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What do Jena Coen, AndrewKlein, Stacy and Todd Gorelck,and Scott Menaker all have incommon? They’ve all beentouched by the words of RabbiBrad Hirschfield, speaker for the2012 Main Event.
According to Scott Menaker,co-chair of The Main Event, “Ihad the privilege to learn andstudy with Rabbi Hirshfeld whenhe was Scholar in Residence forthe JCC Association. He wasengaging, entertaining, andbrought a sense of meaning to hismessage that was applicable to oureveryday lives. I am very excitedthat he is coming to Charlotte andI know he will attract a large audi-ence with his message for Jewsfrom all walks of life.”
Jena Coen and Andrew Klein,native Charlotteans and membersof the Bernstein LeadershipGroup, recently had the opportu-nity to study with RabbiHirschfield, scholar-in-residencefor their Bernstein LeadershipRetreat held at Wildacres. “RabbiHirschfield teaches the impor-tance of an individual’s Jewishidentity as well as the importanceof a united local and worldwideJewish community. I was person-ally inspired by Rabbi Hirschfieldto define what Judaism means tome and to live a Jewish life thathonors and enriches that defini-tion. I am excited that Rabbi
Hirschfield will be back inCharlotte, as the Main Eventspeaker, to share his words of tol-erance and acceptance with ourentire community,” said JenaCoen.
Andrew Klein described hisexperience by saying, “When itcomes to appreciating one’sJewish identity, Rabbi BradHirschfield taught me more aboutmyself in 28 hours than perhapsanything I learned during my 28years on this planet. As the guestspeaker at our BernsteinLeadership Group’s ShabbatRetreat, Rabbi Hirschfield decon-structed our Jewish identities,bringing to light the core values,traditions, and collective memo-ries that our seemingly diversegroup of Jews has in common.Rabbi Hirschfield taught me thatwe can choose to accept everyoneequally, and that a pluralistic viewof Judaism is the right approach.Rabbi Hirschfield leads by exam-ple, and his love for all Jewishpeople, regardless of affiliation orbackground, is highly contagious.He has so much wisdom to share,and the opportunity to hear himshould not be missed.”
Rabbi Hirschfield was selectedas the scholar-in-residence for theBernstein Leadership Retreat andultimately The Main Event speak-er because of his enthusiasticendorsement by Stacy and Todd
Gorelick. In Israel last year as partof a select group of young leaderschosen by JFNA, Stacy and Toddlearned with Rabbi Hirschfieldwho was the scholar-in-residencefor their week long experience.“Our friend, Rabbi BradHirschfield, changes lives. Hechanged ours. Brad helped us tothink about the world, and ourJewish place in it, in new and dif-ferent ways. He taught us to look
at every situation, whether thornyor hopeful, through the eyes andlife experiences of others. Welearned from Brad that differ-ences, even deep differences,when built on shared moral val-ues, can be the Jewish People’sgreatest strength. If you hearBrad’s message, you cannot helpcoming away a more thoughtfulJew and a better person. Brad’sfriendship reaches our hearts, andhis wisdom nourishes our souls,”explained Todd.
The most widely attended eventof the season, The 2012 MainEvent, co-chaired by ScottMenaker and Steve Menaker, willbe held on Thursday, January 26,at 7:30 PM at Temple Israel.Tickets are $36 each and can bepurchased online at www.jew-ishcharlotte.org or by phone 704-944-6757. A book signing anddessert reception will follow theprogram.
Rabbi Hirschfield will talk onthe topic “Celebrating Diversityand Creating Unity in the 21stCentury.” Listed four years in arow in Newsweek as one ofAmerica’s “50 Most InfluentialRabbis,” and recognized as one ofour nation’s leading “Preachersand Teachers,” by Beliefnet.com,think tank President, talk showhost, interfaith activist, and diver-sity expert Brad Hirschfield is theauthor of You Don’t Have To BeWrong For Me To Be Right:Finding Faith Without Fanaticism.
The only rabbi featured onABC’s “Nightline UpClose,”Hirschfield offers a unique per-spective on the American spirituallandscape and political and socialtrends to audiences nationwide. Apopular media guest on suchshows as “The Dennis MillerShow” and “Lars Larson,” he hasappeared on CNN, PBS, MTV,and NPR. He is a regular com-mentator for The Huffington Post,a frequent contributor to FoxNews Opinion and a columnist forNewsweek/Washington Post.com
Rabbi Hirschfield is thePresident of CLAL – The NationalJewish Center for Learning andLeadership, a leadership traininginstitute, think tank and resourcecenter committed to religious plu-ralism and the healthier use ofreligion in American public life.
At the Main Event, you willhave the opportunity to make yourpledge to the 2012 AnnualCampaign “Doing a World ofGood.” Every single day theJewish Federation saves lives,builds community and makes theworld a better place. With one gift,you can make a world of differ-ence. Please visit our website to
learn more about the JewishFederation of Greater Charlotte.
For more information about theMain Event, please contact theFederation office at 704-944-6757, Scott or Steve Menaker, orany of the members of the dynam-ic Steering Committee: Lee andJeff Bierer, Lisa and Barry Blau,
Jena Coen, Arlene and MiltonGoldstein, Stacy and ToddGorelick, Bari and Jeff Gorelick,Roz and Marty Husney, Jenn andMichael Koss, Cary Bernstein andAlan Kronovet, Randi and JustinLan, Alison and Jack Levinson,Elise Menaker, Risa and DavidMiller, Jill and Ed Newman,Rhonda and Andy Nicholson,Wendy and Lee Pake, Susan andBernie Sandler, Larry Schwartz,Karen and Jeff Turk, Eleanor andMorton Turk, Debra and DavidVan Glish and Judie and MichaelVan Glish.
The mission of the JewishFederation of Greater Charlotte isto raise and distribute funds to
support and enrich the lives ofJews locally, nationally, in Israeland worldwide. Through educa-tion, planning and communitybuilding, the Federation’s missionensures that Jewish values, goals,traditions and connections are pre-served for current and future gen-erations. Y
Vol. 34, No. 1 Tevet-Shevat 5772 January 2012
An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT # 1208
CHARLOTTE, NC
5007 Providence Road, Suite #112
Charlotte, NC 28226
Change Service Requested
“Rabbi Hirschfield leads
by example, and his love
for all Jewish people,
regardless of affiliation or
background, is highly con-
tagious. He has so much
wisdom to share, and the
opportunity to hear him
should not be missed!”
— Andrew Klein
2012 Main Event Features Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Rabbi Hirschfield (front row, far left) with the Bernstein Leadership Group.
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 2
The Charlotte JewishNews
5007 Providence Road, Suite 112 Charlotte, NC 28226
Phone(voice mail after office hours)Office 704-944-6765FAX 704-365-4507
email: [email protected]
An Affiliate of theJewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
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Art Director, Erin Bronkar, 704-847-2185, [email protected]
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
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JEWISH FEDERATION NEWS
Friday, January 6, 5:08 PM
Friday, January 13, 5:14 PM
Friday, January 20, 5:21 PM
Friday, January 27, 5:28 PM
SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING
FOR JANUARY 2012
Federation News......................................pp. 1-3
Synagogues/Cong.. ................................pp. 4-10
Schools .................................................pp. 11, 12
Community News................................pp. 13-15
Women’s Page.............................................p. 16
Youth ...................................................pp. 17, 21
Jewish Community Center................pp. 18, 19
Dining Out ..........................................pp. 20, 21
Jewish Family Services ......................pp. 22, 23
Levine-Sklut Judaic Library ......................p.23
Mazel Tov............................................pp. 24, 25
Jewish Traveler...........................................p. 25
Tu B’Shevat ........................................pp. 26, 27
CONTENTS
The 2012 Campaign kicked-off on November 10, 2011 whenmaster of all things psychic andmentalist to the stars SidneyFriedman made his first appear-ance in Charlotte. Campaigncabinet members, solicitors,members of the Federation’sboard of trustees, and selectcommunity leaders were on-hand for an inspirational andmotivational evening designed
to benefit our entire community.During the evening which wassponsored by Bank of NorthCarolina, Sidney Friedmanwowed the audience with aseries of amazing actionsdesigned to open our minds andmore effectively communicateour fundraising message.According to Sidney Friedman,“Whether you believe in what Ido or not, I don’t care. I am here
to show you that when you openyour mind you can make theimpossible possible, the unat-tainable attainable and theinconceivable conceivable.” Wehope every member of our com-munity will focus on fulfillingthe needs of our entire commu-nity and help us meet our 2012campaign goal of $3.2 million.Y
JFGC 2012 Campaign Opener
If yes is your answer, pleasejoin us for a NewcomerSchmooze, co-sponsored by theJewish Federation and theLevine JCC, on Sunday, January22, at 11 AM in the WeinbergCenter at Shalom Park.
Learn about the CharlotteJewish Community while meet-ing new friends.
Complimentary bagels, coffeeand juice are served. All ages arewelcome. For information, con-tact the Federation office at 704-944-6757.Y
Are You New to theCharlotte Community?
Don’t Forget to Sign Up for the e-EditionNow Automatically Compatible to iPhones, iPads, andother Apple Platforms
The Charlotte Jewish News is available in an e-Edition. Every month, you will receive notification thatthe current monthly issue is available online with a weblink to click.
There are many advantages to receiving the electronic version: no more clutter in your home; there arehotlinks on stories and some advertisements that bring you directly to the relevant websites; you can printout any story or picture that interests you right away.
For those who still prefer a print edition, we will continue to print hard copies of The Charlotte JewishNews for you.
Contact [email protected] to sign up for your e-subscription. Or call 704-944-6765. Y
An Experience of aLifetime!
Free Birthright Trip to Israel the Summer of 2012.
Join other Charlotte Young Professionals (ages 21-26)on the Charlotte community bus.
Registration for summer 2012 trips opens on February 15, at 10:00 AM. If you applied in the past,
early registration begins on February 14, at 12:00 PM. For more information, contact Tair
at 704-944-6759.
Made possible thanks to a generous donation from The Leon Levine Foundation.
www.jewishcharlotte.org jewishcharlotte
JEWISH FEDERATION’S 2012 BENEFICIARY AGENCIES
Friendship Circle $7,000 Engages special needs children with volunteers for a one-on-one experience Hebrew Cemetery $13,380 Israel and Overseas $902,373
Jewish Council of Lake Norman $8,000
$2,700
$2,500 Jewish Experience Fund $7,000 Jewish Family Services $250,000
$716,845
$2,500 Jewish Preschool on Sardis $20,000 Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center $65,000 Missions $19,500 Melton Adult Mini School $3,000 North Carolina Hillel $29,000
North Carolina Council on the Holocaust $9,000 Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center $390,000 Shalom Park Freedom School $5,000
$127,047
$7,500 Viva Klezmer $750
TOTAL 2012 ALLOCATIONS* $3,105,840
$500 Birthright Israel $4,500
$12,000
$2,000
$6,560
$150,000 th grade school
$ 2,500
$30,000
Consolidated High School of Jewish Studies $11,000
$298,685
Mike Baumstein Sam BernsteinDavid EpsteinSharyn HandelsmanFern Ingber EpleyAlan KronovetMark LernerAndy Nicholson
Harrison LordBrad RabinowitzIra SlomkaJason SpieglerJustin SteinschriberLorin StiefelStephanie TownsendMark Weintraub
2012 ALLOCATIONS COMMITTEE Chairs: Brad Winer and Lisa Blau
DOING A WORLD OF GOOD
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER CHARLOTTE ALLOCATES $3,105,840* TO HELP JEWS IN NEED IN CHARLOTTE, ISRAEL AND WORLDWIDEFaced with the responsibility and challenge of effectively distributing funds, the 2012 Allocations Committee (see below), under the leadership of Brad Winer and Lisa Blau, worked conscientiously and tirelessly to insure a thorough and impactful allocations process. This year, the Federation allocated $3,105,840* to help build Jewish continuity, and to protect the interests and serve the needs of the Jewish people in Charlotte, in Israel and worldwide. Thanks to donors like you and the success of the 2011 Federation Annual Campaign, $137,000 additional dollars have been allocated to benefit our local and overseas communities as compared to last year.
Through a careful assessment of local and overseas needs, Federation allocations support many programs and touch countless lives.
*total amount distributed, net of campaign shrinkage
Jewish Family Services
CJN
$5,461$3,772
$846$398$248$197
Temple Israel
$157,458$37,388$33,448$26,643$26,138
$6,687
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
THANK YOU FOR LIVING GENEROUSLY. It does a world of good.
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 3
w Life Insurance w Health Insurance w Dental & Vision Insurancew Disability & Long Term Care Coverage w Annuities w HSA’s
7 0 4 - 3 7 6 - 74 3 4w w w . g r e e n s p o n . c o m
Luck doesn’t buy & sell homes...Experience does!
Buying... Selling... Relocating...Connecting people to the Jewish
Community Since 1972
By Rabbi Dr. Barbara ThiedeI sat with a bat mitzvah student
a little over a year ago to study theMourner’s Kaddish. I spoke to herabout the history of the prayer. Iasked her if she could explain whya prayer said in memory of a lovedone didn’t mention death.
“I guess so that we rememberto love God even when our hearthurts,” she said.
We talked more about grief andsadness, about the way having acommunity around you to helpyou with something as elementalas saying a prayer can help pro-vide comfort. Then I asked her toread Mourner’s Kaddish.
By b’al’ma di v’ra khir’utei,her voice had lost its steadiness.By ba’agala uviz’man kariv I sawthe first tears fall.
We stopped the prayer reading.I asked her to tell me what her
tears were about. She did not havethe opportunity to say goodbye,she told me. She was cryingbecause she hadn’t been able tosay goodbye.
My student had lost her grand-mother the previous summer.
Her mother knew that thechild’s grandmother was past talk-ing in those last days, and told herso.
“But I could have talked toher,” she said.
“Do you think you still can talkto her?” I asked. “Would she hearyou if you tried?”
I was really asking her aboutthe Holy One and what the girlbelieved about life after death.How would it feel, I asked, if shewrote out all the things she wouldhave liked to tell her grandmotherbefore she died?
She liked the idea.
I asked her if she knew hergrandmother’s favorite color.Could she buy a pretty box of thatcolor to store letters and picturesin, could she write to her grand-mother for years to come?
Spiritual direction is trying todiscern God’s presence in the realand actual life of the individual.The director’s kavannah (inten-tion), is to guide the seeker inexploring his or her relationshipwith God, with what is sacred,with the state of their own soul.Wisdom, intuition, and stayingopen to God’s presence helps boththe director and the seeker to beaware of God’s nearness – or dis-tance. Prayer, meditation, journal-ing, ritual – all these can be part ofspiritual direction.
Spiritual directors must meetpeople where they are. Do theyfind God to be present in thedilemmas they face and the fearsthey experience? If not, do theyyearn for that Presence? Do theyrage or hope?
Spiritual direction is to listen,above all, to the heart. Thoughmany Jews might not think ofspiritual direction as a Jewish dis-cipline, it is fair to say that rab-binic traditions – particularlyChassidic ones – provide plenty ofhistorical precedent for the wayspiritual direction is practiced inour time. Rebbe Nachmann, whoadvised meditation and talkingdirectly to God was most surelyengaging in a form of spiritualdirection.
While I studied for the rab-binate, I learned that being able tooffer spiritual direction was ascritical as knowing how to lead anengaging Torah study group, or arewarding and enriching service.My congregants had questions –about how to expand their Jewishpractice, about how to connect tothe Holy One beyond the bound-aries of the siddur, about how tocope with loss and grief.
