temple Youth, the Reform movement’s organization for high
school students. As President,
Debbie is leader for NFTY in all
of the US, Canada, and parts of
Latin America.
Debbie has been involved with
NFTY since she joined LIBERTY
(the Beth El group) in the 8th
grade. This past summer she went
to URJ Kutz Camp for Mechina
Regional Board Training. Debbie
has been a madricha in our Beth
El Religious School, in our B’nai
Mitzvah training program, with
jewTube Charlotte producing online Religious School videos, and
is a member of our Teen Band,
Teen Vocal Ensemble, and Adult
Choir.
The Charlotte Jewish community should be proud of the investment we make in our youth.Y
Hebrew High Presents a Program on
Keeping Teens Safe in Relationships
Debbie Rabinovich
$10/advance
$15/at door
Roni Rose
This Event is
Too Good
to Passover!
PASSOVER COOKING DEMO
THURSDAY, APRIL 10 | 6:30 PM
BYOB and join us at Atherton Mill
2140 South Boulevard
Join NextGen for a Passover cooking demonstration with
Chef Alyssa Gorelick, who will give us some tasty updates
on traditional favorites.
www.NEXTGenCharlotte.org
The program was presented by Shalom-Bayit North Carolina and Jewish Family Services;
here seen are Shane Isaacson, Sam Neumann, Kaylie Brooks, Jacob Lipsey, Noah Hunte,
Melissa Siegel, who presented the program, Zoe Gavia, and Stephanie Starr, director of Jewish Famiy Services.
Billie Rose Tacher, Mia Goldman, Aleyah Brigham, Leah Porter,
Talia Weinstein, Melissa Siegel, and Stephanie Starr.
Questions? Contact Tair at 704.944.6759,
tair.giudice@jewishcharlotte.org
Schools
Celebrating Pesach at The Charlotte Jewish Preschool
By Becca Weiner
Pesach has many long-standing
traditions and rituals among Jews:
from the Passover Seder and
retelling the story of the Exodus
to delicious matzah brei for breakfast during the eight-day-long holiday. Here at the Charlotte Jewish
Preschool, we put our own spin on
Pesach. From Judaica class with
Morah Becca to the Seders, we
guarantee that you won’t find a
Passover celebration quite like
ours anywhere else.
We begin teaching the kids the
story of Passover in the months
leading up to the holiday, as our
4s and PreK classes work on decorating a Seder plate. The teachers
work with the students on each
part of the Seder plate and what it
symbolizes. On Tu B’shevat, they
plant parsley to celebrate the impending spring and they watch it
grow until they can add it to their
Seder plate during Passover.
In Judaica, students start learning about Passover with the story
of Joseph, since it was because of
Joseph that the Jewish people
ended up in Egypt. In preparation
for Pesach, Morah Becca lays the
foundation of the story by helping
our students act out the good and
the bad from Joseph’s life, from
being sold into Egyptian slavery
to ascending to one of the highest
ranks in government.
While the plagues may seem
like the least palatable part of the
Passover story, our kids love
going to the plague museum with
Miss Debby in the Library. Set up
like a touch-and-feel museum our
students get to experience the
plagues in a much less excruciating way than the Egyptians did.
Additionally, our teachers incorporate the plagues into their classrooms. At snack time, some of the
teachers use food coloring to turn
the kids water into blood, and
after nap time our students wake
up to find frogs on their sleeping
mats.
After the kids learn about each
of the ten plagues in their classroom and with Miss Debby the 4s
and PreK classes participate in our
annual “Slave Walk.” They begin
in the gym, where “Pharoah” has
them do physical labor, such as
scattering koosh balls only to collect them once again. The valiant
Moses comes in to save our 4s
and PreK by facilitating the ten
plagues. Our students watch as
teachers toss frogs on our Pharaoh
and plant boils on his face. Once
Pharaoh finally relents, Moses
leads our students to freedom by
marching them from the gym,
down the hallways of the Levine
JCC and all the way back to the
Charlotte Jewish Preschool building.
Each class participates in a
Seder with their age levels. Our
ones, twos, and threes have a
beautiful Seder led by Miss Patty,
Morah Becca, and the classroom
teachers. Miss Patty plays all of
our Passover favorites on her guitar – from “One Morning” to
“Pharoah, Pharoah.” Morah
Becca and the classroom teachers
read the Haggadah so students can
hear the complete story of
Passover in one sitting, just like a
real Seder. After we read the Haggadah the students enjoy the
Passover meal.
Our 4s and PreK classes take
over Lerner Hall with their
Passover celebration. For weeks
leading up to the Seder the 4s and
PreK work on creating their very
own slideshow depicting the parts
of our Haggadah. Students illustrate various Passover scenes,
from frogs jumping on Pharoah’s
head to Moses leading the Jewish
people through the parted Red
Sea. The 4s and PreK teachers
read the Haggadah aloud to the
students as pictures of the events
run across the giant screen behind
them. Our students have the opportunity to watch the Passover
story unfold thanks to their very
own artwork, as the teachers recount the Exodus.
Like everything else we do at
the Charlotte Jewish Preschool,
we make Passover a thrilling and
exciting holiday for our students
to celebrate. Our teachers make
the experience real for our students, from the plagues to the
Slave Walk.
Enrollment for the 2014-2015
is currently underway. To sched-
ule a tour or to get more information please contact Alyson Kalik
at 704-944-6776.Y
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JPS Celebrates Grandparents Day
Family ties are the core of who we are as people. They
help to shape our ideas, our values and our future goals.
Celebrating with our loved ones is a special treat at The
Jewish Preschool on Sardis. Here are some highlights from
our Annual Grandparents Day. Special thanks to our many
Grandparents and special guests who traveled from near
and far to spend time at JPS for a fun morning. Y
Tyler and his grandparents
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Three generations enjoying the morning: Noa, her mom, and grandfather
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Ian and his grandparents working on a keepsake project
The Charlotte Jewish Day School Pesach Experience
You know the story well. According to the Book of Exodus,
Moshe was born in a time when
his people, the Children of Israel,
were increasing in number and the
Egyptian Pharaoh was worried
that they might help Egypt’s enemies. Moshe’s Hebrew mother,
Yocheved, hid him when the
Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. He ended
up being adopted into the Egyptian royal family. After killing an
Egyptian slave-master, Moshe
fled across the Red Sea to Midian
where he tended the flocks of
Jethro, a priest of Midian on the
slopes of Mt. Horeb. After the Ten
Plagues were unleashed on Egypt,
Moshe led the Exodus of the Hebrew people out of Egypt and
across the Red Sea, after which
they based themselves at Mount
Sinai. It was at this time that
Moshe received the Ten Commandments.
The trick for the Judaica instructors of Charlotte Jewish Day
School is how to bring these stories to life for students and parents
alike. With a little creative ingenuity, the Pesach Experience was
born.
Classrooms are transformed
into living history museums
where teachers give guided tours;
students serve as the memorable
characters; and the props, sets and
special effects make the accounts
of Pesach so vivid to the heart and
mind.
The first stop on the tour is
along a specially crafted Nile
River, where we see baby Moshe
adrift in a basket as his older sister
Miriam looks on. Next, we enter a
“hands-on” pyramid building site,
where guests are invited to build
pyramids out of blocks. This depicts the hard work and enslavement of the Jewish people. Soon,
Moshe is growing older and we
find ourselves with Moshe in the
desert where he is rescuing a lost
lamb. We heard “Hashem” speak
to Moshe, who directed him to set
the Jewish people free. Next, we
are witnesses to the ten plagues.
Dioramas, Power Points, Board
Games are made by the students
in fifth grade depicting these
plagues such as water turning to
blood; frogs; sick animals; and
people with boils to name a few.
In response to the plague of the
first born, people painted their
door frames with blood so that the
Angel of Death would “pass over”
these children. Next, we experience the first Seder. Guests eat
matzah together quickly as the
lamb is being roasted and Egyptian soldiers ready for attack. Not
to worry … Hashem will help the
Jewish people. Visitors enter the
undersea world of the Red Sea
complete with fishes and sound
effects. When they arrive on “dry
land,” they celebrate this miracle
with song and dance. Finally, after
a long walk through the desert,
visitors emerge at the foot of
Mount Sinai. Moshe appears
amidst thunder and lightning and
presents The Ten Commandments.
Students from Temple Beth El,
Ohr Hatorah, Ballantyne Jewish
Center, and Temple Israel Religious and Hebrew Schools will be
visiting Sunday morning, April 6.
The preschool families are invited to join us on Friday, April 4,
from 1–3 PM, religious school
students and their teachers on
Sunday, April 6, from 8:30 AM–
1 PM and the general community
on Sunday, April 6, from 1–3 PM.
If you would like to be part of
this historical experience, please
RSVP at 704-366-3984.
Many thanks to our fine Judaica staff and Donna Lerner for
putting this phenomenal exhibit
together. Y
Community News
Movie Fundraiser to Raise Money and
Awareness for The Shalom Park
Freedom School
What if 15 years from now a
documentary was made about the
Shalom Park Freedom School?
What would our K-5 scholars recall about their experience at
Shalom Park’s six-week literacybased enriching summer program? How did it influence their
lives, and how did the program
touch the lives of Shalom Park
volunteers?
On Thursday May 1, the
Shalom Park Freedom School
(SPFS) will show a moving documentary at its movie fundraiser
at 7 PM in the Sam Lerner Center
for Cultural Arts. Ticket sales and
proceeds raised at the event will
benefit SPFS which will host its
fourth annual six-week literacybased summer program this June
18-July 30.
The film being screened this
year is From Swastika to Jim
Crow, a one hour PBS documentary that tells the story of how historically black colleges in the
south during WWII opened their
doors to Jewish refugee scholars
from Nazi Germany, and how empathy between the two groups
strengthened the bond between
teacher and student, colleagues
and community.
Aside from a shared experience
of persecution, the two communities are shown as partners embracing the powerfulness of a good
education and a devoted teacher.
Through a series of interviews,
photographs, and other striking
archival footage, the journey of
these two groups is explored. This
unfamiliar narrative about Holocaust scholar refugees and historically black colleges will have
special meaning for those of us
living in the South.
A brief panel discussion will
highlight three unique perspectives about the film and how it relates to the SPFS program. Rabbi
Judy Schindler will speak about
how the Jewish community and
African American community
have walked together in their
struggles against injustice based
on race, religion or ethnicity. Sterling Elementary Principal Beth
Wardy will describe the at-risk
students who are chosen to attend
SPFS and the impact she believes
this six week literacy and enrichment program has on the lives of
these economically disadvantaged
students. The first SPFS Site Coordinator and Duke Divinity
School graduate candidate, Kevin
Vandiver, will speak about his experience working directly with the
SPFS scholars, volunteers, and
teen board during the inaugural
summer here at Shalom Park.
Tickets to go on sale in April
for $10 at the front desk of the
JCC. Light movie refreshments
will be served. Come support our
Shalom Park Freedom School
scholars by watching this inspiring documentary about Jewish
refugee scholars and the life-long
bonds that were established between them and the historically
black colleges in the south that
embraced them.
Please visit www.spfreedomschool.org for more information
about how to get involved. Y
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Hebrew High Students Discover the Hebrew Cemetery
By Sandra Goldman
On a beautiful late morning in
March, about 30 Hebrew High
School ninth graders went to the
cemetery as part of their annual
retreat. Their mission: To learn as
much as possible about the history
of the cemetery and the people
buried in these holy grounds.
In order to bring certain lightness to their experience and to
spark interest HCA president,
Brian Yesowitch, spoke first to the
group of 15-year-olds about the
history of the cemetery. They
were brought back to 1867 when
the cemetery was founded, they
were told about Louis Leon, one
of the private soldiers who fought
at Gettysburg and wrote the famous “Diary of a Tar-Heel Soldier” and learned about known
writer and newspaper editor Harry
Golden. They also checked out the
new gem at the cemetery, the memorial building and admired the
former white marble ark from
Temple Beth El.
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The Hebrew Cemetery Memorial
Building.
Afterwards they broke out in
small groups and went on a mission to solve the questions of a
scavenger hunt. Questions included: Find a typical symbol for
a woman’s grave. Find a confederate soldier and a World War II
vet. Find the tallest monument or
how old was the oldest person
buried at the cemetery? With
newly opened eyes and tremendous interest, the group then went
on to choose monuments in the
historic section, covered them
with paper and etched the mark-
well. But there are ways to start a
conversation without instilling
fear.
