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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2002 - Page 21 Lubavitch of North Carolina B”H lice Menorah Brings Joy to Hundreds at New Torah to be Written at iphillips Place ____ Lubavitch in Charlotte It was the first night of 'hanukah 2001 as hundreds Graved the evening chill in harlotte to watch the large ice lenorah being sculpted right in ont of their eyes. This was the big event that would offi- ' ially usher in the eight-day stival of lights. Phillips Place was lit up ith the lights of the season; lowever, the music and mosphere was Chanukah all right. The doughnuts were ithentic New York, and the hot apple cider warmed the -fcearts of the many who Jgressed together to get a bet- J^r view of the ice menorah * taking shape. .1 A huge cheer went up from jfe300-plus young and old as the Bhienorah was completed and P^placed on its icy perch. The care ts fully crafted menorah glistened in L the light and sparkled like a bright f, jewel on this cold December !• night. Yet the best was yet to , ^me. Rabbi Yossi Groner asked the ^ enthusiastic crowd to take a hnoment and reflect on the events of the past few months that have so affected us since the terrorist atrocities of September 11, and the more recent terrorist actions in Israel. “Chanukah commemorates the courage of the Maccabees who fought valiantly to drive evil out of Israel. Today we reflect on the victims of terror, and our prayers A Sefer Torah for a Rabbi Binyomin Weiss recites the blessings as he kindles the first light of Chanukah. are with our brothers and sisters in Israel who are on the front line each and every day.” Rabbi Binyomin Weiss led the crowd in reciting the blessings and lit the ice menorah, to the delight ful cheers of the crowd. The cere mony continued with the singing of Ma’oz Tzur, Oseh Shalom, and Heenei Ma Tov. While the TV and news photog raphers were angling to get a bet ter shot of the menorah, the chil dren were venturing to touch the menorah as if it was some out-of planet magical mystery. Indeed, it The crowd looks on in awe as the Ice Menorah is sculpt ed before their eyes. was a magical Chanukah for adults and children. Many in the crowd formed large circles and danced to the lively Chanukah music. The event was organized by Lubavitch of North Carolina for the purpose of giving Jews in Charlotte a chance to publicly cel ebrate Chanukah and to give Jewish children in Charlotte the opportunity to feel the pride of being Jewish at this special time of the year. Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, who coordinated the event, was very pleased with the large turnout and especially with the good holi day feeling that permeated the crowd. ^ Art History for Four-Year-Olds at The Jewish Preschool on Sardis By Melinda Farbman Siulolovao Lipton, profes sor of Art Histo^ at the University fof South Carolina, is more com- nonly known at the Jewish preschool on Sardis as Pierre and Adelina’s mommy. But per lectures are not too lofty for the four-year-olds there. pFor several years, she has fenchanted children with sto res about the lives and works fof famous artists. She has bngaged the children with Jarge laminated images of heir typical pieces and led hem through the sounds of pew vocabulary words like gCollage,” “Matisse,” fMonet,” and “oils.” She may ask guestions like “What is an artist?” “What do you see and hear in his piece?” This November, Dr. Lipton vis ited to talk about Marc Chagall. Jhe guided the children in a huge Icale art project expressing the children’s take on his style. Together, they created a three-pan eled “stained glass” window with tissue paper and marker. The col- The four-year-olds’ “Chagall" windows. orful cut shapes overlaid with stars of David, menorahs, fish, and birds, all drawn in the happy, wob bly lines of children, do indeed carry the essence of Chagall. TTiat Chagall was Jewish made the project especially relevant to their curriculum. Dr. Lipton intro duced the fact that the artist used not only images from nature, but also Judaic symbols. One child asked, “Mrs. Lipton, where can we see the art?” And the answer, of course, was “Jerusalem.” Teachers were thrilled with the project. Because their guest “spoke to the children on their level,” they “under stood everything.” The teach ers knew their students were captivated when one said, “Mrs. Lipton, how do you know all this stuff?” They were truly engrossed in the lesson. In fact, the following day, the children remembered the name of the artist and many details about him. Come look at the way light travels through the “stained glass” in the hallway at the Jewish Preschool on Sardis. It brightens the winter months just as Chanukah did. ' amily Shabbaton January 25 at Obr laTorab The old saying, “If something Is good, just keep going at it,” applies very well to the Ohr ■laTorah family Shabbatons. Since the inception of these bvents, many families and singles |n Charlotte have flocked to Ohr ■laTorah to partake in these won- bcrful uplifting experiences. The family Shabbaton on November 16 attracted more than boo people, as