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Page 12-THE NEWS-February, 1984 Meany. Mlny and Mo By Morris Speizman The history of the Jews of Charlotte has been affected in small or large measure by three types of Jewish residents — the alienated, the indifferent and the conmiitted. In reaching for a title to this article, a whimsical thought occurred that we might even describe it as “Meany, Miny and Mp.” for the Mean, the Minor and the More dedicated types of Jews. It is our inten tion to first focus on three per sonalities who delineate in their words and actions the three qualities to which we refer. In the middle of the 19th ‘ century, Jews began to arrive in Charlotte in numbers which made them readily identified as a separate ethnic group. Several of their members serv ed in the War Between the States. They have participated in the life of the conmiunity ever since. One of the best examples of the alienated, self-hating or escapist Jew, was Samuel Wit- tkowsky. He was a merchant in the late 19th and early 20th century. When approached to donate money for the building of a synagogue, he is reputed to have said that he would be glad to donate money to a fund not to build a synagogue. He was an active member of the general community and becEime the first president of what was then known as the Board of Trade. He did everything he could do to assimilate himself and his family into the mainstream of American-Jewish life. At the same time, it is told that he relished the opportunities of speaking in PoUsh and Yiddish with the wife of Benjamin Silver stein, one of the early 20th century Eirrivals to our community. The Wittkowsky family has long since disap peared from the scene and those who survived, either in or near Charlotte, £ire not Jewish and carry the family n£une of Whitson. Our Charlotte Jewish com munity still harbors a number of escapist or “closet Jews", one or two of whom occupy “visible” positions in the life of our city. In addition, there may be about 50 families or in dividuals who very assiduous ly separate themselves from any vestige of Judtdsm, to the point where they do not per mit their names to be listed in the local Hadassah Director, etc. Next, we will discuss what can be termed the peripheral Jew, or one who can some times be characterized as the “cardiac Jew”. This is the per son with a “good Jewish heart” but wants to have very little to do with the general ac tivities or participate in any way in organized Jewish life in our community. In this respect, the greatest example was “the man who made Charlotte famous” — Harry Golden. While he was an ac tive member of Beth El during its formative years, (he actual ly authored their Constitution and By-Laws), shortly thereafter, he separated himself from any active day- to-day participation in Jewish communal affairs. His publica tion, THE CAROLINA ISRAELITE, gave him a wide readership and with the ad vent of ONLY IN AMERICA, he achieved a position of na tional and international prominence. During these years, he would from time to time, make pledges to the Israel Bond Fund, the Federation of Jewish Charities, the two temples zmd other communal activities, but in all cases, he was a reserved outsider rather than a “willing worker in the vineyard”. Which reminds one of the story of the man who was mar rying off his daughter, and came to the rabbi with his plans for the wedding. He wanted the most ornate and expensive affair that he could think of, and in discussing it with the rabbi he said, “And I am going to pledge $1,000 each to the bridesmaids, $1,000 each to the groomsmen and $5,000 to the choir”. Then, as an after thought he said, “And, I am going to give you $50 in cash for your participa tion in this wonderful affair”. The rabbi looked at him a bit quizically and said, “Tell me, sir, how come you are pledging all this money to the bridemaids and others and on ly giving me $50 in cash as an honorarium?” To which the gentleman replied, “Well, rab bi, you know pledges are only pledges, but cash is real money”. Harry Golden had the reputation of being an easy pledger but a very difficult person from whom to coUect pledges. Aside from these pleasantries and details, the fact is that Harry Golden left huge “footprints in the sands of time” as far as the Jewish conmiunity and the general community of Charlotte is concerned. So far, we have discussed the self-hating Jew, the peripheral Jew and now, let us dwell for a few moments on the committed Jew. Above all others, there was I.D. Blumenthal, who ex emplified all the virtues of a person totaUy conmiitted to the welfare of his fellow Jewish citizens and the general community. Elected the first Honorary Life Presi dent of Temple Israel, he was also active in the Reform Tem ple Beth El when it was organized. He