Obviously with my job comes
a more natural understanding
about the landscape of cemeteries
and death in general. I often bring
my own children and sometimes
have them help me picking up
branches. Seeing my children
walk around the different sections
and reading aloud the names of
long gone people and asking questions about them gives me a sense
of pride. I love that from their
young age on and long before they
even realize it, they experience the
cemetery as a learning environment. This place is accessible to
them, not taboo, not forbidden,
but rather, something where they
can experience history, life and
death, and Judaism based on its
roots.
David Sarnoff, founder of NBC
once said: “We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. We
must not demean life by standing
Mia Goldman does a grave rubbing.
voiced the all-around positive experience: “Visiting the cemetery
really showed me the history and
landscape of Jewish Charlotte.
The students and I enjoyed this
program very much and it was
fascinating to watch the children
how they behaved and interacted
in this unknown territory. I got to
see a totally different
side of them and I was
impressed with what
deep and profound
questions they asked.”
Director of the Consolidated Hebrew High
School, Roz Cooper,
agreed and stated: “This
is our community. I recognize so many names.
The Hebrew High ninth graders get ready to learn about the
It is all so familiar.”
Hebrew Cemetery.
To arrange a personal
tour of the cemetery, to
ers. Once they returned to the in awe of death.”
hear about pre-panning
classroom, they made pieces of art And so the idea to
and how one can honor
bring High School A grave rubbing done a loved one with a mefrom the imprints.
While many families keep chil- kids to the cemetery by one of the Hebrew morial plaque inside the
High students.
dren away from ritual practices of took fruition.
new memorial building
Brooke Whipdeath and mourning, I have alplease contact the Heways included ours. It is certainly key, one of the atbrew Cemetery Direcnot always easy for adults to in- tending girls, felt inspired after tor, Sandra Goldman, by phone at
clude kids at the nursing home, at visiting the graveyard: “I thought 704-576-1859 or by email at dithe hospital or even at the grave- it was a great experience. I learned rector@hebrewcemetery.org.Y
side. Surely, there are arguments a lot about the kind of people
to be made for letting kids live buried here and it really connects
idyllically unaware of illness and me now more to Judaism.” Noah
dying, and waiting until they’re Tobias added: “It was interesting
older to share the really painful to hear how the cemetery started
parts of life. Some might even and what made the Jews decide to
argue that it is selfish or unfair of come here to Charlotte.”
Lisa Nagel who teaches the
adults to expect children to be able
to handle the heavy stuff that we, children at Hebrew High and acourselves, can’t even really handle companied the group thoughtfully
Jewish Educational Loan Fund 2014
Application Available Through April 30
Applications for interest-free
loans for post-secondary education (college, graduate school and
vocational programs) will be
available for the 2014-2015
school year from the Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF). The
application will be open to Jewish
students in FL, GA, NC, SC, and
VA (excluding metro D.C.) on
JELF’s website at www.jelf.org
until April 30.
JELF loans are need-based and
offer “last-dollar” financing,
meaning that JELF provides the
final dollars that bridge the gap
between a student’s total financial
resources and the cost of attending school. Applicants must be
enrolled full-time in a program
leading to a degree or certificate
at an accredited institution located
in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration
status in the U.S., and be able to
demonstrate financial need
(FAFSA application required).
The Jewish Educational Loan
Fund (JELF) awarded more than
$852,000 in interest-free loans to
Jewish students in FL, GA, NC,
SC, and VA for the 2013-2014
school year, including $47,306 to
Charlotte area students. A record
number of applicants came to
JELF seeking to fill the gap between the resources they assembled through grants, loans and
scholarships and the real cost of
their education.
While JELF currently administers over $4 million in outstanding
loans, it has maintained its impressive 99% repayment rate. As
students repay their loans, JELF
uses those payments to make new
loans, creating a circle of
tzedakah. As a loan recipient recently expressed to JELF, “Thank
you so much for your kindness in
helping make it possible for me to
work towards achieving the career
goals to which I’ve long aspired.”
For additional information,
contact JELF at application@
jelf.org, 770-396-3080 or visit
www.jelf.org.Y
p
For all your Passover essentials visit these neighborhood BI-LO locations
245 Macon Plaza Drive
in Franklin
(828) 369-2970
8620 Camfield Street
in Charlotte
(704) 542-3336
bi-lo.com/passover
bi-lo.com/pas
ssover
DRUMSTRONG 2014
Rhythm + Arts Fest:
May 16, 17, and 18
Misty Meadows Farm, Weddington, NC
www.drumstrong.org
Raising awareness and funds in
support of cancer survivorship,
education, and research through
rhythm. All cancers and all populations represented through global
efforts drumming to BEAT cancer.
Our Newest Legacy
Donors
Larry Horowitz, CLU, ChFC
L2 Financial
5950 Fairview Road, Suite 608
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704) 556-9982, Fax (704) 369-2918
www.L2financial.com
www.L2financial.com
Helping in the CREATION, PRESERVATION &
DISTRIBUTION of your Estate
Securities and Investment Advisory Services
offered through H. Beck, Inc.
Member FINRA, SIPC.
H. Beck, Inc. and L2 Financial are not affiliated.
WORK WITH A LEADER IN
CHARLOTTE REAL ESTATE
EXECUTIVE REALTY
704-926-2544 office
704-975-8500 cell
www.LepowRealtors.com
Dr. Scott Menaker, DDS
Dr. Tricia Rodney, DDS
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Harvey and Shellie Barer
Shellie and Harvey Barer are
among the 219 individuals and
families in our community who
have created legacy gifts to support its future. Please take the
time to read their story and thank
them for their generosity. It is our
hope that you will be inspired and
encouraged to think about how
you can create your own Jewish
legacy.
By Shellie Barer
I was raised in Queens, NY. My
parents were not observant but always belonged to a synagogue.
While attending Hunter College, I rode to Washington with
other students in support of Israel
during the war in 1967. Upon arriving we learned that the war was
over. There was singing and dancing in the streets. This experience
profoundly influenced my life by
demonstrating the power of Klal
Yisrael.
I married young and was
deeply involved at our conserva-
tive temple on Long Island, but
after my divorce I felt alienated
from the mainstream Jewish community. My children completed
Hebrew School and we continued
to keep a kosher home, observing
holidays with other single mothers
and their families. During this period, there was little time or
money to give back to the community.
Harvey grew up in an Orthodox
home in Brooklyn keeping kosher
and attending shul every Shabbat.
His father was President of the
shul and was involved in Jewish
community life. He sponsored
many people so that they could escape the Holocaust and come to
America. One was a young rabbi
who eventually presided over
Harvey’s Bar Mitzvah. Harvey
learned firsthand the importance
of Jewish values and traditions.
While at NYU, Harvey was Master of his fraternity (AEPi) and received a national award for
fostering interfaith relations.
When my children were in college I reevaluated my priorities
and committed to living a more
Jewish life. I joined a synagogue,
regularly attended Shabbat services, took classes, and became
more socially engaged. Harvey
and I began dating in 1998. He
loved that I had a Jewish home
and was active in the community.
We began attending Shabbat and
holiday services together and married in 1999. We became even
more active in the Great Neck,
Long Island Jewish community. I
served as Sisterhood President for
two years, overlapping the last
two years of Harvey’s four years
as Brotherhood President.
We learned about Charlotte,
particularly its vibrant Jewish
community. During a four-day
visit we attended services at Temple Beth El and Temple Israel, and
toured the Levine Jewish Community Center. We were quickly convinced and moved to Charlotte in
August 2007.
Why leave a legacy? The Jewish community, particularly Temple Israel and the LJCC, have
become our family. They have
provided and cared for our spiritual, social, intellectual, and physical needs. We feel grateful and
fortunate to show our appreciation
and ensure that others have the
same opportunities to share Charlotte’s wonderful Jewish life. Y
Our Jewish Community’s Newest Legacy
Donors
The following individuals/families have recently informed our
community, through Foundation
for the Charlotte Jewish Community (FCJC) or one of the ten
Create Your Jewish Legacy community partners, that they have
created a legacy gift to support the
future of Charlotte’s Jewish community. These individuals have
established 28 new legacy gifts.
Some are creating legacy gifts
for the first time while others
have added new organizations to
their previously created legacy
plans. There are now 219 individuals/families throughout our Jew-
ish community who have included
a local Jewish organization in
their legacy plans creating 427
unique legacies. We thank our
newest legacy donors and welcome them into our community’s
Book of Life Society.
Anonymous (2)
Bette Andrews
Alec and Nancy Felder
Adam Foodman
Sandra Goldman
Bill and Patty Gorelick
Stacy and Todd Gorelick
Julia and Russ Greenfield
Don and Ellice Liss
Polly and Steve Menaker
Elsa and Martin Multer
Eva Nove
Karen and David Ransenberg
Eliot and Shirley Rosen Y
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Charlotte Youth Show Their Support for
Israel at AIPAC
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Scott is a long time community
volunteer, leader, and sponsor
in the Jewish community since
1985. Both he and Tricia, along
with their dental team, volunteer
their time and expertise to make a
positive impact in our community.
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New Patients Always Welcome
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By Dara Gever
This year, the American Israel
Public
Affairs
Committee
(AIPAC) hosted their annual Policy Conference with the largest attendance ever; over 14,000
attendees came to Washington,
DC to hear leading policy makers
pledge to support the special relationship between the United
States and Israel; over 2,000 were
high school and college students.
Among the students were five
Temple Beth El teens: high school
seniors Jake Kalik and Jenna
Hunte, high school junior Sydney
Frankenberg, and high school
sophomores Joey Kelso and Lee
Daniel. The highlights of the trip
for these teens included dinner
with the Temple Beth El delegation, an address by Secretary of
State John Kerry, and a speech by
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. All five Temple Beth
El teens, and several teens from
BBYO, attended three lobbying
sessions with the North Carolina
State legislature, where the delegations from North Carolina prepared
talking
points
for
Congressmen and their staff about
why the United States’ support of
Israel is important to us. The teens
are excited to continue their involvement with AIPAC and proIsrael advocacy, and we hope to
bring an even larger teen delegation to Policy Conference next
year. Y
Levine JCC’s Oasis Senior Enrichment Program
Preparing Now for the “Silver Tsunami”
There are many wonderful programs taking place at the LJCC
each day which benefit the growing 50+ population. Oasis, the
LJCC’s Senior Enrichment Program, offers a variety of daily programming that members can pick
and choose from, depending on
their abilities and interests. This
programming includes, but is not
limited to: Senior and Group Ex
“Lite” Exercise classes, acrylic
painting, current events and discussion groups, modern fiction
reading group, Tai Chi, creative
writing, Lunch and Learn seminars, monthly field trips, guest
speakers, musical entertainment,
monthly Exercise of the Mind and
Empower Hour classes, book
clubs, bingo, mah jongg, canasta,
poker, bridge, kosher lunches,
transportation, and more.
The mission of Oasis is to enrich the quality of life for all
adults 50+, regardless of religious
affiliation. Oasis programming offers mind, body, and spiritual
stimulation, as well as the opportunity for socialization and the fa-
cilitation of new relationships.
“Recognizing the coming of a
‘Silver Tsunami’ the LJCC and
Oasis are addressing the needs of
the aging population,” said Jodie
Iagnocco, the Adult and Senior
Program Director at the LJCC.
“We like to think of our program
as a Hora Dance,” continues
Jodie. “We keep making our circle
bigger and bigger, embracing and
supporting each other from any
stumbles along the way.”
“Joining Oasis has been one of
the best things to happen to me
since my retirement. The participants motivate me to exercise my
mind and my body. We work together as a family and have concerns for members who may not
be present. The food lunches are
very good. This team is the one to
be part of and I am glad to be a
member. Oasis and JCC members
inspire you to be the best you can
be. The staff and instructors are
very informative and patient. I’m
always motivated to do my best
and (the staff) is willing to assist
me with any problem,” says Mary
Crowell, an Oasis Member.
Oasis programming is funded
through a variety of sources. The
annual spring LJCC Golf Tournament raises money that benefits
the LJCC Adult and Senior Programs. Individual and corporate
donations and grant funding also
play a huge role in the maintenance and continued expansion of
our programming. Through the
generosity of a grant from the Blumenthal Jewish Home Foundation
for Senior Services, the Oasis
Senior Enrichment Program and
the LJCC are thrilled to present a
timely and critically relevant community-wide program, Important
Life Conversations: There’s No
Time Like Now! If you’ve been
unsuccessful in having the important conversations with your loved
one regarding finances, legal documents, giving up the car keys,
loss of independence, elder care,
or end of life issues, this program
is for you. This free program for
Jewish seniors and their families
will help facilitate the difficult and
crucial “conversations” that we
2014 BJH Foundation for Senior
Services Grant Applications Now
Available
The 2014 BJH Foundation for
Senior Services grant applications
are currently available at
www.bjhfoundation.org. Grants
are awarded to non-profit organizations serving Jewish older
adults in North and South Carolina.