This January, I will be ordainedas a spiritual director, after athree-year training program withALEPH, the Alliance for JewishRenewal. I will be grateful for thattraining, for it has served to helpme serve.
We all can acknowledge eachother’s hearts – that takes nothingmore than quieting ourselves andlistening for the presence of God.As we meet whatever life bringsus, may we know that these thingsare elementally Jewish practices,ones we can all embrace. Y
Rabbi Dr. Barbara Thiede is aspiritual director on staff at theDavidson Centre for theProfessions and the spiritualleader of Temple Or Olam, serv-ing Cabarrus County and its envi-rons.
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 4
Let our family care for yours.
Affordable Care SolutionsTransportation
Charlotte: 704-503-4660 Cornelius: 704-987-1802www.homewatchcaregivers.com/charlotte
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Do you ever stop thinking about what the future holds for your child?
At the American Hebrew Academy, a one-of-a-kind boarding high school experi-ence awaits your child. An academically rigorous environment where Jewish iden-tity is nurtured, the Academy opens the doors to your child’s future. It’s everything a high school should be, and some things you never dreamed it could be. What doors can we open for your teenager? Learn more at www.highschoolmeansmore.org or call (336) 217-7070.
Now accepting applications for 2012-2013.
American Hebrew AcademyBecause high school can mean so much more.
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Is Spiritual Direction Jewish?
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 5
Many of our neighbors are struggling to feed themselves and their families.Thanks to donors like you, they won’t go hungry.
www.jewishcharlotte.org2012 Annual Campaign
The food pantry at Jewish Family Services is just one example of
the good work we do together in our community. Caring for people
in need in Charlotte, in Israel and in communities around the
world is at the core of what Jewish Federation is all about. This is
your chance to be part of a generous community that gives back.
And it’s an opportunity to foster and celebrate Jewish life for future
generations. Please consider a gift to our 2012 Annual Campaign.
Together we do a world of good.
“I wanted to give back to the community after I retired. Volunteering for the JFS food pantry allows me to make a difference in the lives of
thousands of people right here at home.”
- Bill Schwartz, JFS Volunteer
DOING A WORLD OF GOOD
704.944.6757
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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 6
The recent failures in the finan-cial industry have changed theway we think about business. InJudaism we believe that businessshould be a force for good. Ournewest Jewish Learning Institutecourse, Money Matters, chal-lenges you to question yourassumptions about business at adeep level, to understand whatyour values are, what you standfor, and how you are going to con-tribute to society and the world.
Join us for this informative JLIsix week course in Charlottebeginning on Tuesday, January 24,7:30 PM for the evening classesand Wednesday, January 25, 11AM for the day classes. All ses-sions will be held at the LubavitchEducation Center on Sardis Road.
Money Matters will presentJudaism’s approach to practicaleconomic dilemmas and monetaryquandaries that we face daily inboth our personal and professionallives.
The goal of this course is to
provide a sensitive, fair, andunshakable economic paradigmgrounded in 3,000 years of tradi-tion and practical experience —an ancient yet fresh spin on howwe view ethics of money. Studentswill emerge from this course withan understanding that only adivine economic system canensure unequivocal justice whilerecognizing the virtue in eachstakeholder’s position. MoneyMatters will show how the Torah’ssharply discerning yet holistic rul-ings inspire us with the confidenceto confront any ethical economicdilemma.
There is good news for attor-neys in North Carolina as thiscourse is CLE accredited by theNorth Carolina State Bar. Lawyerswho need credits for the CLE’scan join the class and accomplishlearning Torah and receiving theirCLE’s at the same time.
In the recent economic down-turn, much fury has arisen fromreports that CEOs of Americas
biggest companies take grandbonuses and huge salaries. Is itmorally wrong to seek extrava-gance? Are those who criticizetheir good fortune just jealous, oris their disgust valid? This lessonwill discuss some of the moralproblems related to CEO compen-sation, including some conflicts ofinterest.
While a lucky few go homewith millions, many more returnhome in poverty. What is the bestway to solve the problem of the“working poor”? Should employ-ers be obligated to pay theiremployees the minimum hourlyincome necessary for a worker tomeet basic needs? This lesson willexplore this hotly debated issuefrom both the angle of Jewish law,as well as from the perspective of“going beyond the letter of thelaw” — a central pillar of Jewishbusiness ethics.
The controversy over unionrights is recurrently strewn acrossU.S. headlines. What does Jewish
law have to say about whetherworkers should have the right tounionize and bargain collectively?And does it matter whether theyare public or private sectoremployees?
Should the right to strike begranted, despite the harm it cancause to society? Does the type ofindustry make a difference? Thislesson will present the Talmud’senlightening spin on unionization,collective bargaining, and strikes.
In times of old, when a debtorwas not able to repay his debts, hewas sold as a slave or thrown intoprison. Today, we have bankrupt-cy laws that protect individualsfrom this fate. But is it ethical toborrow without repaying? Ifsomeone earns the money later inlife, should they be obligated torepay their settled debts? This les-son explores the Jewish legal per-spective on bankruptcy, emphasiz-ing how we can incorporate secu-lar local laws and customs intoJewish law.
Information is a valuable com-modity — this fact has been madeclear by recent stories of high pro-file prosecutions on insider trad-ing charges. But is it fair to requirecompanies to make informationreadily available to people whodid not expend the time, effort,and money to attain it? Can steal-ing or misusing information belikened to property theft?
How do we set up marketswhich ensure that risk is appor-tioned fairly? In this lesson, wewill compare and contrast whatAmerican law and Jewish lawhave to say on the subject.
For more information onthis course please visitwww.myjli.com. Or call our officeat 704-366-3984.Y
Congregation Ohr HaTorahinvites everyone in the CharlotteJewish community to an upliftingFriday night dinner honoring Tub’Shevat – New Year for treestogether with family and friends.
Join friends and family for aninspirational evening with deli-cious Shabbat cuisine, featuringan array of delightful Israeli winesas we explore the spiritual mean-ing of the Tu b’Shevat holiday.Discover the meaning and ritualsof this exciting holiday and whywe humans celebrate the NewYear for trees.
The Shabbaton will be held onFriday, February 3. Services andcandle lighting will begin at 5:30
PM. Shabbat Dinner at 6:45 PM.Cost of Shabbaton is $18 per per-son - $50 per family. To reserve,visit the payment page atwww.chabadnc.org or mail acheck to 6619 Sardis Road,Charlotte, NC 28270. For moreinformation, please call 704-366-3984 or email: [email protected]. Y
JLI: New Course on Jewish Business Ethics – Money Matters
Tu B’Shevat Shabbaton onFriday, February 3
The Friday night of MartinLuther King weekend starts offCharlotte’s third annual SermonExchange. Dozens of Charlottecongregational leaders willexchange pulpits in a programsponsored by Crossroads Charlotteand Mecklenburg Ministries.
Beth El’s MLK Shabbat onFriday, January 13 at 7 PM willhighlight one preacher, one pastor,one praise team, and two mean-ingful exchanges. The firstexchange is reflected in theShalom Park Freedom School.Kevin Vandiver, who has beenserving the Children’s DefenseFund for four consecutive sum-mers and was our Shalom ParkFreedom School Site Coordinator,will be our featured speaker. Agifted preacher and passionate
leader, Kevin earned hisBachelor’s degree from WinthropUniversity and is currentlyenrolled at Duke UniversityDivinity School. He brings wis-dom, learning, a commitment tosocial justice, and a familiaritywith the Jewish community.
The music of Beth El’s MLKShabbat service will be lifted bythe Praise Team of Briar CreekChurch. Pastor Dennis Hall willlead a prayer for peace. PastorHall is a strong servant leader whofeels a passion for Israel, for lift-ing up those in need in Haiti, andmost of all, for reaching out tosupport Charlotte families in need.As part of our second exchange,Beth El will host a model Sederfor Briar Creek Church. (Detailsforthcoming.)
Song. Food. Prayer. Passion forlifting up the community in whichwe live. Building connections thatwill heal our city. These and morewill be at the heart of the Beth ElMLK experience this year. Pleasejoin us. Y
Temple Beth El’s Martin Luther KingShabbat Part of Larger Exchange
Kevin Vandiver
Tuesday Evenings, January10–February 21
Please join us at Temple BethEl for our 15th AnnualComparative Religion Series.Sessions will run from 7-9 PM onsix successive Tuesday evenings,starting January 10. (February 21is reserved as a snow date.)
This year’s program has beenplanned by the Temple Beth ElComparative Religion Committeeand sponsored through partnershipwith the Temple Beth ElSisterhood. Rabbi Judy Schindlerwill provide an illuminating intro-duction to the Series on January10, which will deepen our under-standing of the course of study forthe remaining weeks.
The annual ComparativeReligion Series was establishedfifteen years ago with the intent toeducate our community, promoteunderstanding and respect of all
faiths, and reveal the commonali-ties in our differences.
The 2012 schedule is as fol-lows:* January 10: Rabbi JudySchindler, Temple Beth El –Welcome and Overview –Jewish perspective
* January 17: Mr. JohnBarringer, Counselor toPresident Cheney of TheChurch of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints – Mormonperspective
* January 24: Imam JohnEderer, Muslim AmericanSociety of Charlotte – Islamicperspective
* January 31: Reverend JamesHowell, Myers Park FirstUnited Methodist Church –Protestant perspective
* February 7: Father PatrickEarl, Saint Peter’s CatholicChurch – Catholic perspective
* February 14: Ms. MarcyBraverman Goldstein, PhD,Department of ReligiousStudies, UNC Charlotte –Hinduism, a scholar’s perspec-tive
* February 21: Snow date
For details, visit www.beth-el.com or call Temple Beth El at704-366-1948. Y
Temple Beth El Presents Its 15th Annual ComparativeReligion Series“One God? Yours or Mine … AProvocative Look at the Concept of God”
On January 20 at 8 PM, RabbiHoward Berman from the Societyfor Classical Reform Judaism willjoin the TBE clergy in leadingShabbat worship. The service willexplore some historic liturgy andmusic of the Reform Movementwithin the context of our contem-porary TBE service. Prepare to
have your spirits lifted throughthe elevated song and prose of theReform tradition. Y
Classical Reform Shabbatwith Guest Speaker RabbiHoward Berman
7–8:30 PMNo charge. All are welcome.Jewish or not, member or not.
Registration Required: ShariHackman or Janie Meyers, 704-749-3051 or [email protected] or [email protected].
Are you curious? Join us toexplore and learn the Jewish per-spective on living in today’sworld. Discussions to include:
spirituality, values, communityand traditions. Seating islimited. Y
“Taste of Judaism” WinterSession at Temple Beth ElWednesdays, January 4, 11, 18 and 25
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 7
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, founderof Kol Echad: Making JudaismMatter, a trans-denominationaladult learning center in Atlanta,Georgia, and author of numerousbooks on Jewish life and spiritual-ity, will serve as Temple Beth El’s2012 Sadie Levin Scholar-in-Residence.
On Friday night, February 17 atBeth El’s 8 PM Shabbat services,Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin will deliverthe sermon “A Date With God.”On the topic, Rabbi Salkinremarks, “The Shabbat eveningliturgy is filled with mystical ideasand images. The most important isfound in Lecha Dodi. Meet themost mysterious and most scintil-lating ‘woman’ in the Jewish tra-
dition — the Shechinah. Her storywill change your way of lookingat Judaism.”
On Saturday morning, RabbiSalkin will lead a 9 AM Shabbatworkshop entitled “The Gods AreBroken!” He will analyze howAbraham’s shattering of hisfather’s idols has shaped theJewish response to the world.Following our congregationalbrunch, Rabbi Salkin will deliverthe D’var Torah at ourCongregational Shabbat service.Y
Beth El Sadie Levin Scholar-in-Residenceto Feature Renowned Author and RabbiJeffrey Salkin
Engaging Jewish Childrenin Ballantyne
Some of our young chefs from Kids in the Kitchen: Andrew Pries,Jared Schnall, and Alana Pries
Oliver Halverstam shaping Hebrew letters at HebrewSchool
For more information aboutChabad of Ballantyne and ourprograms, call 704-246-8881
Visit our websitewww.JewishBallantyne.com
Java & JeansJanuary 7 at 10 AM
Java and Jeans is analternative Shabbat morn-ing service that includes:learning about the prayers,experimenting with theprayers, and a lively andmeaningful Torah discus-sion. Join us if you havequestions about Jewishprayer that you never beforegot an opportunity to ask.Join us if you’ve ever feltlike you wanted a deepermeaning behind the prayers. Joinus if you are just looking forsomething different from the mainsanctuary service. Wear yourjeans, come as you are, drinksome coffee. Facilitated by RabbiNoam Raucher.
Torah TotsSaturday, January 7, 10-11 AM
Come share in the Shabbatexperience for preschoolers andtheir parents. Join us for music,singing, dancing and prayer. Ourspecial guest: Miss Patty.
KavanahSaturday, January 21, 10 AM
The Kavanah service is anexperience in focused Jewish
prayer, which combines tradition,meditation and the rhythm ofJewish prayer. Anyone searchingfor a sense of the spiritual inJewish prayer is welcome. Be pre-pared not only to experience thebeauty of Jewish prayer but alsothe wonder and stimulation ofopen and honest Torah Study dur-ing the service. The Kavanahservice will be led by Rabbi NoamRaucher.
Pulpit ExchangeJanuary 14 at 9:30 AM
Temple Israel will be hostingPastor Gregory K. Moss, Sr. of St.Paul Baptist Church for a sermonexchange.
Temple Israel News
(Continued on page 9)
Rabbi Noam Raucher reciting the traveler’sblessing with the TI Youth Group before theyhead off to their convention.
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin
A cold winter’s night is the per-fect time to hunker down withpopcorn, a movie, some lively dis-cussion, and (of course) dessert.Havurat Tikvah members, guests,and friends will do just that onSaturday evening January 7 withthe first of a new series of “IsraeliFilm Nights.”
Kicking off the series is TheBand’s Visit, a film tracing theevents in Bet Hatikva. Located inthe middle of the Negev Desert,this fictional town finds itself themistaken destination for eight menin the Alexandria CeremonialPolice Orchestra. The men, strand-ed and with no place to stay, mustrely on the hospitality of an Israelirestaurant owner and her friend.
In his review, Roger Ebertwrites that The Band’s Visit pro-vides “…an interlude involvingtwo ‘enemies,’ Arabs and Israelis,that shows them both as only ordi-nary people with ordinary hopes,lives and disappointments. It hasalso shown us two souls with rarebeauty.”
For information about time andlocation, check our website orcontact Brian Feinglass – e-mailand phone are listed below.
We’ll also chase away the chillof winter on January 20 with awarm and festive family-styleShabbat evening – akin to startingthe Sabbath with all your favoriterelatives. We’ll gather at 6:30 PM,in the Fellowship Hall at AvondalePresbyterian Church (2821 Park
Road). And we’ll greet theSabbath bride with candlelighting,Kiddush (complete with warm,home-made challah), a kosher/parve potluck “feast,” and plentyof Shabbat songs. If you’d like tojoin us, see below for contactinformation.
You can also contact us to learnmore about Havurat Tikvah socialaction projects. During the holidayseason we participated inpreparation and delivery ofFriendship Trays meals and we’llwill be working with AvondalePresbyterian Church to assist themwith their “Room At The Inn” ini-tiatives.
Our “Project Linus” group con-tinues to meet monthly to producehand-made “security-blankets” forchildren who are seriously ill,traumatized, or otherwise in need.And the Dilworth Soup Kitchen -founded by Havurat Tikvahmember Allen B. Saxe – can alsouse enthusiastic volunteers(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=77134194660).
