Address Correction Requested Non-Profit Organization BULK RATE U.S. Postage PAID Charlotte. N.C. Permit No. 1208 The Charlotte 3EWISH =NEWS Vol. 6 No. 5 Charlotte, North Carolina May, 1984 Herman Blumenthal shares a funny moment at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, with Simcha Dinitz, former ambassador to the U.S., during the 1984 Regional Mission. Mission To Israel Planned £or 1985 Richard A. Klein has been named SE Regional Chair for the 1985 Mission To Israel. For the first time a combined SE/SW Mission will go to Israel from Mar. 3-13, 1985. More than 120 people are expected to register. Specially designed for those visiting Israel for the first time or in a number of years, the 1984 Regional Mission attracted 10 Charlotteans. Missions are eternal memories for participants: The climb to Masada...the way the wind dies down just at the top; the woman on the Moshav with tears in her eyes when she says they might break even this year; sunrise over the Sea of Galilee; the craft shop in Old Jaffa with the perfect Kiddush cup; the little boy in Nazareth Illit, Project Renewal neighborhood, who decided you are his friend; the walk at night on Shabbas to the Wall. (List of Missions on Page 6) Concert and Wall Service To Mark Israel Independence CRC Sponsored Political Workshop On May 4, Temple Israel, the JCC and the Federation in conjunction with the Interna tional Christian Embassy Jerusalem will present a uni que Friday evening in honor of Israel Independence Day. From 7 to 8 p.m. in the sanc tuary of Temple Israel, Merve and Merla Watson, interna tionally acclaimed musicians, will present a concert of songs all drawn from Hebrew writ ings. The Watsons are resi dents of Israel who travel around the world entertaining and educating people of all faiths about the importance and significance of Israel. At 8 p.m. in the back park ing lot of Temple Israel the community will participate in a recreation of Shabbat at the Western Wall. A replica of this holiest of Jewish sites has been erected at one end of the open area. Just as in Jeru- sdem, the Friday evening ser vices will be an opportunity for individuals to pray in dividually or to join groups in prayer at the “Wall.” High light of the evening will be the arrival of Jewish students singing and dancing their way to the “Wall” just as the Yeshiva students do in Jeru salem. Lee Benjamin, son of Dr. and Mrs. Sanford Ben jamin, will lead a community Kiddush. The evening will con clude with a festive session of dancing and singing in the open area in front of the “Wall.” “This will be a wonderful oc casion for every member of the family,” said Rabbi Richard Rocklin of Temple Israel. “For those who haven’t yet visited Israel it will be a taste of the joy of that marvelous country. For those who have visited, it will be a joyous reminder of their unforgettable exper ience.” By Stephen Lit On March 25 about forty- five people attended the Com munity Relations Committee (CRC) sponsored political workshop. The three work shops offered were infor mative and stressed the im portance of community in volvement in the political arena. Leslie Levy, Legislative Liaison for AIPAC, led the session of “The Importance of Political Action.” She spoke of the role and structure of AIPAC in Washington. Ms. Levy offered several ways in which one can become politi cally involved. She informed JCC Presents Community Concert The Jewish Community Center will present the second program of its free cultural series for members only on Wed., May 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Myers Park High School Auditorium. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jor dan Tang, newly appointed assistant conductor, will per form music by Bernstein, Copland, Mozart and Lowden. Serving the region for a half century, the ensemble is con sidered one of the nation’s finest regional orchestras. Each year brings the Or chestra to new musical heights. •In The News Together We’ve Begun p. 16 Academy News 5 Editorials 2 Bar/Bat Mitzvahs 15 JCC 8-9 Bulletin Board 14 Lubavitcher Rebbe 6 Calendar 15 Recipes 12 Candielighting 2 This 'n That 5 Classified 15 World Boat .... 4 Jordan Tang The JCC is indeed fortunate to have obtained the outstand ing event for its membership and hopes that everyone will avail themselves of this opportunity. (L. to rt.) Congressman Britt, Allan Oxman and Leslie Levy. the group what is currently happening in Washington in regard to Israel and placed emphasis on how we can make our voices heard on issues that are important to us. Dennis Winner, NC State Senator, Asheville, spoke on the importance of effective lobbying. He presented several ways to lobby for a specific cause. The key point that Sen. Winner stressed was the importance of letter writing. Our elected officials are influenced by their mail. The keynote speaker. Con gressman C. Robin Britt, 6th District, spoke of the impor tance of strong U.S./Israel relations, reemphasizing his support of Israel. His speech helped the group become aware of the issues in Washington that are affecting Israel. The third workshop, led by Steven Hockfield, Charlotte attorney, taught the group about the elements of a political campaign: Fund raising, ways to contribute to your chosen candidates, volunteer work, and how cam paigns are organized. Those who attended the (Continued on Page 11) Project Update Don Lee (project architect) reports that clearing of the existing flood way is 2/3 com plete and the clearing for the ac tual building site is also 2/3 complete. The immediate future plans call for completion of the floodway clearing, setting in the main culvert and placing the sewer lines. At that point they can really move dirt!