Last year, BJH Foundation for
Senior Services awarded 21
grants totaling more than
$203,230 to help fund programs
such as elder day care, congregational nurse programs, social
worker programs, home and community services, guardianship,
and care management for Jewish
older adults in North and South
Carolina. Over the past seven
years, BJH Foundation has
awarded over 130 grants in excess
of $1.4 million dollars.
“The BJH Foundation stays focused on helping people and making a real difference,” says Cheryl
David, President BJH Foundation
for Senior Services. “I’m so
proud of the projects and community events that we support, because they enhance the quality of
life for Jewish older adults across
North Carolina and South Carolina. For example, with our
funding, The Congregational
Nurse Program was able to produce a manual showing other
communities how to start similar
programs, through connecting
nurses with seniors in Greensboro
and the surrounding areas.”
She added, “I was pleasantly
surprised when the Congregational Nurse visited my family
member when she was placed in
rehabilitation care. I guess what
goes around does really come
around.”
BJH Foundation continues to
reach out to the Jewish older adult
population with an emphasis on
five different focus areas. These
include religion, Jewish learning
and education, improving health,
meal and fellowship/social programs and targets low income, assisted living, and older adults who
are 70+ years old.
The BJH Foundation for Senior Services welcomes grant
requests from nonprofit organizations that are classified as a
501(c)(3) charitable organization
as determined by IRS regulations
or are affiliated with another taxexempt organization such as a
local government, school, or synagogue. For a complete list of requirements and restrictions please
visit www.bjhfoundation.org.
All applications must be postmarked by April 15 or hand delivered to the BJH Foundation
“Through wisdom is a house built,
and by understanding it is
established; and by knowledge are
the chambers filled with all precious
and pleasant riches.”
– Proverbs 24:3-4
office. Grant applications for
qualified organizations are available at www.bjhfoundation.org.
The BJH Foundation looks forward to announcing the recipients
in June. For additional information, visit www.bjhfoundation.org
or email wcutler@bjhfoundation.org. Y
often avoid until it is too late. The
program kicked off in March with
a wonderful presentation on the
Gift of the Conversation. If you
missed it, feel free to join us for
the next three “conversations”:
The Legal/Financial Conversation – Sunday, April 6 from 1:303:30 PM: legal documents,
advance directives, finances,
durable power of attorney, Jewish
legacy gift giving, to drive or not
to drive.
The Care Conversation – Sunday, May 4 from 10 AM-12 noon:
loss of independence, need for assistance in the home, need for
transitioning out of the home.
The Final Conversation – Sunday, June 8 from 11 AM–1 PM:
Jewish funerals and rituals of
death, end of life conversations,
palliative care.
For more details, call Jodie Iagnocco, Adult and Senior Program
Director, at 704-944-6753 or
Adult and Senior Program Nurse,
Lorrie Klemons at 704-9446880.Y
Irving Bienstock: Holocaust Survivor and Educator
Irving Bienstock is well known
in the Charlotte Jewish community as a helpful and dependable
volunteer. But in recent years, he
has added a new role – Holocaust
educator. Several times a week, he
addresses children of all ages as
an integral part of the Butterfly
Project. His story of survival,
along with the testimony of Suly
Chenkin, puts a human face to an
unimaginable story in Jewish history.
Irving was born in Dortmund,
Germany, a town near Dusseldorf.
His childhood changed as soon as
Hitler came to power. At age six,
his friend told him he could no
longer speak to him simply because he was Jewish. Thus began
a series of laws, mistreatment, and
indignities that would further alter
his life. It was no longer safe for
the family and his father escaped
from Germany to Belgium on
September 28, 1938 to avoid
being arrested by the Gestapo.
After Kristallnacht on November
9, 1938, Irving’s schooling came
to an end. Members of his extended family were deported to
Poland. The danger for Jews increased and his mother had to
make some painful decisions.
Irving’s 10 year old sister,
Sylvia, had developed diabetes
and was denied medical care because she was Jewish. She and
their mother boarded a train bound
for Holland, even though she did
not have the necessary papers.
This desperate mother searched
the train for someone who might
help her daughter and she eventually found one woman. The
stranger luckily agreed to pose as
Sylvia’s mother. Leaving the train
before reaching Holland’s border,
Irving’s mother left her daughter
and hoped for the best.
It was now time to do the same
for Irving, who was only 12 years
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28210
old. He, too, did not have the required papers. On January 15,
1939, his mother searched the
train for someone to help her
child, but this time, found no one.
She left the train and hoped Irving
would arrive safely in Holland. He
was all alone with only 10 German marks, one suitcase, and a
plan to find a synagogue where
someone might help him.
When Irving crossed the border, the Dutch police saw he had
no papers. He was asked, “Where
are you going?” His answer, although false, sounded sincere: he
was visiting an uncle in Amsterdam. Irving had to get off the train
and was told to wait. He waited
for hours on an outdoor bench at
the train station and assumed a return to Germany was imminent.
This was in the winter, and it was
very cold. Later that day, the officer brought him to a small hotel
where he ate, slept, and awaited
instructions. After the second
night, the same officer returned
with a man from the Jewish community in Anheim. Irving spent a
night with this man’s family and
then boarded another train to Wijk
an Zee, a children’s home leased
by the Jewish community. Upon
arrival, he saw other refugees who
told him to get something to eat.
He entered the dining room and to
his surprise – there was his sister.
This was a miracle. They were
there for three months. When
spring arrived, the children were
sent to a summer camp site and
eventually to Burger Weeshuis,
the municipal orphanage of Amsterdam. Part of the orphanage
housed Jewish children who had
arrived via the Kindertransport.
Irving would be there for 13
months. Due to her diabetes,
Sylvia was transferred to a hospital for medical care.
Part II of Irving’s story will be
in next month’s Charlotte Jewish
News.
For more information about, to
schedule participation in, or to
volunteer at a Butterfly Project
workshop, please contact Dana
Kapustin, Butterfly Project Coordinator at butterflyproject@charlottte.or or 704-944-6833. Y
It’s Time to TRI Again
On Sunday, June 1, the Sandra
and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center (LJCC) will host the
3rd Annual Kids Triathlon to benefit pediatric rehabilitative services at Levine Children’s Hospital
(LCH) and Adaptive Sports and
Adventures Program (ASAP).
This special event is about more
than just good, fun athletic competition – it is about giving back.
Children ages 5-14, of all athletic
abilities and cultural backgrounds,
including children from ASAP,
participate in swimming, biking
and running for a cause. Last
year’s event saw an increase in
fundraising and participants over
the inaugural event, raising
$39,000! This year’s fundraising
goal is $50,000.
We are pleased to announce
that this year’s Honorary CoChairs for the event are Dr.
Leonard Feld, Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of Pediatrics
at Levine Children’s Hospital, and
his wife, Barbara.
Monies raised at the event by
corporate sponsorships and participant fundraising are divided
equally between LCH and ASAP.
LCH provides inpatient rehabilitation after a child suffers a significant injury or illness to regain the
strength and functional skills necessary to return home or to school.
After release from the hospital,
LCH patients can participate in
ASAP, a part of Carolinas Rehabilitation. This program is designed to challenge youth (and
adults) with physical disabilities
to develop skills that will lead to
and enhance an active and productive lifestyle – one without barriers.
Registration is open at
www.ljcckidstri.org. To sponsor
this event, contact Julie Rizzo, Director of Development and Social
Action, at julie.rizzo@charlottejcc.org or 704-944-6730.Y
Jewish Family Services Family Reunion
TEL: 704.523.2202 w FAX: 704.496.2716
MGOLDSTEIN@MGOLDLAW.COM w WWW.MGOLDLAW.COM
(Continued from page 1)
career in communication and development. She decided to build a
website where teens could answer
questions and write to parents
called RadicalParenting.com. “I
couldn’t believe how quickly it
grew and how happy both teens
were to get their voices out and
parents were to have a new outlet
for connecting with their kids. We
now have over 120 teen writers
who give advice through paid internships. I love being able to provide a different perspective when
working with teens,” she says.
As a youthologist, Vanessa
studies, follows, and observes
EVENT DETAILS
Decode Your Teen with
Vanessa Van Petten
10 AM
Sam Lerner Cultural
Center
Free
Find Your Passion
Lunch and Learn
1 PM
Teen Meeting Room
$5 including lunch
Reservations required:
704-364-6594 or
info@jfscharlotte.org.
youth activity and issues. Not
only does she work with hundreds of youth every day, but
also with parents to share insight into their kids.
“Teenagers, when given a
neutral space love talking to
parents and often offer some
of the best insight because
they are going through it
themselves,” says Vanessa.
Vanessa has also written a
number of articles for Jewish
parents, such as “What To Do
When Your Son/Daughter is
Dating a Non-Jew.”
“I love speaking to Jewish
audiences because I can refer
back to my own childhood - I
was a bat mitzvah, went to
Hebrew school for 16 years,
and was a madricha. I am a
part of many different Jewish
groups, speak at synagogues,
bake challah, and go to Shabbat family dinners.
“I love personal stories,
teenager confessions, and anecdotes. It will be fast pace
and lively. Come with an
open mind and remember we
do not believe in perfect parents. We just like to bring interesting stories and research
to help make the teen years
smooth for everyone.”
The Family Reunion takes
place Sunday, April 6 beginning at
10 AM. The event is free. At 1
PM, Vanessa will facilitate the
lunch and learn. $5 including
lunch. Reservations required:
info@jfscharlotte.org or 704-3646594.Y
The 10th Charlotte Jewish Film Festival
Impacting the Charlotte Community’s Heads, Hearts,
and Funny Bone
The 10th edition of the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival (CJFF)
has wrapped and this annual cultural highlight exceeded all expectations for attendance, and
impact. Charlotte and the surrounding area experienced more
than 20 films that reflected the
CJFF mission to illuminate and
entertain a diverse group of film
lovers through the lens of the Jewish experience.
From the opening night screening of the Israeli comic hit Hunt-
Director Adam Hirsch, Fay Tenenbaum (aka The Cake Lady), CJFF
director Rick Willenzik, and producer Brittany Tenenbaum after
screening of “The Cake Lady.”
Leon Levine and Jerry Levin attended “When Jews
Were Funny.”
ing Elephants which sold out two
theatres at Ballantyne to the HBO
documentary 50 Children: The
Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs.
Kraus which chronicled saving
children from Nazi Germany and
was seen by dozens of children of
all faiths, the CJFF demonstrated
the power of cinema to bridge cultures and build understanding.
Cinema is the most influential
art form of modern times and the
reactions of the CJFF audiences,
which totaled more than 3,500
over the course of the two-week
event, demonstrated that influence. A teacher from Covenant
Day School, Becky Makla, spoke
of her students’ reaction after seeing 50 Children, “They were
overflowing with emotion - anger
at our government, sadness for
children unable to wave goodbye,
fear of the guards in the hotel,
puzzlement of the Kraus’ motives,
and many more. The film allowed
them to draw conclusions about
all racism and how subtle it can
be.”
Commented CJFF Director
Rick Willenzik, “The Charlotte
Jewish Film Festival has truly become a community staple and
credit goes to those that have built
The ice sculpture at the opening night reception.
The audience enjoys “When Jews Were Funny.”
the festival in the past and all who
are currently involved in executing an incredible event.”
Willenzik also noted the record
support from patrons and corporate partners without whom none
of the inspiring and entertaining
events would have been possible.
“The entire community has embraced this festival warmly and is
anxious to be a part of it,” said
Willenzik.
The second night of the festival, CJFF set a single night attendance record with the showing of
the hilarious When Jews Were
Funny. The big crowd was entertained by a comedian before the
show. Three nights later, that
record was broken as just under
500 people packed Temple Israel
for The Jewish Cardinal, which
was followed by an interfaith
panel discussion.
Other key participants in CJFF
10 were the filmmakers and subjects themselves. 50 Children director Steven Pressman and Out
in the Dark director Michael
Mayer attended as did Fay Tenenbaum, the charming Cake Lady,
along with Adam Hirsch, the
film’s director. Ninety-three-yearold Ms. Tenenbaum drove from
“50 Children” Voted
Audience Favorite
50 Children was voted by attendees as this
year’s CJFF Audience Favorite. When notified
of the award, director Steven Pressman said,
“I am truly honored by this recognition for my
film. I’m also grateful to everyone at the
Charlotte Jewish Film Festival for inviting me
to appear with the film, which made for a very
memorable first visit to your wonderful city.”