Finally, this month we send ahearty mazel tov to the GarrisonFamily on the birth of twins LeviWebb and Sofia Rose. A joint BritMilah and Simchat Bat was heldon November 13 with mohelet Dr.Laura Sinai officiating.
Havurat Tikvah is an affiliate ofthe Jewish ReconstructionistFederation, providing a comfort-able, family atmosphere where allJews can feel welcome. We
encourage participation in thecommunity and in our services.For those who are interested, weinvite you to visit, get to know us,and to become part of our congre-gation of nearly 60 households.
Have questions? Please visit us
at our website at www.havurattik-vah.org or contact new memberchair, Brian Feinglass, [email protected] or at 1-877-203-5848. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 9
Plastic SurgeryGregory A. Mantooth, M.D. Miguel Yáñez, M.D. DermatologyKristen B. Higgins, M.D. Patrick S. J. McElgunn, M.D. Tonya S. McLeod, M.D., M.P.H. Laura B. Rosenzweig, M.D.
www.ppsd.com
5815 Blakeney Park Dr. Suite 100Charlotte, NC 28277
ph: (704) 542-2220
OUR PHYSICIANS
(at the corner of Rea Road & Ardrey Kell Road)
January 15 at 10:30 AMRabbi Ezring will lead the ser-
mon at St. Paul Baptist Churchlocated at 1401 Allen Street,Charlotte, NC 28205.
Men’s Club NewsRegistering Now for JanuarySession
Temple Israel is offering a basicHebrew literacy class Sundaymornings sponsored by the Men’sClub. This class for adults and willprovide an introduction to Hebrewreading so you can follow theservice better, learn along withTIRS students, or have a spring-board for further learning. There isno charge for the classes, whichwill meet from 10:15-11:30 AM atTemple Israel. For more informa-tion or to pre-register [email protected] orcall 704-779-0768. The next classwill begin in early January.
Adult Education ClassesLed by Rabbi EzringJanuary 17, 7 PM
Myers Park United MethodistChurch
Discussions of Messianism:Jewish Views of Jesus
A discussion between RabbiMurray Ezring and Dr. JamesHowell
Israeli Advocacy TrainingClasses in collaboration with
the Charlotte Jewish FederationThis class will be taught by
Rabbi Murray Ezring, BarbaraEzring, Rachael Levine, and spe-cial guests. Classes will be held on
January 4,11,18 and February 1 at7-9 PM.
Sisterhood NewsJoin us for Sisterhood Shabbat
on Saturday, January 21.
Temple Israel Social ClubUpcoming Events:Sunday, February 12, at 12:30PM
Annual Paid-up MembershipLuncheon at Temple Israel.Interesting program with inves-tigative journalist, JasonStoogenke, “Behind the Scenes.”Dues for 2012 must be paid, to beeligible to attend. Send checks for$l8 to: Douglas Mann, 137 NorthCanterbury Rd., Charlotte, NC.28211.
Sunday, February 19 at 2:30 PMThe entertaining hit “Cabaret”
at CPCC theatre. Members $17and non-members $20. Dinnerafterward at a restaurant. Y
Temple Israel News(Continued from page 7)
“Israeli Film Night” with Havurat Tikvah
Both meetings will be held atTemple Israel at 7:30PM
In choosing its next two discus-sion selections, Temple Israelbook club members had a uniquesituation - two noted authors willbe speaking in Charlotte in thenext few months: Maggie Anton atthe Temple Israel Sisterhood
Shabbat on Saturday, January 21and Judith Viorst at the FederationWomen’s Division Spring Lectureon Thursday, March 22. So thegroup did what any eager readerswould do: They chose books writ-ten by these well-recognizedauthors for its next two meetings.
At its January 18 meeting,
members will discuss the first ofMaggie Anton’s books on Rashi’sDaughters – Joheved: A Novel ofLove and Talmud in MedievalFrance. Joheved, the eldest ofRashi’s three daughters, has asecret wish, something that isstrictly forbidden to Jewishwomen in 11th century France:she seeks to study the Talmud. Foryears she watched enviously asher father, the great scholar Rashi,teaches the Talmud to male stu-dents. History has told us thatRashi did teach Talmud to hisdaughters. Anton spent sevenyears gathering research aboutthese remarkable but little-knownwomen and it shows. As one criticnoted, “This is historical fictionthat brings our heritage as Jewishwomen closer to home … anengaging read on many levelsthat will appeal to a variety of
audiences.”The prolific and entertaining
author Judith Viorst wrote somany books relevant to women atvarious ages and stages in theirlives that no one book was select-ed for the March 12 meeting.Readers can choose from suchtitles as Grown Up Marriage,How Did I Get to be 40, Suddenly60 and Other Stories of Later Life,I’m Too Young to be 70, ImperfectControl, Necessary Losses,Murdering Mr. Monti – A MerryLittle Tale of Sex and Violence,many others, including a series ofpoems for both adults and chil-dren. We’ll share our impressionsof our selections at the March 12
meeting and will be well preparedto listen to and ask questions ofJudith Viorst at the Women’sDivision Spring Lecture on March22.
Anton’s books are available atthe public library and the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library. Most ofViorst’s books are available at thepublic library, and copies of bothauthors’ books are available atbook stores or on-line. Both theJanuary 18 and March 12 meet-ings are open to all members ofthe community, including “drop-ins” and those who haven’t readthe book. For additional informa-tion contact Linda Levy at 704-366-6362/levyollie @aol.com.Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 10
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Temple Israel Book ClubTwo Books, Two Meetings, and Two Special Events
I. RASHI’S DAUGHTERS, BOOK I: JOHEVED: A NOVEL OF LOVE AND TALMUD
IN MEDIEVAL FRANCE BY MAGGIE ANTON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18
II. NUMEROUS BOOKS BY JUDITH VIORST
MONDAY, MARCH 12
About a month ago, a numberof Jews in Charlotte had their firstexposure to a unique kind ofFriday night and Shabbat morningservice. The Charlotte TorahCenter hosted a Carlebach serv-ice. What is that, you ask? It allbegan with Rabbi ShlomoCarlebach (1925-1994). Born inBerlin, he came to America whenhe was fourteen and attendedsome of the most revered acade-mies of Jewish learning. Eventhough he was descended fromgenerations of Rabbis from pre-Holocaust Germany, he created aunique path for himself andbecame known as the “singingRabbi.” He started writing songsin the 1960s, lived in GreenwichVillage, and eventually moved toSan Francisco. He shared thestage with such legends as BobDylan and the Grateful Dead, buthis concern was reaching Jewishyouth who had strayed far fromtheir Jewish roots. He establishedthe “House of Love and Prayer”for those youths and travelledextensively to touch the lives ofJews whom no one else could (orwanted to).
I know a Jewish singer in Israelwho was at an Ashram in India inthe early 1970s estranged from hisJewish identity. One evening RebShlomo (the name he was affec-tionately known by) showed upand sang songs that penetrated hissoul. His melodies are short withlyrics from Tanach (Bible) or theSiddur (Jewish prayer book) andas a result they have become pop-ular in many synagogues through-out the world. As one writerexplained, “He changed theexpectations of the prayer experi-ence from decorous and somber touplifting and ecstatic as he capti-vated generations with elementalmelodies and stories of miracu-lous human saintliness, modestyand unselfishness.” Anyone whohas davened at the Western Wallon Friday night will recognize thelively singing and dancingof the Carlebach minyan.Many people who havenever gotten anything outof Jewish prayer attendthat minyan and areinspired.
Can this type of servicebe brought to Charlotte?We thought so but who
would lead it? Could there be abetter candidate than someonewho leads the services at theCarlebach Shule on the UpperWest Side of Manhattan and is aproducer of a (soon to be)Broadway musical about the lifeof Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach called“Soul Doctor”? (http://shlomomu-sical.com/). Our chazzan was Dr.Jeremy Chess, a retina surgeonresiding in Manhattan. His friend-ly demeanor, deep voice, and con-scious effort to include all presentset the stage for a spirituallyuplifting Friday evening.
Although there were manyhighlights, one particularly inspir-ing part was during the middle ofdavening when Dr. Chess begandancing and formed a chain fol-lowing him. We danced through-out the building and even outside.For a moment I was lost inthought and was reminded of thedays when our family lived inJerusalem and prayed at theWestern Wall. Although it wasn’tthe real McCoy (Western Wall), Iwas transported for a fewmoments from Providence Roadin Charlotte to the Old City inJerusalem.
After the service we all satdown to a festive meal and heardwords of Torah from Dr. Chessand had a special child friendlysession. On Shabbat morning, Dr.Chess led prayers once again andit was wonderful.
Shabbat Parshat Lech Lechatells the story of Abraham leavinghis father’s home and traveling toan unknown destination; thatShabbat was the Torah Center’sCarlebach Shabbaton. Those pres-ent remained in the same physicallocation, but for some, Shabbatallowed them to leave their regu-lar workweek and go to a destina-tion unknown to them before. Itwas inspiring and inviting, and anew prayer experience for manywho participated. We look for-ward to the next one. Y
“Singing Rabbi” StyleShabbaton at the CharlotteTorah Center
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 11
noteworthyeducation
Art education is alive, well and thriving at CJDS and I’m so proud to be a part of it! The skills our children need in the 21st century go beyond the 3R’s. They also include critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation. Art is a great way to teach these skills.CJDS has dedicated itself to integrating art into the curriculum and the results have been fantastic! The excitement of the third graders when they presented their social studies unit, “CJDS’ Travel Agency” was palpable. The students created collages to put on state travel posters and brochures to entice potential visitors. Not only did the posters show climate and natural resources, they also included information about artists or art from their state. Talk about the “big picture”!
Last month the fourth and fifth graders toured the Mint’s exhibit of Bearden’s collages depicting life in Mecklenburg County — the perfect tie-in to the fourth grades’ study of North Carolina history. A student when asked what he thought of the museum said, “it makes me happy!” Innovation, creativity and smiling, enthusiastic students – what a great place to teach, and learn!
- Donna Lerner
Enjoy tuition rates
from 2007!
Kindergarten $8,990
Charlotte Jewish Day School
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704-366-4558
Donna LernerArt Instructor
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Schools
January is full excitement at theCharlotte Jewish Preschool. CJPwill host two big events inJanuary. Charlotte JewishPreschool will begin OpenEnrollment registration on Friday,January 13 at 9:30 AM. CJP looksforward to welcoming families toour school, so they can discoverthe wonderful opportunities that apreschool education offers. TheCharlotte Jewish Preschool mis-
sion is to provide quality pre-school half day and full day pro-grams to children ages one to fivewithin a developmental andenriched Jewish environment. Toachieve this mission, TheCharlotte Jewish Preschoolemphasizes:
* The uniqueness of the indi-vidual. Each child has a uniquepattern and timing of develop-ment, as well as in individual per-sonality, learning style and familybackground. Our curriculum andteachers’ interactions with chil-dren are responsive to these indi-vidual differences.
* Hands-on learning throughexperiencing and doing.
* Curiosity so that childrenbecome eager and active learners.
* Academic content of literacyand mathematics presented
through integration of classroomexperiences.
* Purposeful planning andinteraction which supports chil-dren’s growth in areas of physical,social, emotional and cognitive/language development. Y
CJP’s Open Enrollment and Registrationfor 2012/13 Begins in January
By Dedee Goldsmith, Director,Jewish Preschool on Sardis
It’s that time of year again.Time for reflecting and goal set-ting, now that the new year uponus. The Jewish Preschool onSardis is no exception to this. Inthis transition year for the school,now is the perfect time to look atwhat works, what needs changeand where we want the school togo in the future. Here are someideas in the works.What we feel we excel in:
Quality: Our school providesthe care, love, and expertise thatexceeds anyone’s standards. Theteachers are amazing in theirknowledge base of child develop-ment and how they practice thateach and every day. From thedetailed planning, to the fun activ-ities, to the informative grouptimes, our teachers work hard toensure the success of each child.
Judaism: JPS integrates ourJudaica program within the con-text of the day and over the courseof time, keeping with the stories inthe Torah as well as flowing withthe plans of the secular curricu-lum. Our goal of building a lovefor Judaism is instilled with thegreat stories and activities that arebrought into the classroom daily.
Warm environment: It’s thedetails, right? From the morninghugs as a greeting, to the highfives when a child accomplishes anew task, to the anecdotes that areshared with families via phonecall, journal entries, at drop off orpick up, there is a sense of familywe strive to cultivate over theyears.
Mommy & Me: What betterway to learn about JPS and all itoffers than to bring your little onefor Mommy & Me with a Judaicatwist. On Monday mornings wetypically have over six familiesthat come to meet some friends,sing some songs, play somegames, and gradually make thetransition to a school environ-ment.Where we want to grow:
Enrichment for 2s: Our suc-cessful enrichment classes havegrown over the years. Previously,enrichment has been available to
Reflectingand GoalSetting
(Continued on page 12)
The following is the speech givenby Risa Miller, president of theboard of directors for CJDS atOrientation Night for the 2011-2012 school year.
For those of you I haven’t met,I’m Risa Miller and I will be serv-ing as President of the CJDSBoard of Directors for the nexttwo years. I have two childrenhere – Noah and Jordyn.
Standing here tonight bringsme back to September of 2005when my husband and I, like therest of you, were looking for anelementary school for our chil-dren. I grew up in a suburb of NewYork, attended a small publicschool, went to Hebrew School ata Conservative Synagogue, and
had very little familiarity with pri-vate schools or Jewish Day Schooleducation. My son is social, wasthriving in preschool, and is gen-erally an easygoing kid, so I pic-tured for him what I experiencedmyself. When my first stop at thelocal public elementary schoolwas disappointing, I knew that Iwas a little out of my “comfortzone.”
The first thing I noticed when Itoured the public school was thatthere were no windows in theKindergarten classrooms. Ithought to myself, “If I’m notic-ing, my kids will probably notice,too.” It just didn’t feel “right.”And then I toured CJDS…as youall know from seeing our
Kindergarten classrooms, there isplenty of natural light coming inthrough floor- to- ceiling win-dows. But what really felt “right,”more than the windows, waswatching the kids and their teach-ers with huge smiles on theirfaces, and a genuine sense of car-ing for one another…like a family.
But… a small school, no walk-ing to the bus stop, fitting in secu-lar and Jewish education in sixhours??? So many questions wererunning through my mind.
Then I met with Mariashi forthe first time. I said to her, “Thisfeels right for Kindergarten. Iknow this safe, nurturing environ-ment – an extension of preschool– is the right thing for now, butNoah is very social, and I’m notsure how long it will be the rightplace for him.” She respondedimmediately – her genius wordshave stuck with me ever since -“You are not signing a contract.Take one year at a time. If it feelsright for Kindergarten, that’s allyou are signing up for.”
Here we are six years later andNoah is starting 5th grade tomor-row. Need I say more? I am com-pletely “in” my comfort zone, andI will tell you, now, what I havelearned since 2005.
* This is the best secular educa-tion you can offer your child, withthe lowest teacher/student ratios inCharlotte for reading, writing, andmath.
* Incorporating Jewish educa-tion into regular school hours andteaching it in the same way thatsecular education is taught is thebest way for a child to learn.
* Jewish day school educationis the most important contributorto the formation of strong Jewishidentities.
* Our children are learningwhat it means to be a mensch.
* Our children believe in Godand view the Torah as a blueprintfor their lives.
* Our children are loved bytheir peers and teachers for whothey are, and they are learning in away that is best for them.
* The grade school years fly by,and our children have plenty oftime to be exposed to the chaos ofthe real world and bigger classes.A small, nurturing environmentduring these years builds confi-dence and a stronger foundation toprepare for the next step.
