5007 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
Address Correction Requested
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Charlotte, NC
Permit No. 1208
The Charlotte
Vol. 18 No.1
Tezet 5756
January 1996
Major Gifts Reception
Kicks Off '96 Campaign
m
€
The Major Gifts Reception
for the Jewish Federation of Greater
Charlotte’s annual campaign was
held on Tuesday, November 28 at
the home of Bob and Carol
Speizman.
“We were happy to be able
to host this important evening and
are particularly pleased that so
many of our Major Givers were able
to be with us.” said Bob Speizman,
Major Gifts Chair.
Over 50 people attended this
year’s reception which Included
those contributing a minimum gift
of $3800 to the campaign.
(l-r) Art Sandler, Carol Speizman, Bob Speizman-Major
Gifts Chair
Art Sandler (I) and Bill
Gorelick-Campaign Chair
See CAMPAIGN - Page 12
Group Finds Improvement In The
Status Of Israeli Women
While the status of Israeli
women has improved markedly in
recent years, serious pockets of in
equality and discrimination remain,
members of a week-long mission to
Israel sponsored by US/Israel
Women to Women reported.
“The media traditionally have
given a wholly inaccurate impres
sion of the role of women in Israeli
society,” said Dr. Jewel Bellush
chair of the women’s group. “Be
cause they are drafted into the army,
the public is under the illusioi) they
arc considered equal to men. They
are not.”
Organized 18 years ago by
pronunent writer-lecturer Virginia
Snitow, US/Israel Women to
Women was established to support
a fledgling women’s rights move
ment in Israel with funds and ad
vice. The effort has been success
ful in large measure, according to
Dr. Bellush, a retired professor of
political science, but “Israeli women
have a long way to go in such areas
as university positions, the right to
divorce, and health care."
“We were inspired to see the
growth of the Israeli network of
women’s groups, many of whom
were started with seed money pro
vided by US/Israel Women to
Women,” Dr. Bellush said. “We
couldn’t have guessed a dozen years
ago that the small group projects we
were helping to fund would lead to
the creation of the women’s tights
movement in Israel, which now
stretches throughout the country
and serves as an important force in
keeping the democratic process
alive and well.”
Mildred Weissnian noted the
strong influence of American and
British women who had made aliyah,
in helping to organize the Israeli
women’s movement. ‘They were at
the forefront,” she said. “Now you
have the sabras- young, inspired Is
raeli women-who have learned how
to network and organize.”
One of the driving forces be
hind the improvement of women’s
roles in Israel has been the impact
of recent court cases initiated
through the vigorous activity of
Israel’s women’s rights groups. Dr.
Bellush noted.
One key case was a judicial
ruling that found women were be
ing discriminated against the ap
pointment of directors of state-
owned companies. The court deci
sion led to the creation of a govern
ment committee charged with ap
pointing the directors of such com
panies. In the two years since the
committee was formed, the number
of women directcvs jumped from 3
to 19.8 percent of all directorial po
sitions.
At the same tinte, leaders of
the visiting group cautioned that in
spite of such progress, a “glass ceil
ing” continues to exist for many
working women who seek to ad
vance their careers.
30th Annual Meeting
Held At
Blumenthal Jewish Home
The 30th Annual Meeting and
the 30th Anniversary Celebration of
the Blumenthal Jewish Home were
festive events attended by individu
als from across the Carolinas. Those
attending the Saturday evening Gala
were treated to a special evening
highlighted by an informative and
stimulating address given by former
North Carolinian New York Talk
show host Barry Farber.
At the 30th Annual Meeting
on Sunday, October 29, Audrey
Madans of Charlotte, NC was re
elected for a second term as Presi-
collected through the CAJWM Re
membrance Chairman and the
CAJWM donations to the Home this
year. Elizabeth Small of Charlotte
presented a check to the Home from
the Home Store in Charlotte. The
CAJWM Annual Drawing was held
at the conclusion of the program and
the proceeds presented to the Home
by Esther Frank.
The Home draws its board
members, its supporters, its friends
and its residents from the commu
nities throughout the Carolinas.
Officers of the BJH Board of Ihistees pictured at the 30th
Annual Meeting are seen left to right: Michael Schiftan,
Al Herman, Lewis Eisenstadt, Audrey Madans, Ron
Weiner and Al Jacobson. Not pictured is Eric Handler.
dent of the Home’s Board of Trust
ees. Also reelected to serve a sec
ond term were the present officers
of the Board: Al Herman, President-
Elect, Eric Handler, 1st Vice Presi
dent, Michael Schiftan, Secretary
and Al Jacobson ,Treasurer all from
Greensboro, Ron Weiner of Char
lotte serves as second Vice Presi
dent and Lewis Eisenstadt of
Greenville, SC is Immediate Past-
President.
Individuals from Charlotte
elected to serve on the Board of
Trustees are Florence Jaffa for a
three year term and Ruth Goldberg
and Shelton Gorelick as Presiden
tial Appointees for 1995-96. Cur
rently serving on the Board are
Stanley Greenspon, completing a
two-year term,Herman Blumenthal,
a Life Member of the Board and
Esther Frank as a representative of
the CAJWM.
In her report at the meeting
President Madans spoke of the
health of the Home and the many
challenges facing the Home in the
future. Ron Weiner presented a
check to the Home from the Caro-
linas Association of Jewish Women
and Men and reported on the fuads
Ensuring that the Home will
meet the health care challenges of
the future and be there for our Jew
ish elderiy is the responsibility of
every Jew and Jewish community in
the Carolinas. For information
about the Blumenthal Jewish Home
contact a member of the Board of
Trustees in your community or call
Sue Clein, Director of Public Rela
tions or the Admissions Office at
910-766-6401.
Seen at ttie Annual Meeting
are Mrs. David Swimmer
and her daughter Elizabeth
Small of Charlotte.