Atlanta, bringing cakes with her.
Attendance at the CJFF’s Mondays at the Lake series, co-sponsored by the Lake Norman Jewish
Council, more than doubled last
year’s similar screenings at the
Lake. “This is an area that we certainly want to continue to develop
in future years,” said Willenzik.
Plans for next year’s CJFF are
already under way. Want to get involved? Drop an email to info@
charlottejewishfilm.com.Y
16 Years Serving the
Greater Charlotte
Area
Please contact me
for all of your
automotive needs.
DAVID ROSENBAUM
704-563-7800
6824 E Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28227
www.HENDRICKACURA.com
SYNAGOGUES&
CONGREGATIONS
Shabbat in an Hour
Second Edition
Find out how to
prepare Shabbat dinner in just one hour.
Can you imagine
preparing for Shabbat
in only one hour? Yes,
it’s possible and come
find out how with
Jewish Women Connected at The
Ballantyne Jewish Center. Together we will learn how to prepare a complete Shabbat dinner
from fish to dessert in just one
hour.
Menus, recipes, and hints included. Have fun with friends,
taste delicious Shabbat foods, and
master some great time saving
tricks.
This class was first given in
January 2011. Since then, there
have been countless requests for a
sequel. You asked, we listened.
Thursday, May 8, 7 PM.
At the Ballantyne Jewish Center, 8632 Bryant Farms Rd.
$10 per person; $36 sponsor.
For more info or to RSVP contact Leah Levin 704-246-8881 or
Leah@JewishBallantyne.com or
visit our website www.JewishBallantyne.com. Y
Shabbat in Israel
Join us with your family for a
delicious Israeli Shabbat dinner.
As our community continues to
grow, this is a fabulous opportunity to see old friends and make
new ones. During services and at
certain times during the meal we
will have a special simultaneous
children’s program to keep your
little ones entertained while you
enjoy discussions with Rabbi Yisrael Levin.
Friday, May 2.
Registration for Camp Gan Israel Ballantyne is open.
Two fantastic weeks, July 21-August 1.
Give your child, the experience of a lifetime.
www.CGIBallantyne.com.
At the Ballantyne Jewish Center, 8632 Bryant Farms Rd.
Candlelighting, 6:30 PM.
Shabbat evening services complete with songs and explanations
will begin at 6:45 PM.
Dinner will begin at 7:15 PM.
You are welcome to come at either time.
$18 a person or $50 a family.
For more info or to RSVP
email info@JewishBallantyne.
com, call 704-246-8881, or visit
our website www.JewishBallantyne.com.Y
Celebrate
Passover
With Temple
Kol Ami
Temple Kol Ami is located in
Fort Mill, York County, SC and
welcomes Jewish individuals,
couples, and families from all
walks of Jewish life: Jews with
more traditional backgrounds, interfaith couples, and those who
are rediscovering their faith. As a
congregation in York County, we
celebrate and embrace the joys of
Judaism through ritual, culture,
and our Religious School. We are
led by the dynamic Rabbi Yosef
Levanon who served at Temple
Beth Israel in Fayetteville, NC for
17 years.
Temple Kol Ami has Shabbat
services the first and third Friday
of the month at 7 PM. Services
are held in the historic sanctuary
at Unity Presbyterian, 303 Tom
Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC. For
more information, please feel free
to contact us at yorksynagogue@gmail.com. You can also
keep up with TKA happenings on
our Facebook page “Temple Kol
Ami.”
(Continued on page 19)
My Eleventh Year with Temple Emanuel of Gastonia
By Donna deGroot
It has been my honor and privilege to play a part in the Jewish
education of the Religious School
students of Temple Emanuel since
the fall of 2003. Many of you see
me wearing my other hats at the
Charlotte Jewish Day School, Hebrew High, and at Temple Israel
Religious School, but the work
that I have done 45 minutes west
of here every Sunday is pretty invisible to the Jewish community
of Charlotte. That is except for
one weekend a year. One weekend
a year I have invited all of the
B’nei Mitzvah and Confirmation
Tali deGroot, center, came home from
college to help out. Here she is seen
with Meredith Levy and Leah Sosnik.
nia are often the only Jewish student in their class, sometimes they
also represent our community for
their entire school. I see
as extremely important
my chance to give them
a weekend where they
can disconnect from all
of their media devices,
bond with the other students from Religious
School, and have the
chance to experience a
larger Jewish community.
Each year we have
interactive ice breaking
The younger students come to meet everyone at Sky fun games on Friday
night after dinner
High Sports.
(thanks usually to one of
students to spend a Shabbat with my daughters and their years of
me in Charlotte. On these week- experience with Young Judaea).
ends you may have seen me walk- Each year on Saturday morning
ing in Shalom Park or Lansdowne we go “shul hopping” and I take
with 7-12 students in tow. I take them to see about 45 minutes of
these Shabbaton weekends pretty the services at each of the Temples
seriously as I see them as one of within walking distance of my
the most important parts of the house - Temple Israel, Temple
Beth El, and Ohr haTorah. BeReligious School education.
Most of the students in Gasto- sides these activities which are
April Events at Havurat
Tikvah
As April arrives, so does
spring, and Havurat Tikvah eagerly prepares for a new season of
community holidays and fun.
On Saturday, April 5, we will
have a community Shabbat service followed by a delicious pot
luck luncheon. Our lay-led services will begin at 10 AM in the
Avondale Presbyterian Church
Aiken’s Classroom (2821 Park
Road). We invite everyone to join
us.
This month’s Mostly Monthly
Minyan will take place on
Wednesday, April 9 for anyone
who is mourning, observing a
yahrzeit, or just wants to attend
services with friends. Our hosts
provide gourmet desserts. We will
begin at 7:30 at 1607 Dilworth
Road West. For more information,
please contact 704-332-4880.
The Dilworth Soup Kitchen
also continues to work hard as
winter draws to a close and spring
appears. This community soup
kitchen serves people on Mondays
from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM, but
they need help setting up other
times during the week and they
can always use food donations. If
you are interested in volunteering,
please visit the website: dilworthsoupkitchen.wikispaces.com.
In February, our congregation
got together to watch Jerusalem in
IMAX at Discovery Place. This is
an incredible film about the cultures that are most prominent in
the holy city, and we encourage
everyone to see it if you have not
already.
Havurat Tikvah is an affiliate of
the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, providing a comfortable,
family atmosphere where all Jews
can feel welcome. If you are interested, we invite you to visit, get to
know us, and to become part of
our congregation of nearly 60
households.
For more information about
any of our other activities, check
out our website (havurattikvah.org) or contact our member
chair, Brian Feinglass, either by
email (membership@havurattikvah.org) or by phone (980-2255330). You can also find Havurat
Tikvah and Havurat Tikvah Teens
on Facebook. Y
pretty constant every year, I
also have chosen a theme
and our activities and any
special guests who join us
are asked to reflect on that
theme.
This year the theme was
mi-dor la-dor — from generation to generation. In the
afternoon, we had the community Shaliach Dor Hollander come to teach them
about the waves of Aliyah
Bonding time Sunday morning.
that helped to set the stage
for Israel becoming a Jewish na- that his name happened to be
tion in 1948. (It was just a bonus “Dor”). They learned about what
was happening in the home
countries and a little about
who these people were who
left their homes and chose to
be pioneers in Palestine. In the
evening, we were very lucky
to have Baila Pransky come to
celebrate Havdallah with us
and to teach the students some
conversational Yiddish.
Sunday morning, we met
the younger students from Religious School at Sky High
Learning Yiddish with Baila Pransky.
Sports in Pineville and we
bounced our way through the
morning.
This year is a transitional year
for me as I wind down as Director
and Hannah Kaunitz is taking on
more and more responsibility as
she will be the new Director as of
July 2014. I will still be connected
to the Temple, training B’nei
Mitzvah students and possibly
hosting these weekend Shabbatons (I think it might be hard for
me to let go of this one).
It has been a treat to share the
responsibility of the school with
Hannah this year. In fact it is
thanks to her that Baila came to
visit with the students on Saturday
evening. I know she is going to do
a wonderful job for the Temple
going forward.
Here are a few pictures from
our 10th winter Shabbaton. Y
Meet with Success at Shalom Park!
Reception Halls & Meeting Rooms for All Types of Events
t
t
t
t
t
t
Bar & Bat Mitzvah Parties
Wedding Receptions
Music & Dance Recitals
Lectures
Continuing Education Classes
Seminars & Conferences
Contact Jay Parton @ 704.944.6842
shalomcharlotte.org
t
t
t
t
t
t
Business Retreats
Networking Events
Teambuilding Programs
Trade Shows
HOA Meetings
Social Meetings
ADVERTISEMENT
Join Us at
Temple Israel
ALTERNATIVE &
FAMILY SERVICES
Java ‘n Jeans – Saturday, April 5, 10am
Learn about prayer, capped off with a lively Torah
study discussion over coffee - while wearing jeans.
Mini Minyan – Saturdays, April 5 & 26, 10am
Songs, prayers and stories for K-2nd graders. Siblings
welcome with parents. A Kid-dush snack follows.
Torah Tots – Friday, April 11, 5:45pm and
Saturday, April 26, 10am for preschool families!
Siblings welcome. Join Miss Patty & our clergy
for a fun, vibrant Shabbat. A Kid-dush snack follows.
Rock HaShabbat – Friday, April 18, 6:15pm
Enjoy our fast-paced, multi-generational service led
by The Ruach, Temple Israel's own "house band."
Kavanah – Saturday, April 19, 10am
Participate in Jewish prayer and experience the wonder and stimulation of an open and honest Torah study.
Yom Hashoah Community Service
Sunday, April 27, 7pm
Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts at Shalom Park
Includes songs from the Holocaust that express the
horror, tragedy, and heroism of that traumatic time.
Temple Israel
Community Cooperative
Passover Seder
Tuesday, April 15
5:30pm (service); 6:00pm (Seder)
Join Temple Israel on the 2nd night of Passover for
our community, cooperative Seder.
All guests will be assigned tasks in preparation
for the Seder and participate in the retelling
of our exodus from Egypt.
Adults, $25; Children (12 & under), $12.50
Please send a check to the TI office or
call (704) 362-2796 to provide
credit card information over the phone.
Seating is limited to 100,
so RSVP quickly!
Your payment is your reservation.
PROGRAMS for ADULTS
We invite the community to join us for our upcoming programs!
Restorative Yoga
Saturday, April 5, 4:30pm Mindy Ellen Levine Chapel
Complete your Shabbat by joining Melinda Farbman and Rabbi Ezring
for an energizing experience to prepare your bodies for the new week!
Cantor and Friends: “Songs that Tell a Story”
Sunday, April 6, 7:30pm in the Temple Israel Chapel
Led by Cantor Elias Roochvarg. Accompaniment by Monty Bennett.
Music lovers in Europe had a wonderful custom: in France it was
called a "Soirée Musicale" and in Germany & Austria, a "Liederabend" (evening of song). Admission is FREE, seating is limited.
TI Book Club: “The Cookbook Collector” by Allegra Goodman
Wednesday, May 7, 7:30 pm at Temple Israel
Professor of Literature Jay Jacoby will lead our discussion. According
to the NY Times, this novel provides “an irresistible story, four strong
characters...[and] memorable appearances [from] a Bialystok rabbi,
a bookshop called Yorick's, a collection of letters from a long-dead
mother and a tribe of tree-huggers." For more info, call 704-366-6362.
TI Social Club
We welcome couples and singles, age 60+, affiliated with Charlotte
area synagogues. Questions? Contact Ruth Goldberg at 704-366- 8903.
Watch for information on our upcoming event, “The Mystery Bus Ride.”
PASSOVER SCHEDULE
Sunday, April 13
Search for Hametz after sundown
Monday, April 14
Fast of the First Born Service
& Study, 7:30am
First Seder (No Evening Minyan)
Office closes at 1pm
Tuesday, April 15
Pesach Morning Service, 9:30am
Pesach Evening Service, 5:30pm
Temple Israel Community
Passover Seder, 6pm
(By Reservation Only,
see details to the left)
Office closed
Wednesday, April 16
Pesach Morning Service, 9:30am
Minyan, 7:30pm
Office closed
Thursday, April 17
thru Saturday, April 19
Minyan, 7:30pm
Sunday, April 20
Office closes at 1pm
Minyan, 9:00am
Evening Service, 7:30pm
Monday, April 21
Morning Service, 9:30am
Evening Service, 7:30pm
Office closed
Tuesday, April 22
Morning Service (Yizkor),
9:30am
Minyan, 7:30pm
Office closed
www.templeisraelnc.org • P 704.362.2796
New JLI course to begin in May at Ohr HaTorah
Paradigm Shift: Transformational Life Teachings
of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Israel was struggling to adjust to
its new reality while it was absorbing hundreds of thousands of
new immigrants.
