The Charlotte Jewish News - March 2007- Page 2
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte raises and distributes funds to support and to enrich the lives of Jews locally, nationally, in Israel and worldwide. Through education, planning, and ^
community building the Federation s mission ensures that Jewish values, goals, traditions, and connections are preserved for current and future generations ^
JEWISH FEDERATION NEWS
Sixth BLG Class Off to a Hysterical Start
On January 21, current and
former Bernstein Leaders and a
nationally acclaimed comedian
walked into a bar....er, make
that, Gorelick Hall...to cele
brate the sixth Bernstein
Leadership Group’s first class
session.
New York-based comedian
Joel Chasnoff, who has opened
for the likes of Jon Stewart and
Gilbert Gottfried, had the room
in stitches as he shared witty
observations about marriage to
an Israeli, summer camp names,
and other aspects of daily
Jewish life. Afterward, alumni
Comedian Joel Chasnoff flanked by BLG co
chairs Jen Algire (left) and Laura Cherny.
shared their BLG experiences
and how the program has
catapulted their community
involvements.
Jon Epstein, an
alumnus in atten
dance, said he was
happy to be spending
time with other young
leaders. “I think it
was a great idea to
include alumni in the
event and look for
ward to hearing about
other opportunities,”
he said.
(BLG alumni are
currently mobilizing to plan
future alumni events. For more
information, please contact Jodi
Greenwald at 704-944-6759 or
jodi.greenwald@jewishchar-
lotte.org.)
Prior to the show, new BLG
class members met over dinner
for a program orientation and to
share stories about their own
Jewish journeys.
“We had a blast on the open
ing night,” says new BLG mem
ber Adina Loewensteiner. “Josh
and I are both really excited
about Bernstein. We think it’s
going to be an amazing experi
ence.”
The Bernstein Leadership
Group (BLG) is the Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte’s
18-month leadership program
seeking to prepare the next gen
eration of leaders (45 and
under) to address the
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needs of ^
our rapidly changing Jewish
community.
t
^Jewish Federation Scholarships
^Available for Jewish Experiences
Shalom Baby Strolls
into Kate’s Skating Rink >
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It is difficult to measure the
value of a Jewish education in
numbers or in charts. How do
you quantify a child’s smile
when he shows his mother the
clay menorah he made? How do
you evaluate the pride a man
feels when his granddaughter
recites the “Shema”? How do
you measure the warmth of
Shabbat candles lit by your own
teenager?
Yet, many studies have
demonstrated the tremendous
impact of a day school, Hebrew
school, Jewish camp or trip to
Israel on fostering Jewish iden
tity. There is general consensus
that each activity, in its own
way, brings Jews closer to our
collective roots in both history
and Torah. All these formal and
informal educational activities
share a common love and
respect for our common ances
try, history, religion, and cul
ture.
As a community, Jews share
and embrace the value of Jewish
education and recognize the
many forms education may
take. To that end, the Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte
supports a wide variety of edu
cational opportunities, enabling
individuals and families to dis-
Shabbat Candle Lighting
For March 2007
Friday, March 2, 6:01 PM
Friday, March 9, 6:07 PM
Friday, March 16, 7:13 PM
Friday, March 23, 7:19 PM
Friday, March 30, 7:24 PM
The Charlotte Jewish News
5007 Providence Road, Suite 112
Chariotte, NC 28226
lEWISH^
'S
FEDfRATlON^
Office Hours
Hours: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Phone
(voice mail after office hours)
Office 704-944-6765
FAX 704-365-4507
email: amontoni@shalomcharlotte.org
An Affiliate of the
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Amy Krakovitz Montoni • Editor
Advertising Coordinator/Sales Rep: Rita Mond, 704-366-6632
Advertising Sales Reps: Pam Grossman, 704-841-1544;
Jodi Valenstein, 704-841-4040
CJN Editorial Board
Co-Chairs - Bob Abel - Bob Davis
Members: Evelyn Berger, Ann Langman,
Linda Loyy, Jeff Epstein
The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality or kasruth of any product or
service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an
endorsement of any candidate, political party or position by this newspaper, the
Federation or any employees.
Published monthly except July
cover for themselves how best
to learn about our heritage and
foster identity and affiliation
with Jewish communal life.
Most Jewish educational
institutions in Charlotte receive
funding from the Jewish
Federation’s Annual Campaign,
sixty-nine percent of Federation
allocations are dedicated to
Jewish education and Jewish
identity.
The Jewish Federation is
proud to provide scholarships
and special grants for all types
of educational initiatives
enabling parents to send their
children to summer camps as
well as to participate in Israel
Experience programs. Nothing
makes Jewish identity and his
tory come alive for young peo
ple like an Israel Experience
Program or a Jewish summer
camp.
For scholarship applications
or for more information, please
call the Federation office at 704-
944-6757 or info@jewishchar-
lotte.org.
CONTENTS
Federation News pp. 2-6
Women’s News pp. 6, 7
Community News pp. 8-12
Youth Visions pp. 13,14
Judaic Library and Resource Center pp. 14,15
Mazel Tov & Congratulations p. 16
Last month, the Federation’s
Shalom Baby program met for
the first time at Kate’s Skating
Rink in Indian Trail for a morn
ing of “Roller Stroller.” Inspired
by a similar program in Florida,
Shalom Baby committee mem
ber Amy Strasser reserved the
rink February 7 for new moms
to rollerskate while pushing
their children’s strollers.
Some of the kids preferred to
walk or try out skates them
selves, but others were mesmer
ized (or was it lulled?) by being
pushed by their moms.
“It was a creative idea and
actually a good form of exercise.
We had a great time!” said
Strasser.
The next Shalom Baby will
be a special Mother’s Day event
for moms only - dessert and a
movie - on Wednesday evening,
May 9, fi-om 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in
Lemer Center. There’s also talk
of holding another Roller
Stroller, perhaps in the fall.
Shalom Baby is the Jewish
Federation of Greater
Charlotte’s outreach program
helping families with babies get
Tami Silverstein and Amy Strasser
roll and stroll with Hazel. Isabel ^
and Shayna. ^
connected to our Jewish com- ^
munity. For more information, ^
contact Jodi Greenwald at 704- ^
944-6759 or jodi.greenwald
@jewishcharlotte.org.
OF GREATER
JEWISH^
FEDEMTION^
HARLOTTE(
Local, Global, Eternal
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Schools pp. 17-19, 22
Jewish Community Center pp. 20, 21
Synagogues and Congregations pp. 23, 25-28
Dining Out, Catering & Hospitality pp. 24
Jewish Family. Services pp. 28-30
Purim pp. 30, 31
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