I, personally, commend yourcommitment to education and toJudaism. I recently read an eyeopening article which said:
“Judaism teaches us how to bebetter friends, business people,husbands, wives, and philanthro-pists. It tells us how to help theweak and when to fight evil. Inshort, Judaism done right makesus better human beings.”
By giving our children a Jewishday education, we are increasingthe likelihood that the predictedloss of Jewish children will nothappen in their lifetime, and weare setting an example to otherJewish families in our communityabout the importance of establish-ing a strong Jewish identity in thenext generation. It is likely thatour students will become theJewish leaders of tomorrow intheir communities.
We are all giving our childrensuch a gift, and I wish you all awonderful school year. Y
only 3 and 4 year olds. With thesounds of laughter, moving bodiesand songs/games, we thought whynot offer this to our two year olds.This January, we will expandenrichment for the first time forthe 2 year old and with a half adozen children enrolled already,we know the 2s will love afterschool programs as much as their3 and 4 year old friends.
Camp: Last summer we had30+ children enrolled in summercamp covering the course of threeweeks. Parents begged and plead-ed for more JPS camp. We heededtheir call and will grow our sum-mer camp with an additionalweek. Camp will take place fortwo weeks in June and two weeksat the end of July andbeginning of August. Forthe older kids, TK and Krising, we will also offerweekly field trips and visi-tors to enhance their sum-mer fun.
Extended Day: Ourpre-care and extended dayoptions have been a hugesuccess this year and withthe growing needs for fullday programming, we willcontinue those choices andoffer an additional one aswell. Our current extendedday is from 1-3 PM. Nextyear, extended day willhave two choices, 1-3 PMor 1-6 PM.
Mommy & Me: Withthe success of our Mondayprogram, we had familiesasking for more.Beginning in January, theJewish Preschool onSardis will offer My GymMommy & Me eachWednesday morning. Weare excited about bringinga well known program toour school for more fun,more games and more giggles.
They say when you knowwhere you’ve been, you are betterable to navigate the road ahead.Our goals are to maintain the highquality programs that the commu-nity has come to expect and tocontinue reaching out to the com-munity by meeting the everchanging needs that families face.We hope the coming year brings a
time to reflect and a time to setnew goals. Perhaps JPS will be apart of making those goals a reali-ty. Contact us at 704-364-8395 orwww.jpsonsardis.org for moreinformation about any of the pro-grams or to RSVP for our OpenHouse on January 17 from 9:30-10:30 AM. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 12
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Watermelon picnic (Lisa Cook, Jacob Abrams,Colin Kanofsky, Corey Margulis, Eli Lan, SarahSemel, Max Hoody, Nicholas Brooks)
Sprinkler time keeps the day cool (CarlyRunenstein and Madeline Siegel)
Jewish Preschool on Sardis(Continued from page 11)
More Reasons to Choose CJDS for Your Child’s Elementary Education
The first ever joint fundraisingeffort for the full time Jewish edu-cational institutions appears to bea huge success. Joined inEducation, the partnershipbetween Charlotte Jewish DaySchool, Charlotte JewishPreschool, and Jewish Preschoolon Sardis presents two Days withWendy Mogel in January, andmost of the programs are sold out.In an effort to eliminate overlap-ping fundraisers, volunteers, anddonors, the three institutions
joined forces to bring attention toJewish education in Charlotte.
By all accounts, the two dayparenting event has surpassedexpectations. Dr. Mogel is a NewYork Times bestselling author oftwo books, The Blessing of aSkinned Knee, and The Blessing ofa B Minus. She is also known forher appearance in Race toNowhere, a documentary about thestate of the educational system inthe United States. She is a com-mon guest on The Today Show
and was the key note speaker atthe National Association ofIndependent Schools last year.The opening event, called “TheBig Talk” has sold out all 1,100seats at the Knight Theater. Thesecond day features a workshopfor teachers and administratorsand it is also sold out. There are afew seats available for the parent-ing breakfast on Thursday morn-ing, where Dr. Mogel will speakbriefly to a much smaller audi-ence, and then conduct a question
and answer session.This event is truly bringing the
community together – not only theJewish community, but theGreater Charlotte community aswell. In addition to the great syn-ergy from such a major coopera-tive effort, many independentschools from the area as well aspublic schools are sending admin-istrators, teachers, and parents toat least one of the three options.
The Leon Levine Foundation isthe title sponsor for the two day
event. The Gorelick Foundation isa Gold Sponsor. BecoSouth, LarrySchwartz, and Howard and JulieLevine complete the list of leadsponsors. Over 20 additional busi-nesses and individuals helpedmake this event possible. Visit thewebsite www.joinedineducation.org for more information. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 13
MEG D. GOLDSTEIN
Community NewsFirst Joined In Education Event is a SelloutWendy Mogel to Spend Two Days in Charlotte
Do you feel controlled by yourpartner? Do you constantly expe-rience insults, humiliation, threat-ening acts or gestures, bullying?Does your partner control thefinances, isolate you from friendsand family, treat you like a ser-vant, make everything your fault?Is there violence?
Up to 25% of all Jewishwomen, teens, and even some
men are currently in abusive situ-ations.
Shalom Bayit-NC is working toend domestic abuse in our Jewishcommunity by raising awareness,offering education and providingservices to people suffering at thehands of intimate partners. Call704-756-9209.
Learn how to help and get helpat www.shalombayit-nc.org. Y
How Healthy is YourRelationship?
Our Temples, in conjunctionwith Shalom Bayit and UnitedFamily Services’ VictimAssistance Program, are collect-ing cell phones for victims – orpotential victims - of domesticviolence. Unwanted cell phoneswill be reprogrammed to call 911
and used in the event of an emer-gency. Simply bring the cellphone and battery charger (in abag or box, if possible) and bringit by the office for collection.For more information checkwww.shalombayit-nc.org. Y
Donating an Old Cell PhoneCan Save a Life
Save the Date – 2012Yiddish Institute
August 1619, 2012
By Amy KrakovitzTzfat. Its legend looms large in
our Judaic heritage; the expecta-tions of this mystical city aregreat. We take a walking tour ofthe city, noting the beautiful archi-tecture of the buildings and theartistic winding of the streets. Wevisit synagogues, ancient but yetsomehow familiar and we areawed by the splendor. I take veryfew notes here, allowing the sightsto wash over me and leave mebreathless and calm at the sametime.
The shops are numerous, but itis to be expected in a city wellknown as much for its artists andcraftspeople as it is for its reli-gious mysticism. This is more acity of impressions than of words.The many pictures tell more of atale than I can.
From Tzfat we travel to theshore of the Sea of Galilee wherea boat awaits us for a trip acrossthe water to a restaurant where wewill partake of the famous St.Peter Fish for dinner. We spy avessel tied up and waiting at thedock as we approach. This can’tbe our transportation; it’s far tooold and rough looking. The wood-en sides are in need of paint andthe boat itself appears closer tosinking than sailing. Surprise, sur-prise, this is indeed our craft forthe evening, please step on board,be careful, no need to bother witha personal flotation device. Yikes.
But the trip is fun. The boat’s“crew” plays well known Hebrewsongs for us, songs we all recog-nize from our youth. We singalong as we enjoy the beautiful
lake breeze and the smooth rideacross the water. Our photo col-lection of the trip again gives abetter chronicle of our eveningthan anything else could.
Our evening is spent at therestaurant where we eat thefresh St. Peter Fish from theSea of Galilee that is right outsidethe window we are seated at. Bythe time we are done, it is lateand another day in Israel haspassed. Y
Next: Jeep rides in the north;planting trees; Zippori.
Israel, Part XVII
Rabbi Judy Schindler, center rear,gives the priestly blessing to ShelleyPawlyk (left rear), Jake Gilbert (rightrear), Syndey Frankenberg (center)and Josh Rappaport (front) on theboat on the Galilee.
A typical street in Tzfat.
The Ashkenazi Synagogue in Tzfat.
JCCTributesAUGUST FAMILY FUND
In honor of the marriage ofMitchell Feld to Whitney and inhonor of the marriage of AlisonRosenberg to Adam from Judyand Stan August
DAVID SILVERMAN MEMO-RIAL FUND
In memory of David Silvermanfrom Stacey and Ira Slomka
BUTTERFLY PROJECTFUND
In memory of BerthaRabinovich and in memory ofJulie Moskowitz from Stacy andIra Slomka Y
Going cellular? Giving up the land line?The Charlotte Area Jewish
Community Directory needs toknow.
We want the Directory to be asaccurate as possible.
Please email any new phonenumbers or changes to TessBerger at: [email protected].
Questions?
Please call Tess Berger at 704-708-4857.
This is It!Last Chance to Make Corrections tothe Charlotte Area Jewish CommunityDirectory
The Charlotte Jewish FilmFestival returns February 25-March 11 with quality Jewish filmfrom around the world. Comedies,documentaries, and dramas illu-minating the international Jewishexperience will once again grace
the silver screen right here in theQueen City. Tickets are on salenow at www.charlottejewishfilm.com. An all-festival pass is alsoavailable that entitles the passholder to entrance to all the filmsat a savings of over $30. Checkout the website to read more aboutour fantastic lineup of elevenfilms/events as well as superbspeakers and performers who willhelp to make the 8th AnnualCharlotte Jewish Film Festival thebest ever.It’s a Global Affair
After months of much discus-sion and debate, films from Israel,Russia, France, Argentina, theCzech Republic, and the US havemade the cut, a reflection of thefar-reaching web of the Jewishstory. Although the movies have aJudaic bent, the themes are univer-sal and encompass the commonhuman experience. Love, compas-sion, betrayal, and redemption arejust a few of the motifs runningthrough these excellent films.Speakers and Performers AddValue
Every year the Charlotte JewishFilm Festival brings in exception-al speakers and performers toenhance the Festival experience.This year’s speakers promise to beboth educational and entertainingas always. On March 1, make sureto join us for “A Lens on Israel: ASociety Through Its Cinema”
sponsored by Temple Beth El. Dr.Eric Goldman, PhD CinemaStudies, will takes us on a journey
By Karen BrodskyA key word among Charlotte
nonprofits is collaboration. Manyfunders insist on collaborative pro-grams in order to see their dollarsgo further. CRRA has been fortu-nate to be involved withCrossroads Charlotte whose mis-sion is “to choose and pursue afuture for Charlotte, not just arrive
in one. With an emphasis on creat-ing a community that is accessibleto all, inclusive and equitable, thegoal of Crossroads Charlotte is tobuild a trusting, vibrant and sus-tainable home.”
For the last two years, CRRAhas joined with a CrossroadsCharlotte and other serviceproviders to find ways to make
new arrivals to Charlotte feel wel-come and part of the larger com-munity. The focus is IRAI(Immigrant, Refugee, Asylee, andInternational) communities. At thefirst meeting representatives fromthe IRAI community shared storiesabout frustrations with the city andhopes of being accepted inCharlotte. On its website,Crossroads Charlotte describes theIRAI community: “They’reCharlotte’s invisible minority.They work, send their children toschool and keep to themselves.They’re immigrants, but theyrarely make it on the news.They are Charlotte-Mecklenburg’srefugees and asylees, many ofwhom fled their countries for fearof persecution. They are interna-tionals and among those who makeup Charlotte’s diverse population.”
Crossroads Charlotte devel-oped a collaborative communityengagement effort with IRAI com-munities and a wide range of serv-ice provider agencies/groups thatsupport them to increase access forall and build trust in the communi-ty. During this time, many recur-ring “access-related” themesemerged from the sessions. “ManyCultures One Community,” wasborn of these on-going meetingsand consisted of workshops andother events to increase communi-ty awareness and trust. The finalprogram was a recent communityevent on December 3 to highlightthe most relevant topics andresources for the IRAI communi-ties. At this event, CrossroadsCharlotte in partnership withMecklenburg Area Partnership forPrimary-care Research (MAPPR),
Community Building Initiative(CBI), and Community RelationsCommittee (CRC), unveiled anonline portal for services andorganizations serving, in part, theIRAI communities.
“‘Many Cultures, OneCommunity’ has been an opportu-nity to assess the needs ofCharlotte’s IRAIs and help thembecome more integrated into thelarger Charlotte communities,”said Ana Lucia Divins, projectconsultant. “We have a lot of silosworking and serving the communi-ty,” Divins said. “It was importantto connect the dots.”
Added Ellen Dubin, executivedirector of Carolina RefugeeResettlement Agency, “We wouldlike the Charlotte community toknow that there are refugees hereand that there are ways membersof the community can helpwhether they do it individually,through a church, an organization,[or] a company.”
As a service provider forrefugees CRRA embraced theprocess and participated in a col-laborative community engagementeffort with the IRAI communitiesand service providers who supportthem with the goal of increasingaccess for all and to build trust.
Thus, Crossroads Charlottelaunched The Mecklenburg AccessPortal (The MAP) at a community-wide event at the NorthwestSchool for the Arts. MAP is a web-based resource directory forhealthcare and social serviceproviders to access informationand resources. The portal will linkthe IRAI communities to muchneeded services and link service
providers to underserved popula-tions.
CRRA participated in three ofthe Crossroads Charlotte’s events.Dubin participated in the pressconference in November thatkicked off the initiative. CRRAwelcomed about 30 communitymembers from all walks ofCharlotte as they learned aboutlocal nonprofits on a special bustour. Finally, Dubin was a panelmember at the program’s culmi-nating event.
“The benefits of this collabora-tion are many, said Dubin. “CRRAbecame more visible, more peopleknow about refugee resettlement,and the refugee community hasnew resources. After resettlingrefugees for almost 16 years, it isuplifting for me to see the greatercommunity finally to begin torespond to IRAI needs inCharlotte.”
Collaborative efforts are multi-plying. The Levine JewishCommunity Center announced aprogram for community outreachthat began in December. The JCCis responding to the needs in thegreater Charlotte community bystriking partnerships with othernonprofits. CRRA will also partic-ipate in that effort.
CRRA needs your help to con-tinue to provide invaluable servic-es for refugees. In addition to fur-niture and housewares, the agencyneeds cash contributions and vol-unteers to perform its vital work.Please visit our website atwww.carolinarefugee.org todonate or call 704-535-8803 formore information. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 14
704.556.8322Park Road
704.541.0943Arboretum
704.892.9020Lake Norman
French Waterways & Vineyards French Waterways & Vineyards 10 Days (7-night cruise, 2 hotel nights Paris) - April 1810 Days (7-night cruise, 2 hotel nights Paris) - April 18
French Waterways & Vineyards - French Waterways & Vineyards - “A Taste of France” “A Taste of France”
(same as above w/Culinary Themed Departure) - April 25(same as above w/Culinary Themed Departure) - April 25
French Escapade: Paris to Monte Carlo French Escapade: Paris to Monte Carlo 14 Days (2 hotel nights Paris, 10-day cruise, 2 hotel nights 14 Days (2 hotel nights Paris, 10-day cruise, 2 hotel nights
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Add air to your cruise & receive 2 complimentary pre cruise hotel nights.Add air to your cruise & receive 2 complimentary pre cruise hotel nights.Coach: $790 Business Class: $2290Coach: $790 Business Class: $2290
CRRA in the Community
Award-Winning Films, SpeakersHighlight 8th Annual Charlotte JewishFilm Festival
Mike Reiss, writer/producerof “The Simpsons”
Some well known “Jews in Toons.”