It took a unique perspective of
a new courageous and visionary
leader who was to shake up the
Jewish world and change its landscape in a way that no one imagined. The change began with one
individual, the Rebbe of Lubavitch, who inspired many who went
on to inspire many and eventually
the inspiration went global.
Today, Chabad has become a
global force of Jewish life with
over 4,000 Chabad emissaries
around the world. These emissaries personify the optimistic vision of the Rebbe and have
brought life and light to the most
remote places on earth by revitalizing Jewish communities and
building personal relationships in
a non-judgmental way with people of all backgrounds even with
those who have fallen out of Jewish life.
This course will reveal the “secret formula” that drives and inspires young people to have
aspirations beyond their own enrichment to the point where they
leave the comforts of their home
and community and venture out to
new uncharted territory where
they are armed with optimism and
positive sense of hope and a dose
of reality and succeed to change
the landscape.
Paradigm Shift will help every
individual realize their full potential in life as it is a course geared
to the individual who is seeking to
improve their life and to find inner
peace within themselves in an
honest way and a practical road
map. The course helps change our
outlook on how we see ourselves,
the Jewish community, and the
global community.
The six week course is scheduled to begin on Tuesday May 13,
7:30 PM for the evening course
and Wednesday May 14, 11 AM
for the daytime course. Evening
course will be taught by Rabbi
Yossi Groner and day course by
Rabbi Shlomo Cohen.
The Jewish Learning Institute
has revolutionized Jewish adult
education by bringing Jewish
knowledge in a thought provoking
way and allowing participants to
tackle issues of the day based on
the rich repository of Jewish ideas
that have been formulated over
the past 3,000 years.
Paradigm Shift has the promises to have a positive impact on
its students and has the potential
to provide a life changing experience. This course was created in
conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem
M. Schneerson, which will be
commemorated on July 1 which
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corresponds to the 3rd of
the Hebrew month of
Tammuz 5774.
Fee for this course is $95 (textbook included) per person and $
175 per couple. For information
(Continued from page 16)
Please join Temple Kol Ami
for the second night of Passover
Seder, April 15, 6 PM. The Seder
will be catered by Sweet Tea’s
and is open to anyone in the community, not just temple members.
The cost is $18 for ages 13 and
up, $10 per child ages 5 and up,
free for children under 5, and can
be paid via paypal on our website
MAY 12
Jewish Federation Annual Meeting
7:00 PM, Sam Lerner Center
Tributes to Alan Kronovet, Outgoing President and
Holly Levinson, Incoming President
Special Guest Speaker: Avraham Infeld
“The 5 Legged Table: An Alternate Vision of the
Jewish Future”
Questions?? Please call the Federation office at
704-944-6757
necW
on
gro
w
At CJP, we are dedicated to instilling
within each child an excitement towards
learning and a joyful attitude toward Judaism.
(www.templekolamisc.org), cash,
or check. Please RSVP at 803701-0149 or the above e-mail address by April 9 so we can be
prepared. We look forward to
welcoming everyone, oldtimers
and newcomers, to our festive
Seder table as we celebrate freedom. Please feel free to contact us
with any questions. Y
SAVE THE DATE
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JX
on how to register for this course
please visit MyJLI.com or call us
at 704-366-3984. Y
Passover at Temple Kol Ami
c
Paradigm Shift is an elevator
ride to the heights of what is possible. Synchronize yourself with
the mission for which you were
placed on earth, and learn to recognize the inherent goodness and
perfection in yourself, in others,
and in every circumstance of your
life.
Distilled into six succinct lessons, this empowering course offers a revolutionary outlook on
life, culled from the wisdom of
the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi
Menachem M. Schneerson of
blessed memory.
Paradigm Shift is a novel way
to look at life’s challenges and use
them to transform oneself. It is the
ultimate optimist tool in dealing
with real life situations and using
them in a way to advance goodness and kindness in your own life
and in your personal sphere of influence.
The Rebbe’s leadership began
in the most tumultuous time of the
20th century. European Jewry was
at an all time low as it was just
after the devastation of the Holocaust. Eastern Europe Jews were
closed off behind the Iron Curtain
as it was at the beginning of the
cold war. In America, the challenge was assimilation, disenchantment with the establishment,
and a passionate pursuit of materialistic success.
In addition, the nascent State of
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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
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for Fall 2014
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(South Charlotte)
CJP is a partnership of Temple Beth El, Temple Israel and the Levine JCC
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““Closing”
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8, 11am
11am
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JCC Invitational
Monday, June 23
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charlottejcc.org/golf
704-944-6724
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Women’s News
Hadassah Continues to Support the
The Latest Hadassah
Community Directory is
Hadassah Medical Organization
ing the past year:
tific Foundation. All other
By Patricia Johnson, President,
Nearly a million pahospitals across Israel Now Available
Charlotte Chapter of Hadassah
In the wake of Hadassah Medical Organization’s (HMO) announcement that it must
restructure, the national board of
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist
Organization
of
America
(HWZOA) has announced solidarity to HMO during the HMO
restructuring process.
Commenting on the situation,
Hadassah National President Marcie Natan said, “These past weeks
have been trying and have provoked understandable worry in Israel and among supporters of
HMO worldwide. At this difficult
time, the board of HWZOA is
steadfast in our support for HMO.
We stand with the doctors, nurses,
staff, and administrators who
make the hospitals among the best
in the world, and with the people
of Israel whom they serve. We
will do our part to help HMO recover ad believe that the Government of Israel, the employees of
HMO and the hospital’s many
other stakeholders will do the
same. During this time, patient
care will remain at the highest
level, as we are accustomed to expect.”
Our two medical centers in Israel continue to be busy, dynamic,
and vital centers of healing. Dur-
tients were treated at
Hadassah’s Jerusalem
hospitals, in Ein Kerem
and on Mount Scopus.
Hadassah handled
406,044 hospitalization
days; 10,971 babies
were born in its delivery
rooms; 650,736 ambulatory care
visits took place; 4,318,652 laboratory tests were performed; and
137,142 patients arrived at Hadassah’s emergency rooms.
Hadassah physicians published
487 research articles; 231 scientific grants were awarded to
Hadassah researchers; and Hadassah received 14.5 research grants
from the prestigious Israel Scien-
combined received a total
of 16 grants.
Hadassah has committed to give as much visibility as possible on this
ongoing situation to its
members and supporters
with regular updates from
Jerusalem related to the recovery
process. We launched a dedicated
page on our national website at
www.hadassah.org/HMOupdate.
Your local leaders continue
with plans to provide the many
programs and events you look forward to participating in.
If you have any questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to
call me 704-844-8624.Y
Did you see it at the Purim
carnival? Did you miss getting
this latest edition? You can still
purchase the 2014 Hadassah
Charlotte Jewish Community Directory. The directory is for sale at
the front desk of the Shalom Park
main building in the Levine JCC
Lobby or at both Temples Beth El
and Israel.
This is the one place that every
Jewish resident of Charlotte has
their contact information: address,
telephone, and even email, if
available.
Keep in the know. Purchase
your copy of the Hadassah Directory today.
And if you are not listed in the
directory, let us know. Contact Pa-
tricia Johnson at president@charlottehadassah.org and you will get
on the mailing list for the next
round of Blue Sheets to be added
to the 2015 Directory. Y
Presents
“Stories of Jews with Siman Schama”
Parts 3, 4, and 5; April 1
Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem.
8 PM - “A Leap of Faith”
9 PM - “Over the Rainbow”
10 PM - “Return”
Check local listings
Continue the story...
“A meeting was held…on Monday, June 11, 1979 at the invitation of Leon Levine to
members of the community interested in the purchase of a 17-acre tract of land on
Providence Road.” So wrote Mark Bernstein, secretary for the day. Shortly thereafter,
twenty-two men formed a limited partnership and purchased the property, which
was adjacent to land owned by Temple Beth El. The purchase was the beginning
of a journey to create the world’s first Jewish campus, Shalom Park.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE A LEGACY
For more information about how to become a legacy donor to benefit the Foundation
of Shalom Park, please contact:
H. KEVIN LEVINE
Executive Director
Foundation of Shalom Park
704.944.6840
hklevine@shalomcharlotte.org
The mission of the Foundation of Shalom Park is to manage the facilities and
resources of Shalom Park on behalf of the community.
A BENEFICIARY AGENCY OF
Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center
Holocaust Survivor, Eva
Mozes Kor, to Visit
Charlotte
The Levine-Sklut Judaic Library will be hosting Holocaust
survivor, forgiveness advocate,
and public speaker Eva Mozes
Kor on Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 PM
at Temple Israel.
Her lecture, “Triumph of the
Human Spirit, from Auschwitz to
Forgiveness,” is free and open to
the public. Following her presentation, Eva will hold a book signing.
Powered by a never-give-up attitude, Eva has emerged through a
life filled with trauma as a brilliant example of the power of
what the human spirit can overcome. She is a community leader,
a champion of human rights, and
tireless educator.
After her family of six was
transported to the Auschwitz Nazi
death camp, she and her twin sister Miriam were the only survivors, subjected to human
genetic experimentation under Dr.
Josef Mengele, the “Angel of
Death.” After Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, they returned to
their native Romania before moving to Israel in 1950. There, Kor
met her husband, fellow Holocaust survivor Michael Kor, and
the two eventually made their way
to Terre Haute, IN.
In 1995, Eva opened CANDLES Holocaust Museum and
Education Center in Terre Haute,
with a mission to prevent prejudice and hatred through education
about the Holocaust. CANDLES,
which stands for Children of
Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors, has educated
thousands of people, including
many school groups, about the
Holocaust.
Eva will also be speaking at
Duke Family Performance Hall at
Davidson College’s Alvarez College Union on Sunday, May 4 at
7:30 PM.
The Levine-Sklut Judaic Library, in partnership with the The
Levine Jewish Community Center, Davidson College’s Chaplaincy, Hillel chapter, and History
Department, Temple Kol Tikvah,
Infoscore, and Temple Israel are
sponsors of this program.
“Triumph of the
Human Spirit,
from Auschwitz to
Forgiveness”
Eva Mozes Kor
Sunday, May 4
2:30 PM
Temple Israel
7:30 PM
Davidson College
Free and open to the public.
For info, contact Talli
Dippold at 704-944-6780
The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning
Come to Taste of Melton on April 29
With only two months remaining for the 2013-2014 academic
year, we have already begun
preparations for the 2014-2015
school year. Faculty has been selected and classes have been
scheduled. All that is missing is
you. Please join us for Taste of
Melton on Tuesday, April 29 from
7– 8:30 PM in the Levine-Sklut
Judaic Library and Resource Center, for a glimpse into the gifts that
Melton has to offer. The gift of
learning from of our most esteemed faculty in the Charlotte
Jewish community. A gift that will
last a lifetime with no homework
or tests. Sample a class, have a
nosh, and meet some current
Melton students. Those who at-
Kits for Kinder: Passover
Eva Mozes Kor
For more information about
these events, please contact Talli
Dippold at 704-944-6780, or via
email at tdippold@shalomcharlotte.org. Y
Passover is a holiday that every
Jewish home celebrates. The food
is delicious, the songs are stimulating, and the company is exciting. Sometimes, though, it is
tricky to keep children engaged
and involved with the Seder. This
year, in conjunction with PJ Library, the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library has created ten Kits for
Kinder to help enhance your
Seder. Each kit includes:
* A Passover puzzle
* Passover sticker scenes
* Sammy Spider’s First Hagaddah by Sylvia Rouss
* Plague stick puppets
* Placemat to color and more
In addition, the library is also
home to complete sets of Haggadot to borrow. To reserve your
Kit for Kinder or a set of Hagad-
tend our Taste of Melton will receive a discounted registration fee
and a free Tanakh if you register
that evening. Learn more on April
29. Please register by emailing
Holly Gainsboro, Melton Coordinator, at hgainsboro@shalomcharlotte.org or by calling
704-944-6740.Y
dot, please call the library today at
704-944-6783.Y
The Charlotte Jewish News -April 2014 - Page 24
Mazel Tov & Congratulations
Adam Dubin Among Graduates in
Largest Class from RIETS
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and the
Yeshiva University community
celebrated the ordination of its
largest class of musmakhim (ordained rabbis) on March 23.
Among the more than 205 musmakhim is Adam Dubin of Charlotte.