was the earliest sponsor of the KehiUah idea for the Charlotte Jewish Com munity — an idea that has found fruition in the Founda tion of the Charlotte Jewish Community, Inc. He established the Circuit Riding Rabbi program, the Blumenthal Jewish Home for the Aged. He enriched the lives of Jews not only in the Charlotte area but throughout the country and perhaps the world through the establish ment of the Wildacres In stitute of Adult Jewish Educa tion sponsored by B’nai B’rith. In this latter effort, he was aided (and, in some ways led) by the efforts of Maurice A. Weinstein, a young Charlotte lawyer. Weinstein later became the first National Chairman of the Adult Educa tion Division of B’nai B’rith. Today the Wildacres facility in Little Switzerland, North Carolina is available to a diver sity of groups from music retreats to inter-faith gatherings. We have highlighted three personalities, but these were \ZH lill P'-*! m c-Td jSl IMPERIAL GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT All Chefs From Hong Kong t«rvlng MmI AuthMitie ChkMM CuMiw AUTHENTIC CANTONESE « SZECHUAN CUISINE « AMERICAN DISHES COMPLETE TAKE OUT SERVICE mtVATE FARTY ROOM UP TO « PEOPLI C-Td i 333-9239 •LUNCMBON• LUNCHEON IMCIALt MON-SAT ntn-zat • DINNBR • m Is s'd ^.1 ^1 z-a jfl Uji ALL ABC PERMITS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK M y Is MON - TMU«8 11 30AM - 10PM FM — sat 11 30AM — 11PM SUN 13 00 NOON - 'OPV !r::i 3101 E INOEfENOENCE SOULEYARO (T¥rO BLOCKS EAST OF THE COIISEUM) hid Olil not the only men and women whose lives left a distinct im print on our community. There were so many, that a listing of their names would inevitably overlook some who should be recognized. With this caveat, we mention the following; In the field of politics, Max Kahn, Arthur Goodman, Sr., Arthur Goodman, Jr., Alfred E. Smith, amongst others, come to mind. In athletics, Harry L. Schwartz, the Neiman brothers, Lukey Tenner, Wilson Lewish and A1 Manch are names that have been in the public press over the years. Charlotte has been the loca tion from which national and even international leadership in Jewish causes has sprung. In this regard, Maurice A. Weinstein has been Chairman of the International Council of B’nai B’rith. Others of us, in cluding Walker J. Klein and the writer, have recieved a measure of recognition in com munal and lay religious fields. In the area of philanthropic leadership, the names of Leon Levine, Alvin Levine, A1 Segal and, of course, Herman Blumenthal have lifted the level of giving to its present high standard. They are good examples of custodians of the Jewish communal weal. Herman Blumenthal, in par ticular, is to be recognized as the quiet, self-effacing type of philanthropist whose interests stretch iijto so many areas. These include not only his Temple affiliations and the Jewish community, but also local and statewide organiza tions. His benefactions are ac companied by an avid interest in the day-to-day workings of the organizations in which he is involved and indicate the quality of his leadership which has enhanced the life of our community so much. Finally, any comment on other personalities in connec tion with the Charlotte Jewish community would be amiss if it didn’t include the name of Mark R. Bernstein, a promi nent local attorney, who has been the moving spirit in guiding the community towards the fulfillment of the “campus plan” for all the Jewish organizations, at pre sent known as the Foundation of the Charlotte Jewish Com munity, Inc. He has also serv ed as president of the Charlotte Symphony Or chestra and was elected presi dent of the Symphony Or chestras of America. As already stated, the pur pose of this article was to highlight three personalities, but the life-style and welfare of £my community cannot be the result of any three or thirty in dividuals. There were, and are, many other men and women who by their efforts have made Charlotte what the writer considers a model of truly dedicated communal in volvement. It’s a good place to live and raise a Jewish family. LOX BOX SALE Women's American ORT is sponsoring another Lox Box sale just in time for that special Valentine's gift with delivery scheduled for Sunday morning, February 12. Each box will contain six bagels, % lb. lox, % lb. cream cheese, tomato and dessert, and will be delivered to your door for just $8.75. Orders are being accepted now through February 4. Call Roberta Malickson at 365-1417 or Sue Ett at 563-2637. Savinss to 50% At Plej's Textile MHi Outlets you can save es much as 50% on Towels, Sheets, Bedspreads, Oomfforters, Gjrtains and [>ai^ e\^eryda/! Why? 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The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 1, 1984, edition 1
12
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