(Continued on next page)
By Lauren AbelesMy first experience with yoga
class was over 20 years ago. Withno understanding of what yogareally was, I took a spot in theback of the room and tried to fol-low the instructor’s moves. I cameaway confused as to how thiswould help me and why peopleloved it. I tried a few other yogaclasses over the years, but I didn’tfeel a connection to the teacher orwhat I was learning. Fast forwardto 2007 when I moved toCharlotte and joined the JCC. Idecided to try many of the classesthat were offered at the J. I finallytried one Sunday morning classwith the yoga instructor Melinda,and I was hooked. What I realizedis that yoga is like a pair of jeans.Sometimes it takes many pairs totry on before you find the right fit.The difference I felt right awaywith this class, was the instructor.She was spiritual and calm, yetshe brought a positive energy tothe room that was infectious.
Melinda Farbman is my yogainstructor at the Levine JCC inSouth Charlotte. She is certifiedwith the Yoga Alliance havingcompleted two 200 hour trainingsand is now taking an advanced500 hour training with the nation-ally known Vinyasa teacher RolfGates. Practicing yoga since col-lege, she taught elementary schoolin NY before moving to Charlottein 1996. She feels a strong con-nection to the Charlotte JCC, hav-ing met her husband there in theparking lot, two weeks after she
moved to Charlotte. She startedteaching a Sunday morning classat the J in 2005 and has grownquite a following since then. Herclasses are packed yet she hasbeen able to get to know many ofher yoga students over the years.“The feeling at the J is so warm, afeeling of community and family.My experience is so personal. Ilove seeing the progress of mystudents.” She is especially grate-ful to her husband Mark and chil-dren Adah (age 12) and Jonathan,(age 5) who allow her to practiceand teach yoga every day. Youmight even see Mark in one ofMelinda’s classes.
Melinda sees one of yoga’smany benefits as being a therapeu-tic tool that can provide peoplewith a safe environment to workout their stress. Yoga is a non-ver-bal healing practice that allows
people to feel better. The VinyasaFlow Yoga that Melinda teachesincludes a series of sun salutationsand warrior poses plus a line ofpostured sequences meant to openup the lines of the body in an orderthat is progressively deeper, safeand feels good. Her classes usual-ly ends with “Savasana,” a finalresting pose that brings about bal-ance and total relaxation.
Yoga can be very appealing topeople of all ages. Melinda hasstudents that are in their 70s andshe has taught children as youngas five years old. Doctors recom-mend it for different reasons;combatting depression, anxietydisorders, flexibility for athletesand meditation. It trains your bodyto breathe through your nosewhich stimulates your sympathet-ic nervous system. This raises thedopamine levels in your body,which makes you feel more atpeace. It also helps people withinsomnia, improves flexibility,and increases metabolism by help-ing to regulate the body’s diges-tive and respiratory systems. It isvery inclusive. You can start atany time and you don’t have tomake any kind of commitment.It’s such a simple way to do some-thing so good for yourself. Youdon’t even need to buy specialshoes or equipment. Yoga matsand blocks are provided at theJCC and the classes are evenincluded in your membership fee.
When asked what she wouldtell a person who isn’t sure that heor she wants to try yoga, she says,
“If you have an inkling that youwould like it, or that it would begood for you, but you can’t getyourself to that first class, then doit for someone else. Sometimes ifwe can’t do it for ourselves, wecan do it for someone else. Justdedicate the time spent in the firstyoga class to someone you love.”That is good advice. You just
might find that you love yoga asmuch as Melinda and I do. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 15
2012/2013 Open Enrollment Begins
OPEN HOUSEFriday, January 13
Meet the Director at 9:30amSchool tours begin at 10:00am
704-944-6777
CJP is a partnership of Temple Beth El, Temple Israel and the Levine Jewish Community Center.
Full day Programs Ages 1 to Pre-KHalf day Programs Ages 2 to Pre-K
Join us for our Open House
through Israel’s birth and develop-ment as a country using clips ofIsraeli film as a “lens” on society.Then on March 3, enjoy anevening of music and film spon-sored by Temple Israel and theYiddish Institute of Charlotte aswe screen the documentary“Sholem Aleichem: LaughingThrough the Darkness,” the storyof the famous Yiddish writer whobrought us Tevye and so muchmore. Attendees that evening willalso be treated to a special per-formance of Jewish music with aragtime flair by champion pianistEthan Uslan. Finally, the Festivalcomes to a close on March 11 withthe hilarious presentation “Jews inToons: An Animated Evening ofEntertainment” featuring longtimeEmmy Award winning writer/pro-ducer of The Simpsons MikeReiss. Mike will regale the audi-ence with “The Simpsons andOther Jewish Families” as heshares rarely seen clips and inside
stories. This is sure to be a won-derful end to a fabulous festival.Follow the Festival on Facebook
“Like” Charlotte Jewish FilmFestival on Facebook to keep up-to-date with all the events andfilms. Find out about exclusiveoffers for our Facebook friends.Get your tickets now as manyfilms did sell out last year. TheAll-Festival Pass makes a greatValentine’s gift for the film loverin your life. We look forward toseeing you at the movies.
The Charlotte Jewish FilmFestival is brought to you by theLevine JCC and the CharlotteChapter of Hadassah, and is madepossible, in part, with funding bythe Arts and Science Council andthe North Carolina Arts Council,an agency of the Department ofCultural Resources, and theNational Endowment for the Arts,which believes that a great nationdeserves great art. Y
Melinda Farbman, Yoga Instructor at the LJCC
Melinda leads her weekly Yogaclass.
Charlotte Jewish Film Festival(Continued from previous page)
Dear Community mem-bers,
The story you areabout to read startsapproximately 1,300years ago and with thehelp of Hadassah andother supports will be alegacy for future genera-tions.
On November 24,2011, a ceremony was held onKibbutz Ketura to plant the
famous date palm“Methuselah.” The cere-mony was attended bydistinguished guestsfrom Israel and abroad,including Lord DavidWolfson and MarcieNatan, the NationalPresident of Hadassah.The tree was planted inthe Arava Institute’s
Daniel Fischel and Sylvia NeilFamily Sustainable Agriculture
and Renewable Energy Researchand Visitors’ Park.
During Yigal Yadin’s excava-tions of Masada in the mid-1960s,ancient date seeds (Phoenixdactylifera L.) were discoveredbeneath rubble at the NorthernPalace approach. The JudeanDate, prized in antiquity for itstaste, size and medicinal proper-ties had been extinct for centuries.
In 2005, in a unique experimentto reintroduce extinct medicinalplants and trees once found inancient Israel, Dr. Sarah Sallon,Director and Founder ofHadassah’s Natural MedicineResearch Center, and Dr. ElaineSolowey, Director of the Centerfor Sustainable Agriculture at theArava Institute for EnvironmentalStudies succeeded in germinatingone of these ancient date seeds.Radiocarbon dating indicates thatthe seed was at least 2,000 years
old. So far as has been determined,this is the oldest seed that has beensuccessfully germinated, surpass-ing a 1,300 year old sacred lotus(Nelumbo nucifera) seed.
This remarkable achievementcreated great interest world-wide,and the experiment was written upin the prestigious journal, Sciencein 2008. For the past years,“Methuselah” has been kept in aquarantine site by Dr. Solowey’sCenter for Sustainable Agriculture
at the Arava Institute forEnvironmental Studies, toprotect it from possibleinfection from modernplants. This year, the treewas determined healthy,strong and ready to bemoved to a permanent placein the Research and Visitors’Park, where it can be viewedby the public.
The name Kibbutz Keturasounds familiar? Maybe it isbecause you are one of manyYoung Judea supporters.
Kibbutz Ketura was founded in1973 at the close of the YomKippur War by graduates of theYoung Judaea Year-In-IsraelCourse sponsored by Hadassah.
Thank you all Hadassah sup-porters. It is you who make it pos-sible to carry our legacy to thefuture.B’Shalom,Hadas Kasher
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 16
Women’s News
Hadas Kasher
Message from the President of Hadassah
L-R: Dr. Sarah Sallon, Dr. Elaine Solowey,National President Marcie Natan
What: Hadassah and theLJCC’s 7th annual Mah JonggMarathon
Something New: You can enteras a group of four and play onlywith your friends, or enter as a sin-gle and move to different tables.The rules and prizes remain thesame, no matter what.
Where: Gorelick Hall, LevineJewish Community Center
When: January 15, 2012
Time: 12 noon-4:30 PMCost: $20 for Hadassah mem-
bers; $25 for non members. Yourcheck (sent with the coupon) isyour reservation and must bereceived by Monday, January 1.Please send it to: Madeline Aron,4940 Hardison Road, Charlotte,28226, or you may leave it at the Jin the Hadassah mailbox, withMah Jongg Marathon written onthe envelope. Y
Bams ‘n’ Brunch
Yes! I want to play in the Mah Jongg Marathon on January 15, 2012
Name ...........................................................................................................................................................
Phone...........................................................................................................................................................
E-Mail .........................................................................................................................................................
Level of Play (Please check one)
Experienced (timed): ............... Novice (untimed):........................... Learner (untimed): .......................
Group of four. Please seat me with:
..................................................................................................................................................................
Check Enclosed: $20 (Hadassah member)/$25 (non-member) payable to Hadassah
............. I promise to bring my 2011 mah jongg card (extras will not be available)
............. I will bring my mah jongg set labeled with my name (you will stay at the table with your set)
............. I have ____1 ____ 2 ____3 card tables Hadassah can borrow. I will label them with my
name before Hadassah picks them up.
Any questions, please call Sandy Hoagland, 704-543-6338. Once again, Mary Gordan will be thereselling maj jongg cards.
2012 Hadassah Health Night Ask the Doctor: Optimizing Your Health
February 16 7-9 pm, Temple Israel
Dr. Michael Duffy: Greenapple Sports & Wellness
Dr. Susie Esther: Director - Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and ThroatAssociates Sleep Medicine Center
Dr. Marshall Silverman: Signature Healthcare
PICK A ROSENFELDfor All Your Real Estate Needs
~ Over 35 Years Experience ~
Barbara Helen Adams Realty
704-517-1547
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704-517-1073
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At Hebrew High, one of ourgoals is to forge a strong connec-tion between our students and theJewish homeland. This session, allof our electives will reflect ourdedication to fostering a greatrelationship between our teens andthe State of Israel. Following isjust a sample of what the kids willbe learning:
* Israel The Graphic Novel –The class will begin with studentsexploring comic collections fromIsrael. Then, the class will doindependent research on topicsabout Israel to create their owncomic books/graphic novels. Thisis a great class for artists and his-torians alike.
* Israel in the Media - Israel isconstantly in the media, but is itbeing portrayed fairly? Whetheryou agree or disagree with Israel’spolicies, taking part in this elec-tive will provide you withsome interesting dialogueand give you the opportuni-ty to discuss the media’streatment of the Jewishstate.
* Israeli Poetry, FromPsalms to Slam - From bib-lical songs to Independenceanthems to modern-daycalls for peace, Israelis havelong expressed themselvesthrough poetry and songlyrics. We will explore the
colorful language of poetry fromKing Solomon to YehudaAmichai, and maybe learn moreabout Israel itself along the way.
* IDF Boot Camp - New thissession. Students will have theopportunity to explore the ins andouts of the Israeli Army in thisclass, taught by a former IDFcommander. The course willinclude insider stories about serv-ing in the army, a little Hebrewvocabulary, and an examination ofIDF culture and structure. As anadded treat, each session willinclude a bit of boot camp train-ing.
* B’Tzavta - Students willembark on an amazing adventurewith this new elective. For the firstyear, Hebrew High is offering thisclass with the opportunity to par-ticipate in a summer trip to Israel.If you are looking to learn more
about our cultural differences,Tzedakah, and leadership-this isthe class for you. Through Skype,Facebook, and volunteering, youwill make new friends on bothsides of the ocean. To top it off,you will have a chance to go toIsrael during the summer. Thenyou will act as hosts as yourIsraeli friends return with you toCharlotte. The trip is described as“life changing” by all past partici-pants. The summer experience ispart of the Federation’sPartnership Together program.
* The Art of Memory - Thistwo session class will introducestudents to the art of Israel. Aftersurveying the styles of modernIsraeli artists, the group willdevelop artwork to be displayed atthe community Yom Hazikaronceremony. Time will be devoted tohelping students understand thesacrifice of Israel’s soldiersthrough direct contact with someof their families. These aboriginalworks will reflect the powerfulconnection between Israel and herfallen heroes. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 17
B”H
Schedule your tour today! 704-364-8395
info@ JPSonSardis.org
Preview us online: www.JPSonSardis.org
A Five Star Preschool
credentialed nurtu
rin
g t
each
ers
exte
nde
d d
ay
on-site enrichment
Jewish traditio
n
han
ds-on learning
Open House
Tuesday, January 17
9:30–10:30am
Your RSVP is
appreciated.
Engage. Watch the gears start turning...
Now Enrolling for Fall 2012Ages 1-5New extended day options!1-3pm or 1-6pm
Youth VisionsHebrew HighlightsHebrew High Devotes Session to Israel Studies
Friendship Circle and theMichigan Jewish Institute areoffering an online college-levelcourse exclusively for high schooljuniors and seniors interested inlearning about working withexceptional children. Our courseEDU 121: Exploring theExceptional Child will cover char-acteristics and educational consid-erations for exceptional childrenrunning the gamut from different-ly-abled to gifted, includingautism. This course will outlineimplications in the areas of assess-ment, treatment and social consid-erations. A portion of the classwill be devoted to working one-on-one with the children at theFriendship Circle.
This course is for you if you area high school junior or seniorwho:
* Wants to get a jump start onyour college career
* Is interested in acquiringunique leadership skills
* Is planning a career in teach-
ing, special education, psycholo-gy, medicine, or other child-cen-tered areas
* Loves working with childrenWhat You Need To Know:
* The class is valued at threecollege credits
* Offers weekly, interactiveonline instruction
* You may also be able to earnhigh school credit
The course will be one hour aweek for 15 consecutive weeks,starting the week of January 15,and ending in April.
For more information aboutthis course or to register pleasecall Bentzion at 704-366-5983or [email protected]. Y
New Online College Coursefor High School Juniorsand Seniors
Dr. Rick Greene was one of many guest speak-ers during the first trimester.
“Honor your father and mother, even as you honorGod; for all three were partners in your creation.”
– Zohar
Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center
Pricing Codes: M=Member B=Benefactor NM=Non-Member
JANUARY @ The JEnriching Lives and Building Relationships through Quality Jewish Experiences
Membership Dues increase for 2012:
On behalf of all of us here at the Levine JCC, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your generous and con-tinued support. In order to best meet the needs of our membership in provid-ing you with the highest standards of customer service, programming and facility management, our membership dues will in-crease by less than 2% as of January 2012. Our commitment is to serve you, our valued member, by continuing to improve and expand our services and programs as we look forward to another terrific year with you as part of our family. If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to contact the Membership Office at 704-944-6741.
Member Registration
Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts
Non-member Registration begins
Camp Mindy Questions? 704-944-6738 [email protected]
Pre-School thru Teens
Newcomers’Schmooze
Winter Programs:
Download a full schedule at www.charlottejcc.org/programguideCall 704-366-5007 to Register.
Biggest Loser
[email protected] or 704-944-6870
2012 Levine JCCSummer Sports Camps
Ethan Horton Flag Football Camp
June 11–15
Turn & Burn Lacrosse Camp
July 23–27
Girls’ Turn & Burn Lacrosse Camp
July 30–Aug. 3
Dell Curry Basketball Camp
Aug. 6–10
Levine JCC Soccer Skills Camp
August 13–17
Sports & Fitness DirectorStephanie Garner 704-944-6743
Levine JCCTennis Camps
Ages 6-16Full Day,Half Dayor Daily
SUMMERSESSIONS:June 18-22June 25-29
July 2-3 & 5-6July 9-13
July 16-20July 23-27
July 30-August 3August 6-10
Director of TennisMatt Wagner 704-944-6748
No Joining Fee through January 31 ! Contact Susan Rubenstein in Membership 704-944-6741
A New Year,A New YOU!