“Growing up in Charlotte,
Adam was always very interested
in his Judaism, and wanted to attend school where he would not
feel like a minority,” says his
mother, Ellen Dubin, Director of
the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Association. “Dan (z”l) and
I were very proud of him when he
told us he applied to the RIETS
school at Yeshiva University.”
Adam was very active in the
Jewish community while he lived
here. He and his family were
members of Temple Israel and he
attended Religious School there,
in addition to Talmud Torah
classes at Chabad Lubavitch (before there was an Ohr HaTorah
synagogue). He was a member of
Jr. Kadima, Kadima, USY, and
BBYO while attending Hebrew
High.
The program at RIETS is very
intensive and includes a curriculum on topics ranging from pastoral psychology and public
Rabbi Adam Rubin
speaking to leadership training
and community building. In addition, students are exposed to contemporary halakhik issues they
may encounter in fields such as
bioethics, technology, and business.
“Our semikha students experience a training program like no
other,” says Rabbi Menachem
Penner, acting dean of RIETS.
“Aside from erudition and scholarship – which remain the emphasis of our program – we are
producing professionally quali-
fied and sensitive individuals who
have received the requisite professional skills to lead our community into the future.”
“Adam had been told that most
YU undergrad students and those
who attended Yeshiva high
schools usually took four years to
complete their rabbinic program,
and that he shouldn’t be disappointed if he needed to spend five
years or more to meet all of their
requirements and studies,” Ellen
continues. “Through his hard
work and dedication, Adam
earned his semikha in just four
years.”
“Adam is a wonderful young
man. Sensitive, humble and very
kind. He is studious, determined,
and in his quiet way gets things
done,” says Rabbi Yossi Groner of
Ohr HaTorah.
Adam now has plans to serve
as either a pulpit rabbi or as a
rabbi in a college campus setting.
“I like to think that Dan was
smiling down on Adam and the
rest of our family” during Adam’s
ordination, Ellen concludes. Y
Mecklenburg County
Manager Discusses
Current Events, Her
Jewish Heritage, and More
Mecklenburg County Manager
Dena Diorio spoke at Temple Beth
El on Tuesday, March 11. The
evening was arranged by the Temple Beth El Brotherhood and cosponsored by Temple Beth El,
Temple Israel, the Levine JCC,
and The Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte.
Dena easily won over the
crowd as she spoke about the history and current status of Mecklenburg County and her childhood
growing up in a Jewish Conservative home with Orthodox grandparents. Attending that evening
was an estimated audience of 100,
comprised of members of both
temples and the surrounding
neighborhood. She reminisced
about her grandmother’s Matzah
Ball Soup as well as attending
Yom Kippur services and her Bat
Mitzvah.
Rabbi Judy Schindler welcomed the county manager and
guests and related the current
Torah portion in Leviticus to the
challenges faced by our county
leaders and community members. Ms. Diorio spoke for 15
minutes, fielding a broad
range of community questions about social services,
county pensions, nurses in
Dena Diorio at the podium.
schools, charter schools, and
more. It was an open discussion
that left participants feeling confident in Ms. Diorio as their county
manager. The crowd lingered long
after the session formally concluded and Ms. Diorio remained
until the end to answer additional
questions and accept warm wishes
from session participants. Y
DINING OUT, CATERING
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Jewish News,
contact one of
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representatives:
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The Charlotte Jewish News
Rabbi Jonathan Freirich of Temple Beth El to Shave Head to Raise
Awareness of and Funding for Pediatric Cancer Research
During the 125th Annual Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Convention, Rabbi
Jonathan Freirich of Temple Beth
El will join over 60 male and female Reform Rabbis when they
shave their heads to raise awareness of and funding for pediatric
cancer research. In addition, some
participants are shaving in their
home communities, including several Reconstructionist and Conservative colleagues who were
moved to join their Reform peers
in this important endeavor.
The “Shave for the Brave”
event will take place on April 1, at
the CCAR Convention, which
will be held at the Fairmont
Chicago Millennium Park. The
CCAR is the representative organization of nearly 2,000 Reform
Rabbis, the world’s largest group
of Jewish clergy.
The rabbis’ “Shave for the
Brave” fundraiser benefits St.
Baldrick’s, a charity committed to
funding childhood cancer research. So far, the CCAR Rabbis
have raised over $330,000 for St.
Baldrick’s, and hope to reach their
goal of $360,000.
“I am honored to participate in
the ‘Shave for the Brave’
fundraiser, and to support St.
Baldrick’s in their efforts to research pediatric cancer, and find a
cure,” said Rabbi Jonathan
Freirich of Temple Beth El. “I
hope that my small sacrifice of
hair will bring attention to the
cause of conquering childhood
cancers.”
“The role of a rabbi is to right
wrongs identified in the world,
and the ‘Shave for the Brave’
event allows rabbis to do that, by
raising awareness of pediatric cancer and helping to work towards a
cure,” said Rabbi Steven A. Fox,
CCAR Chief Executive. “We are
proud and honored that the CCAR
Convention could host this inspiring event.”
The connection between the
Reform Jewish community and
pediatric cancer advocacy began
with the story of Samuel Sommer,
the son of Rabbis Phyllis and
Michael Sommer. Phyllis Sommer
serves Am Shalom in Glencoe, IL,
and her husband has served Con-
Rabbi Jonathan Freirich will say
good-bye to his curls (temporarily) on
April 1.
gregation B’nai Torah in Highland
Park, IL and North Shore Congregation Israel. The Sommers had
documented Sam’s battle with
cancer on their blog, “Superman
Sam.” From the blog, there came
an outpouring of support from
people all over the country who
sympathized with Sam and his
family. Rabbis across denominations prayed Mi Shebeirach for
Sam’s recovery.
In October 2013, Rabbi Phyllis
Sommer and Rabbi Rebecca
Schorr had the idea to organize a
massive fundraiser, “36 Rabbis
Shave for the Brave,” in which 36
rabbis would shave their heads,
raising awareness of the reality
that only 4% of United States federal funding for cancer research is
earmarked for all childhood can-
cers. The initial fundraising goal
for “Shave for the Brave” was
$180,000, to fund pediatric cancer
research. “We have surpassed our
initial goal, but will not stop. Not
now; not ever,” says Rabbi Rebecca Schorr. Sam succumbed to
leukemia in December 2013. Rabbis of “Shave for the Brave” are
banding together to help save
other families from having to go
through what the Sommers went
through. “[We are] slightly
meshugennah (“crazy” in Yiddish), but very devoted rabbis who
are yearning to do something,” explains Schorr. “We couldn’t save
Sammy; perhaps, though, we can
save others like him.”
The “Shave for the Brave”
event will take place at the CCAR
Convention after a Loss and
Mourning Service, led by Rabbi
Rex Perlmeter.
St. Baldrick’s is a volunteerdriven, non-profit charity that is
committed to funding pediatric
cancer research to find cures for
childhood cancers and to give survivors long and healthy lives. The
group has helped organize thousands of head-shaving events
since 2000 and has raised millions
of dollars for pediatric cancer research.
You can visit www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/682150/2014 to make a
donation to St. Baldrick’s in memory of Samuel Sommer.
About the CCAR
The Central Conference of
American Rabbis, founded in
1889, is the oldest and largest
rabbinic organization in North
America. As the professional organization for Reform Rabbis of
North America, the CCAR projects a powerful voice in the religious life of the American and
international Jewish communities.
Since its establishment, the CCAR
has a rich history of giving professional and personal support to Reform Rabbis, providing them with
opportunities for study, professional development, and spiritual
growth beginning while they are
still in seminary, through mid-careers, and into retirement. The
CCAR is uniquely positioned to
meet the ongoing needs of its
nearly 2,000 member rabbis (virtually the entire Reform rabbinate)
and the entire Reform Jewish
community. For more information
please visit the CCAR’s website at
http://ccarnet.org/. Y
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Israel and Social Justice Debated at JCPA Plenum in Atlanta
Jewish Community Professionals from Across the Country Approved New Consensus Policy,
Honored Abe Foxman and Other Leaders
In his first public appearance
since joining the U.S. peace
process team, David Makovsky
spoke about the need for a twostate solution and the prospects
for peace at the JCPA Plenum last
week. The Plenum is the annual
conference for Jewish community
leaders and representatives from
125 Jewish Community Relations
councils and 16 national Jewish
agencies to gather, learn, debate,
and vote on consensus policy. In
addition to Makovsky, the Plenum
delegates were joined by Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts
Schori, the head of the Episcopal
Church; Abraham Foxman, National Director of the AntiDefamation League, who gave his
first remarks since announcing his
retirement; Jewish Federations of
North America CEO Jerry Silverman; and many others.
In his update to the Plenum,
Makovsky began by laying out
the benefits of peace for Israel.
Concerns like Iran and religious extremism are shared by
Arabs and Israelis, and without
the Palestinian conflict to divide
them, they could begin to cooperate more. More important is the
need to avoid a bi-national state.
Support for two states for two
peoples has been a bipartisan
American goal for many years,
Makovsky said, and Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu has said that
negotiating a peace that avoids a
binational state is critical to the future of a Jewish state.
Netanyahu even visited the
grave of Herzl to emphasize the
connection between peace and Zionism.
On the Palestinian side,
Makovsky noted, Mahmoud
Abbas seems to be equally serious. He has demonstrated a commitment to non-violence, kept his
word about not turning to the UN
while talks are ongoing, and has
cooperated with Israeli security
forces in going after Hamas such
that they are no longer a functioning security threat in the West
Bank. Israel has asked for deeds,
not words, and these are deeds.
The cost of failure for Abbas is
there as well, as he understands
that Palestinians will never experience self-determination without
two states for two people.
Two states for two peoples will
require a sense of shared security,
said Episcopal Church Presiding
Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori
in an interfaith conversation with
JCPA President Rabbi Steve
Gutow, who praised her work in
focusing on investment with
Palestinians, not divestment from
Israel. Recently returned from a
trip to Jordan, Bishop Schori laid
out a vision of peace based on the
belief that one’s security depends
on the security of all people.
The interfaith discussion focused, as well, on points of commonality between the two
communities and the need to, as
Bishop Schori said, keep diverse
communities communicating.
A mutual understanding of
each other’s religious traditions
reveals shared commitments to repairing our immigration system
and ending hunger – an issue both
agreed was a major civil rights
issue of the day – as well as equality for gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals.
On LGBT issues, Rabbi Gutow
noted that Bishop Schori was an
early leader. “I begin with the understanding from Genesis that it is
not good for the human being to
be alone,” she said. But she also
emphasized consensus as essential
to ensuring a good life for all, saying “Truth is more fully known in
a diverse community than in an
individual.” Rabbi Gutow, as
well, emphasized consensus, referencing last year’s Plenum discussion on gay marriage and the
JCPA’s leadership in combating
discrimination.
Other plenaries focused on the
future of the Jewish community.
Jane Eisner, editor-in-chief of The
Forward, moderated a conversation between JFNA CEO Gerrold
“Jerry” Silverman, Elana KahnOren, Director of the Milwaukee
JCRC and Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Paraphrasing Shimon Peres,
Silverman said our greatest
strength and weakness is that “we
are a people of dissatisfaction,” always striving. Kahn-Oren noted
that our community’s leaning toward what can be is a case for
community relations. It is important to build community partnerships, not just out of the fear that
we were victims once and could
be again, but because this work of
community building is our destiny
as Jews. The Jewish community
has so much to teach about our activist sensibility, said Waxman.
Our commitment to tikkun olam
is one that has carried across generations, and that strength should
influence our work in reaching out
to younger Jews.
When we engage millenials
with the benefits of Jewish life,
we all win, said Silverman. We do
our work not just as another social
justice organization, but as Jews,
said Kahn-Oren. And the CRCs
are particularly well suited for
connecting young Jews with Jewish life, said Silverman, citing the
success of the Boston CRC in following up with Birthright alumni.
The challenges of the Pew
study were discussed by Abe Foxman, National Director of the
ADL, who received the Albert D.
Chernin Award. After warning of
the costs to world Jewry if America retreated from the world stage,
Foxman said that crucial to stemming the estrangement of today’s
Jewish youth from the community
is stopping what he calls the ignorance of today’s youth. It is incumbent on us through programs
like Birthright to explain why our
concerns matter.
Others honored at the JCPA
Plenum include Atlanta leaders
Leon Goldstein, Melanie Nelkin,
and Lois Frank who were each
recognized with the Tikkun Olam
Award for their lifetime of work
making the world a better place.
The delegates also voted to approve new policies on human trafficking, the minimum wage,
reproductive rights, inclusion and
disabilities, international LGBT
discrimination, and increasing
government support for public
higher education.
