Newspapers / The Charlotte Jewish News … / Nov. 1, 1987, edition 1 / Page 21
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S-1-THE NEWS-November 1987 Charlotte Jewish Federation Campaign *88 V. A Message from the Executive Director By Mike Minkin Executive Director CJF This is my first offici2il message to the community since I arrived here in August. Needless to say, it has taken these months to get ac quainted with the new environs; my family and I thank all of you for making our adjustment an easy one. Let us hope that this new year will be a happy and healthy one and we will be together for many years to come. I want to share with you some of my personal thoughts regarding The Charlotte Jewish Federation and especially my feelings of our relationship with Israel. I know we are all aware of how our Jewish dollars serve the Charlotte community. Constituent agencies that are benefactors of your dollars deliver quality services for our Jewish people in Charlotte: Jewish Family Services, the JCC, the Blumenthal Home, Jewish education and the list of benefactors goes on. The “holy work” of raising money — tzedakah — is a way of ac tively being part of the community and strengthening our Jewish identity. In partnership with local needs, I feel the State of Israel must come in to the picture. It is difficult to speak of our Jewish identity without look ing at our connection to the State' of Israel. Israel’s past, present and future are synonymous to our iden tity as Jews. I believe that our Jewish identity should be linked to our Jewish homeland. Our Jewish identity is as intertwined with the State of Israel as Israel’s identity is intertwined with its connection to the Diaspora. I believe we all are brothers and sisters sharing a com mon history, a common heritage and a common purpose. Our feel ings regarding certain issues may be different, yet our survival as a people links us as one. Much has happened recently. Israel has successfully battled an economic war. From an inflation rate of 800% two years ago, it is now dealing with moderate infla tion. High tech industry in Israel is growing by leaps and bounds, and its main natural resource, its brain power, is developing technology which is competing and comple menting the west. Israel can com pete in very specific and sophis ticated markets. We should feel pro ud of Israel’s accomplishments. It is the only country that had the courage to absorb thousands of Ethiopians. The Soviet Jewry issue is looking hopeful. We have seen certain Jewish leaders released from the USSR, and we are hopeful that the gates will open for further im migration. Israel agrees to accept them and be a safe Jewish home for them. Like any growing country, Israel has growing pains ... from the Pollard affair, which was a severe embarrassment, to the internal re ligious strife gendered around the questions, “Who is a Jew?” How ever, the pluses have outweighed the negatives in Israel’s growth and survival. I would suggest in the final analysis, that we all assume the responsibility to educate ourselves and fully understand Israel — its people and its history. With under standing, comes the ability to discuss, evaluate, analyze and reach personal conclusions. Let us show our concerns, our love for Israel and its peoples; our Jewish identity is “we are one!” What’s Happening at Federation By Ron Katz Pres. CJF The months of October and November herald the Yomim Norayim (Days of Awe) for the Federation. These days are the time of the year for rekindling the energies, enthusiasms and actions needed to fulfill perhaps the most fundamental responsibility of the Federation. By this time we are all aware of the 1988 Campaign goal of $1,400,000. The goal represents a 14.6% increase over last year’s cam paign. A successful campaign will enable Federation to meet the needs of Jewish brothers and sisters both at home and abroad. The challenge before us this year will test our determination to support those no ble causes by giving until it feels good. We have as a unified community always met the challenges before us. I have every confidence, as one who shares in this sense of respon sibility, that we will again all unite together to attain our ’88 goal. The Charlotte Jewish Federation has during the past decade ad vanced in numerous endeavors. In some respects this growth has come both smoothly and naturally. The pieces have come together in an orderly fashion. Although Federation has the primary responsibility for united community fundraising, it has also become a main address or focal point for a number of other major Jewish concerns, one might say a facilitator in many ways. In the area of Jewish conscien tiousness raising, much time and ef fort has been devoted to the enhancement of our traditional culture by promotion of program ming, both independently and joint ly with local institutions. The main thrust of this programming is to further the concepts of K’lal Y’israel (All Jews are responsible for one another). Federation has accepted the serious assignment of being one of the focal points of Jewish centrali ty in Charlotte. Our voice in support of community peace and unity as well as futuristic thinking has rung both strong and clear. We have maintained the posture of supporter to our local institutions and agen cies in order to aid them in a positive way that they may further their services to our Jewish brothers £md sisters in our lovely ci ty of Charlotte. In the years ahead we plan to in crease that kind of involvement by training our lay leaders through programs held in places like Israel and General Assembly locations throughout the country. The de velopment of young leaders will pro vide not only the Federation but all our local Jewish institutions with informed, enthused, and enlightened people. These future leaders will be able to assume the mantle of responsibility when the time comes. It is essential that to carry on those programs of the ’70s and ’80s we need the involvement of today’s Jewish youth as they mature and grow into the leaders of the ’90s and the twenty-first century. The Morris Speizmans and I.D. Blumenthals of our Phase I stage of development have filled their roles in destiny and are at their place of rest in heaven. Our future now is in the hands of their progeny. They and their Phase I contemporaries have prepared us well for Phase II. The mantle has been passed, it is our time now. Phase II is here. r Women’s Division Plays Important Role By Emily Zimmern Pres. Women’s Division During the past two years, the Women’s Division campaign has in creased a remarkable 88 percent — from $73,000 to $137,000. Credit for this dramatic movement belongs to the many dedicated, committed women of our community who understand that all Jews are responsible, one for another. They understand that those of us who live in a free society must speak out on behalf of those who must remain silent; that those of us who live in a safe land must aid those in danger of persecution; and that those of us who are blessed with financial well-being must help those in need. The 1988 campaign poses another great challenge. The Women's Divi sion goal is $157,500 — a 15% in crease over 1987. I'm confident that once again we women will demon strate the depth and strength of our commitment to a vibrant Jewish future both here in Charlotte and in communities ziround the world. Elie Wiesel said, “The opposite of love is not hate but indifference.” By giving, we make a powerful statement against indifference and apathy. By supporting our Federa- tion/UJA campaign, we help more than 1.1 million fellow Jews — men, women and children in 34 countries. By fulfilling the obligation of tzedakah to be righteous and com passionate, we can make a dif ference. The 1988 Campaign marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. Let's celebrate with giving worthy of such a special anniversary. ^ Thi Woomb's DiviiiQa Cabinet is abraadijr tlw {MOt. TIm thirtMB DMdMn haw pmmmalfy piadged $20,150 — a curd-ferc^ imnmm of M.010. 25% mon than 19^.
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1987, edition 1
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