We are OpenSunday, January 1 Sign up for a one week free trial membership!
Early ChildhoodMicro Basketball 4-5 year olds
Whooo is our Friend? Why, Mr. Owl of course! Ages 3-7 years with an adult
704-944-6728 for more info
Tennis
UNAJEnriching Lives and B
Y @RAUBuilding Relationships thr
e Jh@ Tough Quality Jewish Exrro
Jxperiences
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* An annual administration fee of $20 per individual or $35 per family is required for non-member participation in programs and services.* An annual administration fee of $20 per individual or $35 per family is required for non-member participation in programs and services.
Look for an Acrylic Workshop in FEBRUARY & Monoprinting
in MARCH.
Kids Levine JCC JAWS Year-Round Swim TeamJanuary 9 – March 22
School’s Out/J’s In
January 16 – Space KidetsJanuary 23 – Science Reach
Camp Mindy Activity Center #1J Team - $25 per dayM/$55 per day B/ $33 per day NM/$65 per dayAM Care (7-9AM) - $5 per dayPM Care (4-6PM) - $5 per Day
Broadway Kids Performance Workshop
Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pmJanuary 10 – March 20Performance: March 20
M/$160 B/$96 NM/$170 J-Team/$128
J Force Juniors10-14 year old
M/$96 B/$58 NM/$116 (no class 1/16 & 2/20)
M/$120 B/$72 NM/$140
TeensJammin’ at the J
J Force Teen
J-Force Room
Boy’s Krav Maga Self-Defense Workshop
Sunday, January 8, 2:30-5:30pmRegister by Wednesday, January 4LJCC Upstairs Dance Studio
M/$30 B/$25 NM/$35
Teen Extreme - School’s Out/J’s In
Monday, January 16 Sports ConnectionMonday, January 23
Let’s Party Like It’s 5772
Saturday, January 21, 6-9pmRegister by Monday, January 16
Babysitting Certification Part II: CPR
Sunday, January 22, 2-6pmRegister by Monday, January 16
M/$40 B/$30 NM/$50
AdultsOil Painting
Saturday, January 14, 2012
M/$55 B/$33 NM/$65
Studio Saturdays
Hebrew ClassesConversational Hebrew Level I:
Conversational Hebrew Level II: Want to
M/$244 B/$209 NM/$294
B.I.S.Y. Mini Computer Courses
Save the Date:
Levine JCC CARESCleaning Crews:
Tuesday, January 24, 10am-12:30pmCookie Crew:
Tuesday, February 7, 10am-12:30pm
SeniorsOasis Monthly Field Trip:Brunch and the movies
Wednesday, January 25Bus departs LJCC at 10:45am
Jewish Eyes and Hands
FSP Boardroom
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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 20
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Happy New Year - 2012!
The Friendship Circle’sCooking Circle is designed to givekids and teens with special needs achance to roll up their sleeves andenjoy being in the kitchen. Eachsession will feature a hands-onculinary experience and a food-themed craft. On the menu: FruitSoup, Un-fried Fries, andChocolate Haystacks. Save thedates: Sunday, January 8 at 4:30PM; Monday, February 23 at 4:30PM; Sunday, February 5 at 4:30PM. We provide the apron, justbring your appetite.
All programs will be held atLubavitch Educational Center6619 Sardis Road.
About Friendship Circle: TheFriendship Circle is an organiza-tion that cultivates friendships
between teen volunteers and chil-dren with special needs. TheFriendship Circle is a beneficiaryagency of the Jewish Federationof Greater Charlotte.
For more information or toRSVP email [email protected] or call 704-366-5983. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 21
1800 East 7th Street, Charlotte w 704-377-9017www.cajunqueen.com
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Open Sundays for Brunch starting at 11AM
Catering and Private Parties Available
By Lisa SalzmanNorth Carolina Hillel (NC
Hillel) is the foundation forJewish campus life in NorthCarolina. Based in Chapel Hill,we work with student leaders, fac-ulty advisors and university offi-cials to support 2,500 Jewish stu-dents on these thirteen campuses:Appalachian State University,Davidson College, East CarolinaUniversity, Elon University,Guilford College, North CarolinaState University, UNC-Asheville,UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro,UNC-Wilmington, Wake ForestUniversity, and Warren WilsonCollege.
This column enables ourJewish students to updateour community on differ-en aspects of Jewishcampus life. This month,Josh Orol, ’13, co-presi-dent of UNC Hillel andmember of Sababa,UNC-Chapel Hill’sJewish a cappella group,writes about Sababa:
“The members ofSababa joke that we’reUNC’s coolest Jewish acappella group. Giventhat Sababa is Arabicslang for ‘cool,’ thehumor of this commentis apparent. But I think itreflects what we do oncampus. We’re a groupof students interested inhaving fun singing together. Weperform Jewish music becausewe’re connected by Jewish cul-ture; at the same time, we’re con-nected by our desire to take songsand turn them into great a cappel-la music. All of our songs, bothJewish and secular, are chosenand arranged by group members,and we’re invested because we areconnected by our love of singing,Judaism, and having fun. So wereally are the coolest group oncampus.
“Sababa was founded in 2006.We’re student-led (currently 13 inthe group) and a part of NC Hillel– we hold rehearsals in the build-ing and sing at Hillel events.We’re always excited to offer theopportunity of Jewish a cappella
to incoming students. I know thatit’s something that I looked for-ward to immensely when I firstcame to UNC. Alongside all of thehard work I put into leadingUNC’s Jewish community, I alsohave fun with Sababa.
“Music connects us all, and Ithink that having a Jewish a cap-pella group is a great way to teachothers about Jewish culture.Students on campus are excited bythe idea of learning about Sababa.We get invited to diversity-basedevents because of our uniquenature and the example we set as ahighly-visible campus group.Sababa is a really cool way to rep-resent Judaism on campus, andit’s a lot of fun.”
For information and SababaCDs, contact Nick Danker [email protected]. To signup for NC Hillel’s e-newsletter andreceive quarterly updates aboutJewish campus life, send youremail address to Lisa Salzman,Development Coordinator, [email protected]. For informa-tion about North Carolina Hilleland Jewish life at our schools,check out www.nchillel.org.
NC Hillel sincerely appreciatesthe support of the JewishFederation of Greater Charlotteand the members of the CharlotteJewish community, thank you. Y
Next month – pack your bagsand travel with Taglit-Birthrightto Israel.
Jewish Campus Life from NC HillelSababa
Front Row, left to right: Chelsea Kutner, SivanLevine, Emily Kakura, Haniah LernerBack Row: Nick Montoni, Dan Schere, IlonaFleischer, Mallika Rajan, Josh Orol Not Pictured: Nick Dankner, RebeccaKabatchnick, Mark Abadi, Jackie Thompson
“light rain -the open
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down, and a time to build up; A time toweep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance;”~Ecclesiastes 3:1-4~
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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 22
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
Jewish Family Services boardmembers, staff and supporterscame together to celebrate thework of JFS at the annual meetingon December 8.
JFS paid tribute to the extraor-dinary work of its volunteers andstaff by establishing awardsnamed for two people whose pas-sion for the mission of JFS contin-ues to motivate others. VolunteersMyra Diuguid and StefanieGoldman were honored with theAlan Goldberg Volunteer of theYear Award, and Libby Rains washonored with the Bea GibbsEmployee of the Year Award.
The Volunteer of the YearAward is named for AlanGoldberg, who served on the JFSBoard of Directors from 1990 to2006 and continues to serve as avolunteer, supporter and Honorary
Board Member. A few of Alan’smany accomplishments at JFSinclude: developing and growingthe Annual Friends Campaign,which funds about 37% of the JFS
annual operating budget; advocat-ing for and designing the currentJFS office space; promoting JFSwithin the Charlotte JewishCommunity; and overseeing theprocess whereby JFS became a501c3 in January 2005. Alan’s
passion and dedication to JFShave not waivered, and he neverhesitates to go above and beyondthe call of duty when his help isneeded.
The Employee of the YearAward is named for Bea Gibbs,who loved taking care of theJewish seniors in our Charlottecommunity. It was her passion.Bea developed the SeniorOutreach Program at JFS andgrew it to a program that servesmore than 150 seniors who areeither homebound or live in nurs-ing, independent or assisted livingfacilities across Charlotte. It washer mission to advocate for seniorsand to motivate people of all gen-erations to share her vision forquality care. Those who knew Beaagree that she was uniquely inspir-ing, witty energetic and giving.
Bea lived and breathed her workuntil her untimely death onFebruary 21, 2010. She was trulywas an inspiration to people of allages.
The new JFS honorees continuethis proud tradition, and havedemonstrated their dedication toJFS, its mission, and its clients.Myra Diuguid has volunteered forJFS for nearly two years. AfterBea passed away, Myra knew thatthe residents of Sunrise AssistedLiving would need support, andshe immediately offered to help.She shares her great sense ofhumor and Jewish knowledge withthe residents each week throughthe Jewish-themed programs thatshe develops. In addition, Myraoften helps with the Shabbat serv-ices conducted at Sunrise and is avolunteer lunch server atCelebrating Life at Temple Israel.We appreciate Myra’s extraordi-nary willingness to serve our JFSclients and the greater community.
JFS is also grateful for the workof Stefanie Goldman, who has vol-unteered in the JFS food pantry fortwo years. Twice weekly, Stefanieinterfaces with clients and staff inher warm, professional manner.She promotes the values of JFS byalways ensuring that clients aretreated with dignity and respect.Stefanie’s initiative has helpedJFS serve clients more efficiently.
Libby Rains, lead child andadolescent therapist at JFS, wasvoted by her peers to receive thisaward. She is recognized for herpassion, dedication and positivework ethic. Like Bea, Libby is atireless advocate for her clients.She spends hours on the phone; inmeetings; documenting reports;and corresponding with agencies,schools, attorneys, family mem-bers, and others. Libby sees thatevery child is taken care of andreceives the services they require.She is known for going the extramile and for speaking up on behalfof her clients in the most difficultof circumstances. Without herrelentless efforts and the courageto express what some may notwant to hear, the needs of many ofthe children in our communitywould not be met.
Jewish Family Services isgrateful to all of you who volun-teered, supported and worked forthe agency throughout 2011.
JFS Annual MeetingJFS Presents Volunteer and Employee of the Year Awards
(Continued on next page)
Myra Diuguid, Alan GoldbergVolunteer of the Year recipient, andNatalie Tunney, JFS Senior Outreachand Volunteer Coordinator.
Stefanie Goldman, Alan GoldbergVolunteer of the Year Recipient, andNatalie Tunney, JFS Senior Outreachand Volunteer Coordinator.
Libby Rains, JFS Child andAdolescent Therapist and Recipient ofthe Bea Gibbs Employee of the YearAward and Stephanie Starr, JFSExecutive Director.
The Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish CommunityInvites our Jewish Community to an Open House
Sunday, January 29, 20121:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Foundation For The CarolinasLuski Gorelick Center for Philanthropy
220 North Tryon Street
Come view the wonderful collection of art and the many Jewish donors recognized in Foundation For The Carolinas’
New Headquarters Facility.
Come TourLuski Gorelick Center for Philanthropy
Sonia & Isaac Luski GalleryLevine Conference Center
Bernstein Conference RoomSilverman Pavilion
Sklut ClassroomLegacy Hall Honorees:
Herman BlumenthalI.D. Blumenthal
Leon Levine
For additional information please contact Phil Warshauer, Executive Director, Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community at
704-973-4544 or [email protected]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOArthur Lavitt from Dana and
Carter MeiselmanJim Montag from Brenda and
Floyd PattenIN HONOR OF
Barbara and Frank Osbornfrom Claire and Paul Putterman
Bernice Roberts from BertFleishman, Doris Citron
Sandy Mazursky from BertFleishman
Beth Gottlieb from SharonTaubman and Marvin Barman
Carol and Shelton Gorelickfrom Carolyn and Stuart Hennes
Celia Mandel from AudryBorgenicht
James Montag from Ethel and
Allen Gordon, Judi and LeonardStrause
Joyce LiBethe from Roselineand Douglas Mann
Judy Brown from Judie andMichael Van Glish
Kevin Levine fron Fay Sinkoeand Cissy Gottlieb
Nancy Bernstein from Elaine,Marty, San and Diane Schefflin
Zahavah Rosenberg from Ruthand Alan GoldbergHAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO
Brenda and Floyd Patten fromShelton GorelickMAZEL TOV ON
The Bat Mitzah of SydneySchulman from Rachel Tornekand Scott Steuber, Tami, Jimmy,
Sarah, Jessica and EmmaBaldinger, Barbara and RexCaton, Betsy and Jeffrey Cohen,Celine and Pierce Ives, Elizabethand Todd Swartz, Francine andRalph Levine, Rebecca Usadi,Holly and Michael Ash, Katherineand James Kaspar, Sandy andAdam Meggitt, Shelly Spiegel,Suzanne and Thad Clements, theZimmerman family, Tina andBrian Gray, Martina and WalterDavis, Melissa and AndrewRosenberg and FamilyIN MEMORY OF
Arnold Reisman to HildaReisman from Bert Fleishman
Betty Berger to Phyllis Serepcafrom Roberta and Edward Bograd
Dick Goldenberg to theGoldenberg Family from Carenand Mel Frank
Elliot Sanderson to FernSanderson from Judi and LeonardStrause, Roseline and DouglasMann, the Petricoff family, Carenand Mel Frank
Harold Michael Starr from
Judith and Sydney Levine, Starr,Gern, Davidson and Rubin P.C.,Mary and Lamar Peach
Joyce Goodman to theGoodman family from Bette andAbe Bober
Shirley Kramer to Wendy andJoel Kweskin from Linda and IraBass, Laura Reich Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 23
SmileCharlotte.com : Drs. Menaker & Rodney, DDS2711 Randolph Rd., Suite 205 : 704.377.2503
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GIVING CHARLOTTE SOMETHINGTO SMILE ABOUT FOR OVER25 YEARS.
JFS Installs its 2012 Board ofDirectorsBoard OfficersEllen Engelhardt, PresidentKaren Knoble, President ElectHarry Sparks, SecretaryGary Learner, Treasurer
Newly Elected Board MembersStacy Baum, Nancy Bernstein,Jennifer Collman, Karen Knoble,Margaret Musa, Debbie Porter,Larry Schwartz, JustinSteinschriber
Board of DirectorsAdam Altman, Allison Arena,Sandra Friend, Milton Goldstein,Marty Kelso, Jill Lipson, LenMarco, Louis Sinkoe, HermZiegler
Departing Board MembersMichael Jaffa, Lori Jackowitz,Jenny Meiselman, WendyPetricoff, Nancy Tarbis, LisaVogel Y
Jewish Family Services AnnualMeeting(Continued from previous page)
JFS Donations from November 4 to December 2
Beautiful Thanksgiving dinners,with all the trimmings,
were prepared by: Barbara Abrams,Susan Aizenman,
Phyllis Berlin, EllenBottner, Sharon
Cavanaugh, MillyCorday, Helene Cullen,
Zelma Fink, JudiFogel, Judy Kaufmann,Penny Krieger, Sharel
Persin, PhyllisRomaine, Gail Samber,
and Gabby Starr.