JCPA, the public affairs arm of
the organized Jewish community,
serves as the national coordinating
and advisory body for the 14 national and 125 local agencies
comprising the field of Jewish
community relations. Y
Thank You Legacy Donors
The following individuals/families are in the Book of
Life Society and have granted us permission to share
with you that Levine Jewish Community Center has
been included as a beneficiary of their legacy gift.
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Aleen and David Epstein
Scott and Pamela Menaker
Wilma and Gerson Asrael
Roni and Glenn Fishkin
Staci and Darren Mond
Judy and Stan August
Bill and Patty Gorelick
Elsa and Martin Multer
Michele and Harvey Barer
Anna Gunsher
Mark and Harriet Perlin
Meredith and Michael Baumstein
Jodie, Michael, Elyssa and
Alex Iagnocco
Ilya and Chantal Rubin
Jaime and Elise Kosofsky
Larry Schwartz
Alison and Mark Lerner
Andrew and Elka Bernstein
Melvin Segal
Eric Lerner
Suly and Richard Chenkin
Eric and Lori Levine Sklut
Harry Lerner
Jonathan and Stephanie Simon
David Cohen
Julie Lerner Levine
Bob and Carol Speizman
Andrea and George Cronson
Leon and Sandra Levine
David and Debra Van Glish
Gene and Deedee Daumit
Rose and Abe Luski
Jeremy and Andrea Davids
Karen and Gary Maniloff Family
Brian and Glenda Bernhardt
Phil Berman
Michael Scharf
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Revel in Chocolate Desserts Resonating with Passover Themes
By Deborah R. Prinz
(JTA) - Toss the potato starch
and matzah meal - serve delectable desserts this Passover made
from chocolate.
These desserts, especially if
using fair trade or organic chocolate, further awareness of the
themes of Passover. They remind
us of the great poverty of many
cacao farmers and of the children
tragically enslaved in Ghana and
the Ivory Coast.
Chocolate Charoset Truffles
This is a great combination of
chocolate and charoset, the
Passover fruit concoction representing the building of granaries
by the Hebrew slaves. If you are
using left over made Ashkenazi
style, you may want to drain the
excess wine/grape juice.
Ingredients:
3 pounds dark or bittersweet
chocolate, broken into pieces
1/4 c. pistachios
1/4 c. pecans
1/8 c. almonds
1/8 c. pine nuts
1/2 tart apple
1/4 navel orange, with rind
A few drops of sweet white wine
A few drops of honey
Pinch of fresh or ground ginger
(or to taste)
Pinch of ground cinnamon (or to
taste)
Preparation:
Line a large baking sheet with
parchment paper or waxed paper.
Grind the nuts, apples, and orange
separately in a food processor.
The nuts should be as close to a
powder as possible without becoming “butter.” Combine the
nuts, apple, orange, wine, honey,
ginger and cinnamon in a bowl,
mixing well. The charoset filling
should have a smooth, thick texture. Roll the charoset into 1”
balls. Melt the chocolate in a large
heatproof bowl set over a pan of
simmering water; remove from
the heat. Using two forks, dip the
balls into the melted chocolate
and place on the prepared baking
sheet; refrigerate till the chocolate
has set.
Quantity: 24 truffles
Forgotten Cookies
These delicacies stay in the
oven overnight, but they are not
easily forgotten when you taste
them.
Ingredients:
2 lg. egg whites
2/3 c. sugar
1 c. chocolate chips, cocoa nibs,
or both
1 c. pecans, coarsely chopped
Pinch of salt (optional)
1 t. vanilla extract
30–40 chocolate buds or kisses
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 or 3 baking sheets
with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Beat the egg whites
till foamy. Gradually add the
sugar and beat till stiff. Gently
fold in the chocolate chips and/or
cocoa nibs, and nuts. Add the salt
and vanilla. Drop teaspoonfuls
onto the prepared baking sheets.
pieces and place in a lg.e serving
bowl, preferably glass. Add the
pomegranate syrup to taste. When
ready to serve, sprinkle the cocoa
nibs and roasted pistachios over
the fruit salad.
Cap each cookie with a chocolate
bud or kiss. Place the pans in the
oven; after about 1 min. turn off
the heat. Leave in the oven for
several hours or overnight. Carefully peel the cookies off the paper
or foil using a spatula.
Quantity: About 35 cookies
Wake Up Chocolate Chunks
These delicacies wake us up to
Passover’s messages of freedom
and conscience.
Ingredients:
1 lb. dark chocolate, chips or
broken into pieces
1 c. almonds
1/2 c. raisins, dates, or other
dried fruit
1/8 c. coffee beans
2 t. cayenne pepper, to taste
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa
powder
Matzah meal (optional)
Preparation:
parchment paper, aluminum foil,
or waxed paper. Melt the chocolate in a lg. heatproof bowl set
over a pan of simmering water; remove from the heat. In a food
processor with the chop blade,
combine the almonds, raisins, coffee beans, and cayenne. Pulse till
coarsely chopped. Stir the cocoa
into the melted chocolate. Once
the mixture is even and getting
stiff, add the chopped nuts and
fruits; keep stirring. Taste to check
the spice level. If the mixture is
too moist and sticky, add more
nuts or matzah meal, or wait tilll
firm enough to handle. (Cooling
in the refrigerator will firm the
mixture faster.) Roll the mixture
into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Remove from the baking
sheet and store in a covered container.
Quantity: Approximately 20
chunks
Cocoa Nibs Citrus Salad
Cocoa nibs harken back to the
most basic form of the cocoa bean
and may be the healthiest form of
eating chocolate. Nibble on this
salad as a snack, part of the meal
or a dessert.
Ingredients:
1 grapefruit, peeled (membrane
removed, optional)
2 navel oranges, peeled
3 blood oranges, peeled
4 clementines, peeled
Pomegranate syrup (optional)
Several tablespoons cocoa nibs
(try your local health food store
or online)
Pistachios, roasted and chopped
Preparation:
Cut the fruit into bite-size
““Tri”
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Chocolate Matzah Brickel
Ingredients:
2 lbs. dark chocolate, chips or
broken into pieces
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1/2 to 1 t. vanilla extract or almond extract
1 box matzah sheets, broken into
quarters
1 c. nuts, chopped
1 c. dried fruits, chopped
Preparation:
parchment paper or waxed paper.
Melt the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, thin
the chocolate with the vegetable
oil; stir in the vanilla or almond
extract. Coat the matzah, nuts and
dried fruits with the chocolate and
spread onto the prepared baking
sheet. Place the sheet in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 hr. to cool.
Once cool and hardened, remove
from the pan and break into bitesize bits. Store in a closed container.
Quantity: 10 servings
Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz is the
author of “On the Chocolate
Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History,
Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the
Magic of Cacao” (Jewish Lights).
ds
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Considering “Next Year in Jerusalem”
By Dasee Berkowitz
New York (JTA) - On a recent
trip to Jerusalem, my son decided
that his favorite color was gold.
Whenever he’s asked why, he
replies with a wry smile befitting
a five-year-old.
“Jerusalem is the city of gold,
of course,” he says.
When we told him our family
was moving to Israel this summer,
he was quite pleased.
“Ima, will we live there until
I’m a grown-up?” he asked.
That’s the idea, we nodded.
While I know what my family
will mean when we reach the end
of the Passover Seder this year
and say “Next Year in Jerusalem,”
for those not making the trek to
the Holy Land anytime soon, what
do these words mean? Are we
being disingenuous? Or, as the
Rabbis encourage with every
other part of the Haggadah, are we
expounding, embellishing, interpreting, and reading ourselves into
the story of the Exodus from
Egypt?
The end of the Haggadah, with
the promise to arrive “next year in
Jerusalem,” is just as ripe for exploration as the beginning.
I am always struck when Is-
raelis, especially Jerusalemites,
say “Next year in Jerusalem” with
the same intention as their Diaspora brethren. Jerusalem surely
cannot only represent a physical
destination. It must represent
more: an ideal, a hope, a possibility.
In the language of the Haggadah, the land of Israel and
Jerusalem represent the final stage
of redemption. When we lift the
four cups of wine during the
seder, we are giving ritual expression to the four stages that the
Jewish people move through, with
God as their guide, to reach freedom and leave Egyptian slavery in
the dust.
The Torah explains (Exodus
6:6-8), “I [God] will bring you out
from under the burdens of Egypt”
(cup 1); “I will deliver you out
from their bondage” (cup 2); “I
will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (cup 3); and “I will
take you to me for a people” (cup
4). But there is a fifth mention of
redemption just a few verses later
in the narrative: “And I will bring
you into the land (of Israel).”
Arriving to the land is the final
stage of redemption and corresponds to the cup of Elijah, the
prophet who is said to be the one
who ushers in messianic times.
The cup, untouched yet filled with
wine to the brim, represents the
future ahead, filled with possibilities and promises for peace on
earth.
As the late Rabbi David Hartman writes in “The Leader’s
Guide to the Family Participation
Haggadah: A Different Night,”
“The cup is poured, but not yet
drunk. Yet the cup of hope is
poured every year. Passover is the
night for reckless dreams; for visions about what a human being
can be, what society can be, what
people can be, what history may
become. That is the significance
of ‘Le’shanah ha’ba’a b’Yerushalayim’ [Next year in Jerusalem].”
Now that we are freed from the
bondage in Egypt, we are called to
embrace our biggest dreams, and
our wildest aspirations for ourselves, for Israel and for the
world.
Or when we say “Next year in
Jerusalem,” are we referring to a
more modest endeavor?
There is a midrash about the etymology of the word Jerusalem or
Yerushalayim. The Rabbis look at
the word “Yerusha,” which means
inheritance, and “ayim,” which
connotes doubling, and understand that there are two
Jerusalems – a heavenly one
(“Yerushalayim shel ma’alah”)
and an earthly one (“Yerushalayim shel ma’ata”). While the
heavenly Jerusalem might refer to
the possibilities of a world redeemed, an earthly one is rooted
in the complexities of politics,
economics, and daily life. It is a
place filled with energy, vibrancy,
and urgency.
In the late poet Yehuda
Amichai’s terms, Jerusalem is a
place where its inhabitants are
longing for God’s presence.
Jerusalem, he writes, is “saturated
with prayers and dreams like the
air over industrial cities. It’s hard
to breathe.” And according to the
Midrash, the earthly Jerusalem is
the place where God will arrive
even before reaching the heavenly
Jerusalem. As the Midrash imagines God saying, “I will not come
into the city of Jerusalem that is
above until I first come into the
city of Jerusalem that is below.”
What does it mean to make
earthly Jerusalem a place in which
God — whatever God means for
us - can enter and reside? Let us
create partnerships with Israelis
that help let a sense of godliness,
justice and love permeate the city.
Let us devote more time to learning more about the complexity of
life in Israel through travel and research. Let’s partner with Israelis
working on the ground to improve
society through education, social
and economic equality, and religious pluralism. Let’s read more
Israeli literature and honor Israeli
artists.
Or is Jerusalem a state of
mind?
More than physical places, rabbis have noted that Egypt and
Jerusalem represent two inner
spiritual states. Egypt, or
mitzrayim, has at its root “tsar,” or
narrowness. Egypt represents the
places in which we live narrowly,
where we feel constricted and
confined. It is a state in which we
are quick to anger, to react, to put
our own ego needs before the
needs of others.
Jerusalem, on the other hand,
has at its root “shalem,” or
“wholeness.” It is the feeling of
expansiveness, when the disparate
parts of ourselves weave together
into a seamless whole.
As the Seder winds down and
the matzah crumbs are swept off
the table, let the question of “next
year” continue to echo — with all
its hopes, plans and the self-understandings of where Jerusalem
resides for each one of us. Y
From Farm to Seder Table: Locally
Grown Matzah on the Rise
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DIRECTORY
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contact one of our sales representatives:
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By Talia Lavin
New York (JTA) - In their
small farmhouse bakery in Vermont, Doug Freilich and Julie
Sperling work round the clock
producing matzah in the period
preceding Passover - a matzah
that feels ancient and modern at
once.
Using a mix of grain they grow
on their own farm and wheat
sourced from other local farmers,
the couple create hundreds of
pieces of the wholesome unleavened bread they call Vermatzah.
“The idea came because of our
initial interest in growing grains,
looking at them from the harvest
to the baking in a very simple
sense, and highlighting grains that
have good flavor,” Freilich told
JTA. “We celebrate our own
Passover each year, we go through
the matzah-making ritual for both
the spring awakening and remembering the storytelling of this holiday.”
