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...9-12
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U.S. Postage PAID
Charlotte, N.C.
Permit No. 1208
The Chgirlotte DEWISH«NEWS
Vol. 8 IMo. 1 Charlotte, North Carolina January, 1986
Temples ^^Stretch Out Arms** To Unaffiliates
Charles Goodall (L) presenting the 1985 Charles Goodall Award for in
novative and model programming in small cities (our Outreach program)
to Ruth Goldberg, Federation Outreach Chair, and Marvin Bienstock,
Charlotte Federation Executive Director, at recent CJF-GA in Washington,
Charlotte's three temples,
Beth El, Beth Shalom £md
Israel, have jointly agreed by
unanimous Board approval to
offer 6 months free member
ship in the Temple of their
choice to every unaffiliated
member of the Jewish com
munity. These 6-month
memberships will begin in
January and run through
June.
“You are personally wanted
and very welcome!”
This is the phrase which
opens the letters already
received by the 800 in
dividuals who are part of the
Charlotte Jewish community
but not current members in
any of the Temples.
The letter, sent over the
signatures of Sally Schrader,
Mike Simon and Bill Ashen-
dorf, goes on to explain the
reason for this unusual offer:
“We want the opportunity
to show you, up close £md per
sonally, how good it will feel to
be a part of emy one of our ‘ex
tended families.’
“We know we C£m help you
meet others your own age and
add to your social oppor
tunities. Each of our Temples
has planned progrsmis and ac
tivities that relate Judaism to
our daily concerns and issues.
And, if you are among the vast
majority of Jews who never
received or never retained
much basic Jewish knowledge,
we have arranged to help fill
the gaps without embarrass
ing either you or ourselves.”
Ruth Goldberg, chair of the
Federation Outreach Conmiit-
tee, and Bill Ashendorf,
representing the Foundation,
agree that this latest effort is
extremely worthwhile on
m£iny levels.
“In planning outreach for
the unaffiliated,” says
Goldberg, “The Temples have
enhanced their programs and
their outreach among their
current members. Our study
showed a real need across both
member and non-member lines
for social opportunities, for
feeling welcome and wanted
and for Jewish knowledge. The
amount of work which has
gone into turning these needs
into responsive programs will
benefit everyone for years to
come.”
Supplemental plans are
under way to assist those
unaffiliated children who take
advantage of this 6-month of-
D.C.
fer and need to be helped with
their Jewish education.
Because of the costs for
teachers and materials, a
reasonable charge will be made
for these special programs.
The letter concludes, “One
(cont’d on page 14)
Celebrating Chanukah in the Oval Office: A delegation of
Lubavitch Rabbis present President Ronald Reagan with a
Chanukah Menorah as a symbol of religious freedom practiced in
the U.S. President Reagan expressed his admiration for the educa
tional work of Lubavitch and their sponsoring the National Menorah
at LaFayette Park. Rabbis (L to R): Abraham Shemtov (Mariashi
Groner’s uncle from Philadelphia); Moshe Herson (N.J.); Yossi Groner
(Charlotte). See pgs. 9-12 for special story on Lubavitch.
photo/API
Super Sunday Surges To $54,000
In an all time record high, 70
volunteers raced past their
goal of $50,000 to reach
$54,000. That represented
$15,400 more than the same
individuals gave in the 1985
campaign. That’s a whopping
39% increase.
It wasn’t just that the same
people gave more dollars.
There were 100 first time
givers! That brought the total
number of Super Sunday con
tributors to 712!
. The four cochairs, Lfirry
Gerber, Dayle Jaffa, Frank
and Wendy Rosen, were
especially proud of the fact
that the volunteer callers un
covered 29 individuals who
were in need of assistance by
the Federation Social Services.
All 29 have been contacted.
“We teach all our volunteers
to listen for problems,” said
Wendy Rosen. “When they
hear someone say they are out
of work or ill, then it is our job
to find out how we can help.”
Larry Gerber added, “We
don’t realize how many
members of our Jewish com
munity are in difficulty. Super
Sunday, this year, resulted in
twice as many referrals for
help as in the past.”
Among the 29 people, three
were in severe fincuieial dif
Winners o£ ^Colossal Contest’ Announced
Aljin Blumenthal, chair of the Special Events Steering Com
mittee of the Foundation, has announced the winners in the
Foundation’s Colossal Contest on the theme “What Shalom
Park Means to Me."
The winners of the two first prizes, balloon trips over
Charlotte, are Wilma Asrael and Sara Seiferheld.
Mrs. Asrael’s sculptures portrayed four different individuals
each holding a Jewish symbol. Ms. Seiferheld submitted a
diorama showing Israeli folk dancers and tennis players. Ms.
Seiferheld is 8-years-old and a student at the Hebrew Academy.
The diorama was accompanied by the following poem:
Shalom Park is the place to be, where the birds are flying free
Look up in the great blue sky, see the wind flashing by
Hebrew knowledge spreads around, see the flowers in the
ground
I hope the world will be this way, maybe tomorrow, maybe
today.
Second plac*^ prize winners of $54 each went to Vickie
Neumann, a Beth El teacher, for her watercolor impression of
the meaning of Shalom Park and to Sloane Muller and Debbie
Massachi of the Hebrew Academy for their unique “computer”
with the following message:
Shalom Park should be a very special landmark
Where the doves Gy in the sky and the Hebrew knowledge
is very high
I
These sculptures by Wilma Asrael received first place award in adult
division.
Where the children say things very sweet
And the classwork and homework are very neat.
We’re alive...we’re alive...WE’RE FREEH WE’RE JEWS —
FREE JEWS!!
Third pla% prizes of $36 each were awarded to Lenora S. Stein
for her “Modem Midrash for Our Charlotte Jewish Communi
ty _ The Thirteenth Tribe” and to Florie Straz for her string
art creation.
All the entries submitted will be displayed at the opening of
the Jewish Education and Community Center at Shalom Park.
ficulty, nine were unemployed,
13 were dealing with illness
and medical bills, two were
seniors on sub-standard in
come and one was seeking
medical advice.
“In each instance we have
offered to provide counseling,
to refer people to available
resources and to obtain the in
formation and assistance in
planning to get their lives
together and moving ahead,”
said Adrienne Rosenberg,
Social Services Director.
But, if Super Sunday un
covered problems, it also un
covered solutions. In one in
stance, the individual receiv
ing the call told the volunteer
that last year he had been
unable to give because he was
unemployed. He had received
counseling and support from
Socigd Services which he real
ly valued. He was now fully
employed and willingly pledg
ed $1000.
Early in the day, one
volunteer made a call that set
the tone for success. He called
a man whose 1985 pledge was
$250. When he asked him to
consider increasing to $375 he
heard, “I don’t agree to that,
I want to give $1000 and I
want you to be sure and call
my wife for her pledge.”
The volunteer passed on
that information and the wife
was called immediately. She
also pledged $1000. The check
for payment in full arrived
Wednesday morning.
Super Sunday 198(B was that
kind of day — a day in keep
ing with the future of our
Jewish community — bright,
upbeat and very successful.
(See photos and names of
volunteers on page 13.)