Levine-Sklut Judaic LibraryLevine-Sklut Judaic Libraryand Resource Centerand Resource Center
Join the Charlotte Jewish FilmSociety on Sunday, January 22 at5 PM as it hosts the last screeningin the film series “Being Jewish:Films about Jewish Identity.” Inthis feature drama, “Brothers,”filmmaker Igaal Niddam exam-ines not only Jewish identity inIsrael but also the contemporaryissue: should Orthodox yeshivastudents be compelled to serve inthe Israeli armed forces?
Synopsis: Two Jewish brothers,whose choices and values havedriven them apart, meet again inIsrael after many years of silence.Dan has been living on a secularkibbutz for 25 years, working theland. His deeply religious brother,Aaron, is a distinguished lawyer
and Torah scholar based in NewYork. He is invited to Jerusalem todefend a group of Yeshiva stu-dents who have refused militaryservice in the IDF. Enter Shelly,the driven, fiercely secular publicprosecutor determined to see jus-tice done. The conflict betweenthe two brothers and the legalstruggle between prosecutor anddefense lawyer reflect a societytorn between its religious andpolitical principles. Award-winnerfor Best actor and best actressfrom the Biarritz Film Festival,this film is 116 minutes. (InHebrew, with subtitles.)
Through the Charlotte JewishFilm Society, the Levine-SklutJudaic Library and the Charlotte
Jewish Film Festival collaborateto bring quality, thought-provok-ing films to the Charlotte commu-nity throughout the year. There isa nominal charge of $5 for thisfilm, which may be paid at thedoor. Please join us in the SamLerner Center for Cultural Arts,which is at the Levine JCC. Therewill be a panel discussion follow-ing this film featuring RabbiMurray Ezring and Mor Green ourcommunity’s Israeli shlicha(emissary), and Rabbi ShlomoCohen.
For more information regardingthe Charlotte Jewish Film Society,please contact Debby Block at704-944-6763.
Brothers: An Awarding Winning FeatureFilm by Igaal NiddamAs presented by the Charlotte Jewish FilmFestival & the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library
Come learn how we frame theconversation about Israel. JoinRachael Levine, Director ofCommunity Relations and IsraelAffairs, Mor Green, IsraeliEmissary, and Talli Dippold,Library Director in this engaging
discussion.Tuesday, January 24, 11 AM-12
noonPlease RSVP to Talli Dippold at
704-944-6780 or [email protected]
Israeli Beit Café in the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library
Sondra and Paul Hopmeier invite you to call us for all your sign and visual
display needs. At Signs By Tomorrow we make getting a sign or visual display easy. If you can think it we can do it. Call or email us for all your sign and
visual solution needs. 704-847-7281
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Sondra and Paul Hopmeier invite you to call us for all your sign, banner and
visual display needs.At Signs by Tomorrow we make getting
a sign easy.Like us on Facebook and receive a 10%
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BrothersCasino theme party service that
brings a Vegas style to your event
Contact Alan Gottheim at 704.363.3706Services provided by Temple Beth El Brotherhood, a non-profit organization
benefiting Temple Beth El programming and community.
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The National Jewish SportsHall of Fame and Museum is ded-icated to honoring Jewish sportsfigures who have distinguishedthemselves in the field of sports.The objective is to foster Jewishidentity through athletics. In aworld where stereotype and preju-dice have not yet been eradicated,the Hall of Fame reminds us ofheroes of the courts and playingfields who have emerged from apeople not commonly associatedwith sports. The Jewish SportsHall of Fame is located at theSuffolk Y Jewish CommunityCenter, with plaques honoringthose inducted on permanent dis-play.Mike Hartman - Ice Hockey
Hartman played in a ten-yearNHL career spanning the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. A roughand tough wing, Mike once set theBuffalo Sabres’ team record forpenalty minutes in one seasonwith 316. After his NHL careerended, he was player/coach for theAmerican team at the 1997Maccabiah Games.
In 1986, Hartman was selectedby the Buffalo Sabres in the 7thround (131st overall) in the NHLDraft. After beginning that season
in the minors, Mike was called upto the NHL and played for theSabres, scoring 3 goals and 3assists. Over the next four sea-sons, Mike remained a regular leftwing for the Sabres (who madethe playoffs in each of the fouryears). In 1988-89, Hartmanachieved a career-high 316 penal-ty minutes; the distinction wasalso a team record at the time.Mike’s highest scoring seasoncame in 1989-90, when he regis-tered career high in goals (11) andassists (10). In 1991, Mike wastraded to the Winnipeg Jets. Heplayed in 75 games that year forthe Jets and had 264 penalty min-utes. The following year, he wasclaimed by the Tampa BayLightning in the 1992 ExpansionDraft and played in 58 games forthe Lightning before being tradedto the New York Rangers late inthe season. In 1994, he was amember of the Rangers when theywon the Stanley Cup, New York’sfirst title since 1940. Mike said: “Iwas one of the small pieces to abig puzzle that year with theRangers. Being part of a StanleyCup champion has to rank as oneof the highlights of my life.”Hartman remained with the
Rangers until 1995 and after aninjury ended his hopes of playingwith the Colorado Avalanche,bumped around the minors for thenext few years. He also played inGermany in the late 1990s. Whileplaying there, Mike said: “I’m in agood situation. Other than soccer,hockey is probably the most popu-lar sport in the country. I’ve met alot of nice people. Y
Parker Poe Adams & BernsteinLLP announced that the CharlotteSymphony (CSO) has namedMark R. Bernstein, Retired OfCounsel in the Firm’s Charlotteoffice, the recipient of the 2011Sally Ann Hall Spirit of theSymphony Award. The award waspresented to Mr. Bernstein onNovember 11 at Belk Theatre.
“We are honored to have beenable to count this man among oneof our Board members fordecades,” said CSO President andExecutive Director JonathanMartin. “It is impossible to over-state the impact that Mark has hadnot only on the CharlotteSymphony, but to the broader artscommunity in Charlotte.”
Mr. Bernstein currently serveson the boards of the BechtlerMuseum of Modern Art and theWildacres Foundation. He previ-ously served as the Board Chairfor the Charlotte SymphonyOrchestra, Foundation for theCarolinas and the UNC PressAdvancement Council.
Mr. Bernstein was honoredwith the Greater CharlotteCultural Trust and the MintMuseum Spirit Award in 2010 andreceived the North Carolina BarAssociation’s H. Brent McKnightRenaissance Lawyer Award in2009. Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 24
Mark Bernstein
Mike Hartman Nominated to the NationalJewish Sports Hall of Fame
Mike Hartman
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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012- Page 25
London is one of my favoritecities to visit. I have traveled theremany times and each visit I findsomething different and wonder-ful to do. A few months ago, Garyand I sailed on Silverseas’ SilverSpirit from Southampton toBarcelona. We decided to spend afew days in London before ourcruise and a few days inBarcelona. It was an incredibletrip.
London is a very “in” destina-tion. It’s such a great place tovisit; no language problem, greatshopping, wonderful restaurants,friendly people and fabuloustransportation system. It’s also anamazing walking city and thereare so many fascinating neighbor-hoods to see.
The streets of London aresteeped in history, and the bestway to discover what they have tooffer is on foot. A tour ofLondon’s Jewish past is a fun wayto spend the day. The first pub-lished mention of a Jewish quarterin London was in 1128, althoughthe presence of Jews in the cityhas existed since the time of theNorman Conquest in 1066. Thearea known as the East End wasalways a magnet for immigrantssearching for a better life in cos-mopolitan London. At the begin-ning of the 20th Century it wasalso home to an estimated300,000 Jews, a Quarter with res-idents from Eastern Europe, Spainand Portugal. With more than 150synagogues before the start ofWorld War II, now there are onlyfour, all of them at risk, and anelderly Jewish population of lessthan 3,000.
This past trip we visited theLondon Jewish Museum. TheJewish Museum was founded in1932. Originally located inWoburn House in Bloomsbury, itmoved to an elegant earlyVictorian building in CamdenTown in 1994. The LondonMuseum of Jewish Life wasfounded in 1983 as the Museumof the Jewish East End with theaim of rescuing and preservingthe disappearing heritage ofLondon’s East End—the heart-land of Jewish settlement inBritain. While the East End has
remained an important focus, theMuseum expanded to reflect thediverse roots and social history ofJewish people across London,including the experiences ofrefugees from Nazism. It alsodeveloped an acclaimed programof Holocaust and anti-racist edu-cation. In 1994 the two Museumswere combined. Between 1995and 2007 the combined JewishMuseum ran two sites, but with along term aim to find the means tocombine the two collections,activities and displays within asingle site. Following years ofplanning and a $10 million trans-formation, this wonderful newmuseum opened in a former pianofactory in Camden Town onMarch 17, 2010. We so enjoyedseeing this fabulous museum. Theexhibitions encourage a sense ofdiscovery and creativity. Theyalso help build interfaith connec-tions and understanding, chal-lenge prejudice and inspire peopleto look at the world from a differ-ent point of view. The museum
also has a unique role in preserv-ing Jewish heritage, with worldfamous collections.
Do save some time in Londonfor shopping. Marks and Spenceris one of my favorite stores andhas locations all over the world.The food court is amazing –chock full of British delights. Thisstore has incredible underwearand great prices, too.
Also Harrod’s, Selfridges, andLiberty of London are not to bemissed. Just walk along OxfordStreet, London’s most popularshopping destination, you’llencounter all kinds of unexpectedgoings-on. The restaurants inLondon are amazing and there areso many different choices. On ourvisit, we had a chance to have fishand chips, a wonderful Britishspecialty. The Rock and SolePlaice is so much fun. It’s so busy– good luck finding a seat. Thisworld famous fish and chipsrestaurant was established in 1871and is definitely worth the wait.We also experienced an incredibleItalian restaurant, LocandaLocatelli in the Hyatt RegencyLondon-Churchill Hotel. It isexpensive but worth every penny.
Two days in London is notenough. We can’t wait to go backand experience more of thisincredible city. Luckily we havenonstop flights from Charlottedaily. Y
The Jewish TravelerBy Maxine Silverstein
LONDON
Gary Silverstein at the London JewishMuseum.
Maxine Silverstein at Rock and Sole.
BUSINESS CARD
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ENGAGEMENTLittauer-Berger
Mike and Sue Littauer, and Marcia and AlanArons of Beachwood, OH announce the engagementof their daughter, Stephanie Littauer, to BradBerger, son of Beth Berger of Shaker Heights, OHand Joel Berger of Lake Worth, FL. Ms. Littauer, isthe granddaughter of the late Eleanore and MartinLittauer, and Elvin Shultz of Beachwood, OH andthe late Pauline Shultz. Ms. Littauer earned herdegree in human ecology from The Ohio StateUniversity. She is a credit quality analyst for Bank ofAmerica. Mr. Berger, grandson of Sanford Bergerand the late Shirley Berger and Estelle and SaulSenser, earned his degree in film/video productionfrom Full Sail University. He is a filmmaker/videog-rapher and owner of Loudmouth Mute Productions.A September wedding is planned.
BIRTHSMaxine and Gary Silverstein are so delighted to
announce the birth of their twin granddaughters,Adele Hannah, 6 pounds 11 ounces, and CharlotteLouise, 5 pounds. The proud parents are KaraSilverstein and David Hoffman of San Francisco.The twins were born on November 18 in SanFrancisco. Their great-grandparents were the lateHushie and Isadore Silverstein of Charlotte and thelate Sophia and Sam Mayer of Charlotte. Adele andCharlotte’s other grandparents are Betty Hoffman ofCambridge, MA, and Michael Hoffman ofBethesda, MD. This is the second set of twin grand-daughters for Maxine and Gary. Y
THE PAST -I am an athlete from Berlin,my feet are fast and swift.
I can run faster than anyone!Truly, this is the Lord’s gift!
Any race I participate in,I always come in first,
for I tell myself, “I HAVE to win;”it is like a great thirst.
Even if someone, somehow passes me,I put on an extra burst of speed
and run past him, leaving him behind;thus, I take the lead.
I once thought, “If I keep running this way,I might be in the Olympics, some day...”
THE PRESENT -But now the year is nineteen-thirty-eight
And for my dreams, it’s just too late.
My running days are all gone,I'm not going to see tomorrow’s dawn.
Yes, it is truethat I can run very fast;
But it is also truethat I am a Jew...
There’s no running, from the Holocaust.
Mazel Tov & Congratulations Tale of a Sprinter, in the Winter of 1938By Sudeep Pagedar
By Lisa KeysNew York (JTA) — I like to
think of myself as an eco-con-scious kinda gal. My husband,Julian, and I make an effort totread lightly on this earth. Webring our own bags to the super-market, we buy local, organic foodwhenever possible, and we try tochoose products with the leastamount of packaging.
Some of our efforts, I’ll admit,are more circumstantial than inten-tional. We live in New York Citybecause we love it; the fact that thedensity of urban areas eases pres-sure on the environment is a won-derful bonus. We don’t own a car.That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t liketo have a car — it’s that we don’tneed one and it’s one moreexpense. But hey, zero emissions!
While greening our lives hasbeen something of a no-brainer,we started to get serious about itonce I became pregnant. SuddenlyI saw toxins everywhere and thesad state of our planet became adire thing. The future was nolonger this nebulous thing nowthat I had a little person in mycharge.
I hope to give my 2-year-old,Leon, the world — quite literally— so we began to try harder. Iphased out my chemical-ladencleansers and started making myown, usually a combination ofvinegar, water and maybe somelemon or baking soda. Out wentour dish soap and shampoo; incame the non-toxic biodegradablestuff. Paper towels and napkinshave been traded in for cloth ver-sions.
Making ecologically soundchoices has evolved into a lifestylefor us. And though it isn’t alwaysthe easy choice — I long for fewerdirty rags and a sparkling,bleached-out bathtub — it’s whatwe’re most comfortable with.
As Julian and I feel our waythrough our second year as par-ents, the “green” portion of myhousehold has come readily,though we’re still forging our fam-ily’s Jewish identity. I’ve started towonder if our eco-sensibilitiescould be a part of the equation.Jewish environmental activism hasbecome de rigueur as eco-Jewishorganizations, initiatives and con-ferences have become common-place. Do the same principles ofeco-Judaism apply within thewalls of my home? And does iteven matter?
“There’s nothing in the Torahthat says we should be using vine-gar instead of harsh chemicals,”said Liore Milgrom-Elcott, projectmanager at the Coalition on theEnvironment and Jewish Life. Butthere is a general sense that we arestewards of the planet.
“One of the first things inGenesis, when God gives us theworld, is it’s not just a free-for-all;we need to make sure that it’scared for properly,” she said.“That’s a permanent obligationthat can extend to any environ-mental consideration.”
Environmental considerationsapply to the home, too.
“When the Temple wasdestroyed, the Jewish homebecame the new temple,”Milgrom-Elcott said. “All of our
rituals replicated what used to hap-pen in the Temple. If you are a per-son who cares about the earth, thesimple, logical, Jewish step is thatyour home should represent thesevalues.”
Everyone I spoke with regard-ing the Jewish-ecological connec-tion mentioned the Jewish obliga-tion toward tikkun olam, Hebrewfor “repairing the world.” Thoughthe tenet can (and should) beextended to just about any socialjustice issue, Milgrom-Elcottpoints out that it can (and should)be taken literally, too.
“There’s no question that we’vedamaged our world,” she said.
Though I found Milgrom-Elcott’s theories inspiring, I hadtrepidations about my motivations.Of course I wanted a healthierplanet for all future generations —but my foremost concern is for myson.
“We all get inspired by differentthings,” said Barbara Lerman-Golomb, the director of communi-ty relations at Hazon. “You’re notjust taking care of your son butyou’re taking care of others sothere will be a planet there.”