Freilich and Sperling, co-owners of the Naga Bakehouse in
Middletown Springs, VT, are
among American Jewish bakers
looking at new ways to create
matzah in ways that dovetail with
the concerns of an age of foodies
and locally sourced groceries.
They are joined in the process
by their teenage children, Ticho
and Ellis.
“Between the four of us, we are
working each and every piece by
hand: they are handmade with fingerprints, and heart, and soul,”
Freilich said. “Our matzahs are
tinted and kissed by the fire of the
wood oven.”
At the end of the labor-intensive process, each matzah is
wrapped in parchment paper and
hand tied before being sent off with a bonus seed packet of
wheatberries from the family’s
farm - to prospective customers
throughout the country.
Vermatzah is primarily available in Vermont, New York, and
Massachusetts, but Freilich says a
huge increase in Web orders
means the product is now making
it across the United States.
Freilich and Sperling have been
making Vermatzah for six years.
Now others are beginning to embrace matzah’s role in the farm-totable trend.
The Yiddish Farm, an eclectic
collective in Goshen, NY, that
combines Yiddish language instruction with agriculture, is producing its own matzah this year
baked with grain grown in its
fields.
The matzah will be whole
wheat and shmurah - a ritual designation for matzah that refers to
a process of careful supervision
which begins when the matzah’s
grain is in the field and doesn’t
stop tilll the matzah is baked. The
process involves planting, combine-harvesting, reaping, milling,
and sifting at the Yiddish Farm,
according to the Forward.
The end result is a locavore’s
matzah dream that will travel
from Goshen, in upstate New
York, to Manhattan and New Jersey prior to Passover.
For Anne Kostroski, the owner
of Crumb Bakery in Chicago,
making her own matzah has less
to do with food ideology than
more practical matters.
“I don’t like eating storebought matzah because I think it
tastes awful,” she said, laughing.
Kostroski, 41, has been making
her own signature matzah for
nearly 10 years, since her conversion to Judaism in the mid-1990s.
“The matzah I make is made
with honey, locally sourced eggs,
black pepper and olive oil,”
Kostroski said. “It’s flat and
crunchy, but not as dry as the regular store-bought plain matzah.
There’s a hint of heat and sweetness that makes matzah more interesting.”
For Kostroski, matzah making
has been a part of her Jewish journey, even when she hasn’t been
able to attend synagogue regularly
under the strain of a baker’s life.
Matzah creates a feeling of connection with history and tradition,
she explains.
And her homemade matzah,
which she sells at farmer’s markets, her Chicago eatery, the
Sauce and Bread Kitchen, and by
pre-order, is made lovingly and
painstakingly by hand.
“I make several hundred
matzahs a year, mixed, rolled, and
baked,” she said. “One batch is
maybe two dozen and it’s really
labor intensive.”
Kostroski says demand is increasing, slowly but surely, year
by year.
“I came across this recipe in
1995 and I started making it, and
I’ve been making it ever since,”
Kostroski said. “People are not
expecting different types of
matzah — they expect something
flavorless, and it doesn’t have to
be.” Y
Max, Hannah, and Some Frogs: Kids’ Books Bring New Friends
By Penny Schwartz
Boston (JTA) - Frolicking frogs
and magical matzah balls are featured in this season’s crop of new
Passover books for children that
are sure to engage, inform, entertain and inspire.
David A. Adler, author of the
hugely popular early reader “Cam
Jansen” series, offers “The Story
of Passover.” Adler is highly acclaimed for his straightforward
narrative style in non-fiction
books, including dozens on Jewish holidays.
He says he likes to appeal to
readers of any Jewish background,
whether from traditional, observant Jewish families or those who
are interested in learning about
Passover.
“I like my books to be open and
acceptable to all,” Adler tells JTA.
With his author’s note on the
Seder, Adler offers little-known
answers to intriguing questions
that spark the curiosity of a broad
audience.
Other titles this year include
“Frogs in the Bed,” offering an
engaging book version of a lively
Passover song, and “Stone Soup
with Matzah Balls,” which provides a delightful spin on a familiar folk tale.
Passover, which this year begins on the evening of April 14,
provides an endless source of inspiration for writers of children’s
books. Among the dozens that line
library shelves, some recount the
biblical Exodus, others retell Jewish folktales or tales of Elijah the
Prophet, who figures so prominently in the Seder.
Contemporary stories depict
families celebrating Passover, and
activity books and children’s Haggadahs promise to engage kids
with puzzles, songs, and jokes
through the long night of the
Passover Seder.
The winner of the 2014 Sydney
Taylor Book Award for young
readers given by the Association
of Jewish Libraries is a Passover
story, “The Longest Night,” by
Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Catia
Chien. The beautifully illustrated
book is told in poetic rhyme from
the perspective of a young girl as
if she were an Israelite slave living
through the Exodus from Egypt.
The following is the new crop
of children’s books for Passover:
The Story of Passover
David A. Adler, illustrated by
Jill Weber
Holiday House ($15.95);
ages 4-8
The story that is retold at the
Passover Seder begins 3,000 years
ago in the biblical days of Jacob
as he settles in Egypt. Readers
learn how the Israelites become
slaves and follow Moses as he is
raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in
the palace and later as he leads the
Israelites out of Egypt. Weber’s
detailed illustrations evoke the
color palette and landscape of ancient Egypt . She gently conveys
the suffering of the Egyptians
through the plagues and the triumph of the Israelites in a fantasylike drawing as they cross the Red
Sea into freedom.
Frogs in the Bed: My Passover
Seder Activity Book
and with little time to spare, the
ingenious young fellow takes matters into his own hands. He creates
a memorable cake all by himself.
The recipe for a Hurry, Hurry,
Hurry Cake is included. Santoso’s
bright, lively illustrations place
readers right in the action.
Ann D. Koffsky, based on the
song by Shirley Cohen
Steinberg
Behrman House ($7.95);
ages 4-7
Young kids will have fun with
the frolicking frogs in a book that
also includes a comic book story
and activities for before or during
the Seder. Koffsky’s colorful, cartoon-like illustrations animate the
song. Cute frogs turn up everywhere Pharaoh goes. They also
pop up out of chandeliers and juggle fruit. The book includes the
Four Questions, as well as mazes
and other Seder-related distractions. An easy set of instructions
with shapes to trace lets kids make
their own jumping froggy. The
sheet music is included.
The Littlest Levine
Sandy Lanton, illustrated by
Claire Keay
Kar-Ben ($7.95); ages 3-8
Hannah Levine is not happy
about being the littlest (and
youngest) one in her family, with
two older siblings who do all the
things she isn’t allowed to do yet.
Her grandfather, who lives with
the family, keeps reassuring her,
“Your holiday is coming, my littlest Levine.” As Passover nears,
he makes her feel special, teaching her the Four Questions. When
it’s time for the Seder, Hannah is
ready to enjoy the spotlight. This
charming intergenerational story
will strike a chord for many kids
and may help those who are a tad
reluctant to recite the Four Questions. Keay’s brightly colored illustrations are active, warm, and
upbeat.
Max Makes a Cake
Michelle Edwards, illustrated
by Charles Santoso
Random House ($17.99);
ages 3-7
Max is ready for Passover. The
endearing young boy knows the
Four Questions and can tell his
baby sister why Passover is different from all other nights. He’s also
eager to bake his artist mom a
Passover birthday cake. But with
the baby in the house, his dad gets
a bit distracted. Losing patience
Stone Soup with Matzoh Balls:
A Passover Tale in Chelm
Linda Glaser, illustrated by
Maryam Tabatabaei
Albert Whitman ($16.99);
ages 4-7
In Jewish folk tradition, Chelm
is known as a make-believe town
filled with naïve fools who, despite themselves, manage to impart wisdom with a huge dose of
humor. In this delightful story,
Linda Glaser gives a Chelm spin
to a tale told in many cultures
around the world. On the eve of
Passover, a poor ragged stranger
arrives in the village and asks if
anyone will invite him in to share
the holiday. He quotes from the
Haggadah, “All who are hungry
come and eat.” He sparks their interest by telling them he can make
a pot of matzah ball soup from
only a stone. With clever prodding, he gets the villagers to create
a huge pot of delicious soup, with
light and fluffy matzah balls.
Maryam Tabatabaei’s expressive
illustrations are a perfect match
for the humorous story, evoking
the Old World village with a playful tone.
Seder in the Desert
Jamie Korngold, photos by
Jeff Finkelstein
Kar-Ben ($7.95); ages 3-8
This colorful photo essay narrated by a young person offers up
something new and unexpected
for the holiday. “Why is this Seder
different from all others?” the
book asks on its opening page.
“Because this year we are celebrating Passover in the desert.”
Readers of all ages will be fascinated as they follow Rabbi Jamie
and a large group of people on a
hike through the sands and magnificent stone arches that fill Israel’s Moab desert landscape. The
adventure invites readers to imagine what it might have been like
for ancient Israelites to wander the
desert in the Exodus story. Y
In Germany, Some Closure for the Son of
Survivors
By Adam Friedman
New York (JTA) - As a child of
Holocaust survivors, I have always managed to avoid visiting
Germany. Part of my parents’
legacy was never to visit the country, with its dark past - not even to
own any products in our home
that were made in Germany.
Despite my reluctance to visit
Germany, an opportunity arose
that I could not forgo. A professional group to which I have belonged for 10 years was holding a
meeting in Wiesbaden - the day
after Yom Kippur, no less. As the
international group of about 40 includes many friends and people
with whom I regularly do business, I felt compelled to attend. I
also felt that Michael, my German
host, would feel slighted if I chose
to stay home. After all, Michael is
in his 40s and should not be
blamed for the sins of his grandparents’ generation.
I was pleasantly surprised to
find Wiesbaden a most beautiful
city with many stately buildings
dating from the mid-19th century,
when it was a popular spa town
for the rich and the royalty of Europe. It was a town that showed no
visible scars from World War II,
never having been bombed.
But in fact, there were less visible scars that tarnished the history
of Wiesbaden. At the onset of
World War II, the city was home
to 1,500 Jews who had built a
most inspiring and architecturally
noteworthy synagogue that was
destroyed on Kristallnacht in
1938. Subsequently, Wiesbaden’s
Jews were deported to concentration camps, leaving no survivors.
In my research before I arrived,
I discovered that the town had
built a memorial to those victims
on the very spot where the synagogue was located. I was determined to visit the memorial, so
that this trip, which seemed like a
betrayal of my parents’ memory,
would take on some semblance of
deeper meaning. I had no idea
when I would have the opportunity, as the meeting left little time
for anything else.
Michael, who was raised in
Wiesbaden, is a sophisticated man
who spent his younger years living in the United States and London. As part of the meeting’s
program, he had invited a speaker
to discuss German history, and the
speaker began with the reign of
Charlemagne. Much to everyone’s
astonishment, when he discussed
the 20th century, he never mentioned the Nazi period. We were
all deeply offended and at the
break expressed our disappointment to Michael, whereupon he
stood before the group and apologized with tears in his eyes.
Suddenly I realized that here
was my opportunity. I suggested
to Michael that it would be appropriate for him to invite the whole
group to visit the memorial to the
Jewish victims. Michael eagerly
agreed and later that day, most of
the group walked to the memorial,
not really knowing what to expect.
Appropriately, the site is somber
with a gray brick wall inscribed
with the names of those who perished. I felt that I needed to seize
this moment.
I asked my colleagues to gather
around while I put on my yarmulke and recited the Kaddish,
the Jewish mourner’s prayer for
the dead. Although the words are
in ancient Aramaic, somehow the
meaning was felt more than understood. In a spontaneous outpouring of emotion, everyone
burst into tears, hugging each
other. The group included Jews,
Christians, Hindus, and Muslims,
but at this moment we were simply people bound by our common
humanity and the sadness over a
terrible tragedy. As we stood
there, many of the cars that passed
by blew their horns in recognition
and sympathy.
Michael then led us to a house
in front of which was embedded a
brass plaque in the sidewalk with
the name of a Jewish occupant
who had lived there and was deported. We all crouched down to
read the name in an act of homage, each of us mouthing a prayer
in our own way.
Later that evening, as we
walked back to our hotel, Michael
turned to me and said, “We learn
all about the Nazi period and the
Holocaust in school, and we take
trips to many sites related to that
time, but as Germans, we never
talk about it. That is a mistake. We
need to talk about it so we won’t
forget; that’s what I learned
today.”
The following day as I rode the
train to the airport, I reviewed that
simple yet profound event. I realized that coming to Germany was
an act of closure for my own personal history. Even my parents
would have understood. Y
(Adam Friedman is a public relations consultant who lives in
New York City.)
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