it was also part of |he Jewish Cultural Arts Festival. Rabbi Hesh Epstein of Chabad in Columbia spoke of the magnifi- jcence of the Shabbat day as a unique island in time, a time when khe busy world comes to halt and one can concentrate on the mysti cal part of the world. Shabbat is God’s insignia on creation, and it allows us to ele vate ourselves from the mundane and enter into a spiritual domain where there is peace and inner tranquility. The upcoming family Shabbaton will be held on Friday, January 25 and will be especially exciting, as it coincides with Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of song. On this Shabbat the portion of Moses* song after crossing the Sea of Reeds will be read. “On this Shabbat we will learn about the importance of song and music in Jewish life,” said Rabbi Yossi Groner of Ohr HaTorah. There will also be special pro gramming for the children. As we are all reeling from recent events in Israel coming in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in America’s history, we feel that we need to do something special and unique to bring God’s blessings of security and peace to our community and to our world. One of the ideas brought forth in Tanach (Bible) is the writing of a Sefer Torah for the sake of the entire Jewish community. The verse in Daniel (12:1), “There shall be a time of trouble ... your people shall be delivered, every one who shall be found written in the book,” refers to having a letter in a Sefer Torah. The world seems to be shaking and unstable, but every positive deed we do helps bring stability and peace to our universe. The writing of a new Torah scroll has been a long-held tradition in Jewish communities as an extra meritorious deed to bring forth God’s blessings to the community. One can participate by acquiring a book or portion or even a letter in a Sefer Torah. Lubavitch of North Carolina has undertaken the project with the intent of involving as many people as possible in the Charlotte Jewish community. The motto of the campaign is A Sefer Torah for a Safer World. Maimonides counts the writing of the Torah as the 613th com mandment. According to Maimonides, every Jewish person should write a Torah. Since it is not within reach of most people to (Congregation Ol^r MaToraU m afirojtct of LifJwyiu/i o/Norfh Carolina write their own Torah, joining together with communal participa tion can fulfill the mitzvah. This project can also involve children who are looking for a meaningful project that will help bring back a sense of security and hope to their world. It will take up to one year to complete the Torah. It is hoped and expected that the final writing will take place in Charlotte during February 2003. Upon completion, the Torah will be housed at the Lubavitch Educational Center and used by Congregation Ohr HaTorah and the Jewish Preschool on Sardis. The good news is that several generous people in our communi ty have already committed to sponsor some of the books and portions in the Torah. Their gen erosity allows Lubavitch to go ahead and start with the actual writing of the Torah. A well- known scribe from New York has been commissioned to begin writ ing the Torah. A launching ceremony for the new Torah will lake place in Charlotte during the month of February. We encourage your par ticipation. For more information, please contact the Lubavitch office at 704-366-3984. The Jewish Preschool on Sardis NOW REGISTERING FOR 2002-2003 School Year Where the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit of extra For further information cail: 704-364-8395 ""Jewish Preschool on Sardis 6619 Sardis Rd., Chalotte • email: jpsonsardis(gearthlink.net The program begins at 5:30 PM with the lighting of the Shabbat candles, followed by services and an interesting study session. A full Shabbat dinner will be served fol lowing the reciting of Kiddush at 7:00 PM. A nominal fee of $36.00 per family will help defray the costs of the Shabbaton. For more information about Shabbaton reg istration, please call Ohr HaTorah at 704-366-3984. (Congregation OIt MaTorah | a frofcci of Lubeniuh oj North Carolina KOSHER MART & DELI Amity Gardens Shopping Center / 3840 Independence Blvd y 704-563-8288 ^— ^ Independence Blvd. under construction. Call for directions for the best way into the shopping center. Gift Certificates Avaiiabie $25, $50, $75 and $100 NATHAN’S HERRING 32 OZ. - REG. $5.99 NOW *4’^ INTERNATIONAL BEEF SALAMI LB. - REG. $5.29 NOW *4®^ GREEN’S RUGELACH 14 OZ. BAG - REG. $4.99 NOW *4®’ GABILIA’S SQUARE KNISHES 4 PACK - REG. S3.99 NOW TABATCHNICK SOUP REG. $1.99 NOW *1®*' KISHKE REG. S3.49 NOW *2^'^ Available by Special Order from Smokehouse in New York Lox * Whitefish • Kippered Salmon • Sable Wide assortment of fine wines Strictly Kosher meats, poultry, delicatessen and groceries. Challahs & Assorted. Cakes from New York Sandwiches to eat in or take out. Corned Beef, Pastrami, Turkey, Salami, Franks Hours: Sun 10-3:30 • M-W 10-6 • Th 10-7 • Fri 10-3 • Closed Sat.
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 2002, edition 1
21
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