Lerman-Golomb assured methere’s nothing selfish about myefforts close to home.
“It’s a social justice issuebecause of the fact that ourlifestyle, how we live, impactsother people — not just locally butglobally,” she said.
“Our universal identity is partof our Jewish identity,” said EllenBernstein, a writer, teacher andfounder of Shomrei Adamah, thefirst national Jewish environmen-
tal organization. “Being Jewishalso means being part of thegreater world. It means being ablessing to the world. That univer-sality is a very important part ofbeing Jewish.”
I loved how Bernstein viewedher humanity as a key element ofher Jewish identity rather than theother way around. But I wasn’tentirely convinced about the ecoconnection until I began to ponderthe whole “light onto nations”thing.
Lerman-Golomb told me howshe raised her two daughters, ages18 and 21, in a vegetarian, eco-conscious home.
“I would send my kids off toschool with lunchboxes with nowaste in them,” she said, recallinghow another mom commented on
how she couldn’t handle thethought of daily Thermos washing.Eventually, Lerman-Golomb said,the mother traded in juice boxesfor reusable containers, too.
That got me thinking that nomatter what Julian, Leon, and I do— whether it’s renting bikes (andnot cars) on vacation or schleppingaluminum water bottles around thecity, we have the opportunity ashumans, and Jews, to set an exam-ple.
What it boils down to, I think, isintent. I’m still not sure how muchwe’ll entwine our Judaism andenvironmentalism, but I like thatit’s an option.
“When you’re doing it [beingecologically sound] as part of the
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 26
By Lorrie Klemons, publicityIn the book Life Can Be This
Good by Richard Carlson, theauthor talks about life as a fewdozen white spots against a back-ground. The white dots representthe “highlights” of life: birth,weddings, promotions, achieve-ments, and so forth. The back-ground represents the rest of it -day-to-day life. While most of usare tempted to see only the high-lights as miraculous and exciting,the trick is to see the rest in thesame light.
How do we find miracle andexcitement in our day-to-day life?How does one find the awesome-ness of God’s creation in the mun-dane of everyday living? Once wefind out how to achieve that,everything changes as we realizethat life can truly be magnificent.
One of the ways we can findthe magnificent excitement ineveryday living is by becomingGod’s partner in spreading gooddeeds and good will. By enteringinto such a partnership, webecome one with God, truly beingcreated in His image. By doingmitzvot, it is as though we com-plete the divine mission here onearth. By reaching out to our fel-low human beings, we create an
angelic chorus of mitzvot andholiness that fills the universewith melodious harmony. What amiraculous feat for mere man andwoman to achieve.
At this secular time of yearwhen everyone promises to make“good” resolutions, make a com-mitment to yourself to see mun-dane life as miraculous and excit-ing. Only then can you reallyappreciate the sanctity of every-day life and the awesomeness ofGod’s creation. In this year of2012 (5772), sanctify your ownlife by sanctifying the eternal lifeof Jews who preceded you in eter-nal life. You can do this by becom-ing a member of the CharlotteHebrew Cemetery Association.
For more information about theSteinberger Funeral AssistanceFund which helps to fund burials
for the indigent in our community,membership benefits, graves, pre-paid funeral costs, endowments,and/or including the cemetery inyour estate planning, contact con-tact Cemetery Director, SandraGoldman at 704-576-1859 or 704-944-6854 or director@ hebrew-cemetery.org.
Visit the cemetery website atwww.hebrewcemetery.org. or justcome visit the cemetery for a per-sonal tour. Y
Hebrew Cemetery Association
“Winter dawn is the
color of metal,The trees
stiffen intoplace like
burnt nerves.”
- Sylvia Plath,Waking in Winter
Members of a successful inter-faith discussion group are openingup participation to a wider audi-ence. Three years of interactionbetween members of our commu-nity and members of St. PetersCatholic Church and other nearbychurches have yielded sustainedand remarkable communicationand ongoing friendships.
The program has been focusedon an intimate atmosphere thatfacilitates open questions andresponses with a focus on mutualrespect for honest differences.Cross-religion friendships haveenriched all current participantsand increased understanding ofhow we are alike and how we aredifferent.
Group leaders now hope toexpand the group and we invitemembers of the Jewish communi-ty to join us on Sunday, January 22at 5 PM at Temple Beth El.
Meetings are free and open toall. Temple or JCC membership isnot required. We ask only that youbring a drink, salad, or finger-food and RSVP to [email protected].
Rabbi Freirich will introducethe topic “Afterlife in Judaism -
Folktales and Skepticism” and arepresentative from the Catholicchurch will explain the view onlife after death in the Catholicbeliefs and rituals.
Discussion will be led by sever-al people, including RabbiFreirich, who graciously agreed tovolunteer as one of our experts. Hewill focus on folktales about lifeafter death that teaches the impor-tance of finding meaning duringlife.
After the main discussion, wewill break into small groups tocontinue the dialogue and enjoyrefreshments.
Rabbi Freirich received a B.A.in philosophy and earned rab-binic ordination from theReconstructionist RabbinicalCollege. He completed in-depthJudaic Studies at an IsraeliYeshiva and the HebrewUniversity in Jerusalem. He hasworked with adult groups of allages. He served a congregation inNevada before relocating toCharlotte.
For more information pleasecall Temple Beth El at 704-366-1948 or Amalia Warshenbrot 704-365-3313. Y
Afterlife in Judaism -Folktales and SkepticismSunday, January 22, 5 PM, Luski Hall atTemple Beth El - Jewish-CatholicDialogue Group
When fear crawls out in the evenings from
all four corners, when the winter storm raging
outside tells you it is winter, and that it is
difficult to live in the winter, when my soul
trembles at the sight of distant fantasies,
I shiver and say one word with every
heartbeat, every pulse, every piece of my
soul -- liberation.
- From the diary of Elsa Binder, a young woman inthe Stanislawów ghetto (1942). Her diary was found
in a ditch where the Jews of that city were massacred.
In Search of a Jewish Environmentalism for the Family
(Continued on next page)
Tu B’Shevat is February 3
By Dina KraftTel Aviv (JTA) — Out of a tow-
ering mountain of waste near BenGurion Airport, methane gas isbeing captured to create thermalenergy for a nearby factory.
In the Negev Desert, solar pan-els are on loan to Bedouin villagesthat don’t have electricity, allow-ing the residents to run refrigera-tors needed to store medicine forill children.
These are two of a small butgrowing wave of Israeli projects tohelp reduce the country’s carbonfootprint by curbing carbon diox-ide emissions — part of the globalbattle to arrest climate change.
Along the way, the projects arehelping bolster Israel’s energyindependence by promoting ener-gy efficiency and homegrownclean technologies.
“It’s hard to be first, and a chal-lenge, but we believe in what wedo,” said Eyal Biger, founder ofthe Good Energy Initiative, thecountry’s first and only voluntarycarbon offsetting organization.
The notion of reducing one’scarbon footprint has become abuzzword in the United States andEurope, but only recently has itbegun to gain currency in Israel.
A few years ago, the GoodEnergy Initiative managed some ofthe carbon offsetting for the esti-mated 750 tons of carbon emis-sions produced by the thousands ofpeople who attended the UnitedJewish Communities General
Assembly in Jerusalem. To offsetthe emissions, caused by such usesas air travel, the Good EnergyInitiative subsidized the purchaseof solar water heaters and energy-efficient light bulbs for disadvan-taged Israeli families.
“We see the mechanism of car-bon offsetting as a way to intro-duce, enhance and support socialprojects on environmental issueslike energy and air pollutionbecause we believe social andenvironmental integrity are twosides of the same coin,” Biger said.
In Israel, as in the rest of theworld, there are two avenues forcarbon offsetting. One is the vol-untary route being pioneered hereby Biger’s organization. Amongother projects, the group helpsDiaspora Jewish organizations off-set their carbon emissions byinvesting in Israeli energy-savingprojects.
The other avenue is the com-mercial side, which taps into thenew multimillion-dollar-a-yearbusiness of carbon trading.
The handful of Israeli compa-nies that deal in carbon offset trad-ing were established in the wake ofthe Kyoto climate treaty, whichtook effect in 2005.
The treaty assigned differentresponsibilities to developed andnon-developed countries.
Developed countries agreed tocomply with new carbon dioxideemissions standards. Through car-bon trading, polluting entities such
as governments, factories andpower plants from developedcountries offset the environmentaldamage they cause by buying car-bon credits from an array of green-house gas reduction projects innon-developed countries.
This has opened a door ofopportunity for Israel and othercountries defined as non-devel-oped by Kyoto. It’s how, for exam-ple, the decomposition of organicwaste being captured and trans-formed into thermal energy at theHirya landfill just outside Israel’smain airport is being sold toFrance’s national electric companyas a carbon offset.
Adi Dishon, the co-founder ofEcoTraders, the largest carbontrading company in Israel, bro-kered that and many other suchdeals in the country.
“When we started out five yearsago it was very difficult,” Dishontold JTA. “There was not muchawareness of climate change ingeneral. But now the global aware-ness is huge, and anyone who doesbusiness in Europe or the UnitedStates understands you cannot sellproducts without addressing theissue of climate change or energy
efficiency.”Israeli companies now realize
it’s a “double bonus” to becomemore energy efficient, she said.
They are weaning themselvesoff coal, Israel’s major energysource, because it reduces theirown costs while providing theadded revenue source of being ableto sell carbon credits abroad.
Elysium, which also deals incarbon trading, was the first to cre-ate “the first Hebrew carbonmeter,” which calculates carbonfootprints for Israeli individuals,companies and local governments.
Noam Gressel, Elysium’s man-aging partner, says Israel can beespecially competitive in the car-bon offsetting market because it isemerging as a clean technologyhub where local industries can tapinto wind, solar and bio-fuel tech-nologies being pioneered in theJewish state.
One of Elysium’s projects is alarge coffee factory in the northerntown of Safed. The factory burns
the waste from its coffee produc-tion to create its own steam toreplace the polluting heavy fuels itonce used. Installing the biomassburner to help create the steam wasnot cheap, Gressel said, “butadding the revenue of carbon cred-its tips the scale and makes it thatmuch more profitable.”
Beyond the carbon credits beingtraded commercially, credits arealso being traded on the volunteermarket. EcoTraders had been plan-ning to auction voluntary unitsfrom Israel in Europe, but anger inEurope over Israel’s operation inGaza prompted the company topostpone the event.
This, and the nature of carbontrading itself, underscores theinterconnectedness of the world.As the Good Energy Initiative’sBiger put it when speaking abouthow emissions in one corner ofthe globe can be neutralized any-where else, “Our atmosphere isshared.” Y
The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2012 - Page 27
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"In Januaryit's so nice
while slippingon the slidingice to sip hotchicken soup
with rice.Sipping once
Sipping twice."- Maurice Sendak,
In January
By Barbara Lerman-Golomb New York (JTA) — In his 2007
State of the Union address,President Bush touted biomass-derived ethanol as a way to reducecarbon dioxide emissions. Hespecifically mentioned corn,switch grass, a fast-growing shrubcalled “biomass willow,” andwood chips as “cutting-edgemethods of producing ethanol.”
Sources of biomass energy caninclude food crops, grasses (forexample, sorghum, sugarcane),other plant matter, and a variety oftree species, as well as agricultur-al and forestry waste and muchmore. Wood, however, is still themost common source.
Since Bush’s speech came afew weeks before Tu B’Shevat,the “New Year of the Trees,” Icouldn’t help focusing on his men-tion of wood chips. It inspired meto write an article titled “Trees,Shrubs and Bush: Breaking theOil Addiction.”
What was most notable abouthis speech was Mr. Bush acknowl-edging for the first time that
America had a serious problem: anaddiction to oil. Of course, admit-ting to an addiction is the first stepon the road to recovery, but whatwas of equal interest and concernat the time was that while the pres-ident devoted considerable time inhis address to the topic, he neveractually used the terms “globalwarming” or “climate change.”
At Tu B’Shevat four years later,we have a new president and I amno longer thinking about GeorgeBush, but I am always thinkingabout climate change. So this yearwhen I sample the foods tradition-ally eaten at the Tu B’ShevatSeder to commemorate springtimein Israel — dates, almonds andfigs, to name a few — I’ll not onlybe thinking about the farmers whoplanted them but the distance thefoods traveled and the amount ofgreenhouse gases associated withtheir journey.
According to the WorldwatchInstitute, the average food itemtravels 1,500 to 2,500 miles fromfarm to fork. For many, the foodsfeatured at the Seder are not local-
ly grown and therefore catapultthat “food miles” figure off thecharts, increasing our carbon foot-print.
One way to assuage our guilt isto be more intentional in takingenergy-efficient actions, or to pur-chase carbon offsets to make upthe difference for the carbonemissions being released in theatmosphere from our Seder foodchoices.
We can even integrate energyaction into the four worlds of thekabbalistic Tu B’ Shevat Seder.
The Seder begins with the firstworld: Olam Ha-Assiyah, theworld of action — concreteactions.
One way to elevate this off thepage is by engaging in emissions-reducing projects as simple asinstalling compact fluorescentlight, or CFL, bulbs; no longertaking plastic bags or purchasingplastic water bottles, to drivingless and eating mostly locallygrown, organic food; or reducingour meat intake.
The second world: Olam
Ha’Yetzirah, the world of forma-tion. It is the world in which wecelebrate the ability to cause atransformation of raw materials.We have the ability to think cre-atively when it comes to solvingour energy problems. We cantransform renewable sources suchas solar and wind into healthier,more sustainable energy ratherthan burning finite carbon-basedfossil fuels that add greenhousegases to the atmosphere.
The third world: OlamHab’riyah, the world of creation.According to many rabbinicsources, the prohibitions and obli-gations involved in observingShabbat, the ultimate celebrationof Creation, directly reflect ourresponsibility to protect the Earth.To truly recognize and honor thebeauty and integrity of Creation,we need to refrain from over-con-sumption. This and other actionsthat negatively impact our worldwaste energy, which can result inchanging the climate.
Finally, the fourth world: OlamHa’Atzilut, the world of emana-
tion. It is the purely spiritual worldin which we are appreciative ofthe Source of all Creation and inawe of the mystery of Creation.
Actions such as purchasing car-bon offsets and cleaner energy canseem ethereal and mysterious.
They aren’t tangible physicalactions, so investing in them oftenis a leap of faith. But sometimeswe need to take actions that arebased on faith alone because it’sthe right thing to do.
There is a Talmudic tale oftentold at Tu B’Shevat of Honi, whoplanted trees in his time thatwould bear fruit for future genera-tions. It is a reminder of ourresponsibility and that our actionsin this world do make a difference.
Calculate your carbon footprintand find out how many worldswould be needed if everyone onthe planet lived like you. Y
(Barbara Lerman-Golomb isthe director of community rela-tions for Hazon.)
Tu B’Shwatt: Serving up Energy Action at the Seder
Jewish community, it spreads,”Milgrom-Elcott said. “If you’rehaving someone over for Shabbatdinner, and you’re serving foodthat’s local and seasonal, chancesare it will come up in conversa-tion.”
I thought back to the mealswe’ve shared with friends over theyears, discussing the tomatoes orthe kale that came from our CSA
(community-supported agricul-ture), an organic-farm share thatwe participate in. And just likethat, perhaps we inspired anotherfamily to think about doing thesame, and maybe we spread a littlemore light in this world.
And if you happen visit us inour Sunnyside, Queens home andyou catch a faint whiff of vinegar,I’ll be happy to explain that to you,too. Y
How to Erase Carbon Footprints in Israel
Environmentalism(Continued from previous page)
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