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The Charlotte Jewish News - April 2007 - Page 28 Temple Israel Supports American Jewish Service Personnel throughout the World During the early part of ' March, Temple Israel was able to purchase hundreds of Passover boxes to be sent to American troops serving in battle zones throughout the world. Each box contained a . copy of Alfred Kolatch’s Haggadah, matzah, kosher for Passover fish, soup, grape juice, macaroons, and a desert-camouflage kippah. These gift boxes are accom panied with a card wishing the troops a “Happy Pesach” An American Jewish soldier enjoys his Passover gift- CJDS Alumnus Takes Top Honors in Mitzvot Contest Mendel Cohen, son of Rabbi Shlomo and Yiska Cohen, recent ly received the highest grade in his class for learning over 100 mitzvot from Maimonides’ Book of Mitzvot. Mendel, who graduated from Charlotte Jewish Day School in 2006, now attends the Seymour J. Abrams Chcder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School in Skokie, IL. The mitzvot contest required the students to learn the mitzvot and then take three written exams to explain each mitzvah and its source in the Torah, as well as the reason for the mitzvah. Mendel’s average on the three tests was an amazing 98.7. He will be traveling to New York with five other students from the school to participate in the final examination in mid-March. Schools from all over the world will be present at this competition, including students from Mendel Cohen “I am drowning in the muddy slime, and there is no foothold; I have waded into the watery deep, and the flood sweeps over me. I am wearied with calling; my throat is parched.” - Psalm 69:3, 4 Yours Truly Needlepoint and Knitting Handpainted Needlepoint Canvases All New Canvases — Free lessons — Unique Gift Ideas — New and Old Customers Very Welcome Best Selection in Charlotte All Proceeds Go to Local Charities 3802 Columbine Circle 704-366-6765 Open Thursdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from their friends at Temple Israel, Charlotte, North Carolina. The response to the call for support for these boxes was tremendous and immediate. Over 200 boxes were pur chased in the first two days of the campaign. Program co chair, Alan Raznick, Lt. Colonel, US Army, retired, stated that, “When I served, 1 never received such packages from home. What a morale booster. People back home, Schools caring about you and wanting to help you observe our holidays. Jews worrying about other Jews whose lives are put in harm’s way in service to our country. It creates a connection that shows the appre ciation of American Jews back home for those serving in combat zones.” The committee, which was formed to reach out to American service personnel, will also be reaching out to Chayalim Bodedim, the lonely soldiers - Americans serving in the Israeli military. This new committee has been formed to show Temple Israel’s support for American Jews serving the cause of liberty, com mon democracy, and freedom throughout the world. ^ CJDS Board Ponders Jewish Demographics Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and France. The partic ipants will be treated to a sight seeing trip around New York City and will be eligible for prizes based on their grades on the final exam. Congratulations, Mendel. All of us at CJDS are proud of your accomplishments. O The Board of Directors of Charlotte Jewish Day School recently enjoyed a presentation by Audrey Goldfarb, of the Project for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE.) Mrs. Goldfarb has been consulting to CJDS, under a PEJE grant, to facilitate the development of long term edu cational and operational goals and strategies. Many facts and trends that Audrey reviewed are of impor tance to all Jews, regardless of affiliation. Following are some key points: American Jews have achieved zero population growth in a single generation. There were 5.5 million Jews in the US in 1980, and there were 5.5 million Jews in the US in 2000. ^ In 1950 the 5 million American Jews constituted 3.31% of the general US population of 151,330,000. In 2000 the 5.5 mil lion American Jews constituted just 1.96% of the general US pop ulation of 281,000,000. While the US population grew 46% in fifty years, the Jewish population grew just 10%. After adjusting for rates of non-marriage and intermarriage (as well as for the impact of inter marriage on the religion of the child) there is actually a net popu lation decrease of approximately 547,000 per generation. What can we do to reverse this decline and to increase Jewish commitment and Jewish identity? According to Audrey and other researchers, the four important factors are: Jewish sleep away camp; Jewish teen youth groups; teen trips to Israel, and Jewish day schools. Statistics show that Jewish day schools work. Day school grads show the highest levels of Jewish engagement; they have the great est attachment to Israel and to the Jewish people; they thrive in their future choice of learning environ ments; and they have higher chances of joining a synagogue as adults. Audrey cited the above statis tics as being the reasons that more Reform and Conservative families choose Jewish day schools for their children’s education. She also noted that more children from “unaffiliated” and/or interfaith families are enrolled in Jewish day schools than ever before. Audrey told the board that she began working for a Jewish day school late in her professional career. Her final remark was that “Although none of my own chil dren attended Jewish day schools, all of my grandchildren do.” ^
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 1, 2007, edition 1
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