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The Charlotte Jewish News - March 2009 - Page 7
Rabbi Irwin Kula Helps Jewish
Community Keep Level Heads in
Turbulent Times
More than 500 people came to the sanc
tuary at Temple Israel to attend Federation’s
annual Main Event campaign kick-off and
hear Rabbi Irwin Kula speak about
“Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life.”
Rabbi Kula began by taking the position
that to attend an event to raise money for
those less fortunate is participating in a holy
act. He called the day of the campaign kick-
off a “yom tov,” a holy day, and the pledge
cards “sacred documents.” Using the cam
paign as a backdrop, he focused on the
rough economic times we are in and are
surely faced with in the near future. But
using our resources, whether large or small,
to help out fellow Jews, is an act that defines
Judaism more than any other.
He kept the audience focused on the opti
mistic by pointing out: “A salary freeze is
bad; no salary is worse. A loss of value in
your home is bad; having no home is
worse.”
While he focused on the spiritual and giv
ing aspects of Judaism, he made sure that the
practical and functional aspects were not
ignored. He even suggested a connective
activity to keep up our optimism and exe
cute a daily ritual at the same time: upon
waking every morning, he suggested per
forming the traditional “Modeh (Modah)
Ani.” This, he posited, would keep us grate
ful for all we have each day, while at the
same time, connect us to our ancestors
through a daily ritual that has been carried
out for centuries.
The program was followed by dessert
reception with fruit, pastries, coffee, and
punch. Rabbi Kula signed copies of his
book. Yearnings: Ancient Wisdom for Daily
Life, while participants partook of the food
and good company.
Andrea and Adrian Mesoznik won the
raffle which gave them the option of $2,500
cash or $3,000 toward a trip to Israel.
A special thank you to this year’s Event
Chair, Jonathan Howard, and the entire
Main Event Steering Committee for the ded
ication and hard work.
This year’s Main Event raised over
$73,000, representing a 14% increase over
last year Eighteen of the pledges made that
night were new or recovered gifts. ^
Main Event chair Jonahtan Howard with guest speaker Rabbi Irwin
Kula.
'
Brenda and David Levin, Cindy and Jason Corbett
Andrea Weisberg, Linda Greenfield, Ira Dunst, Donna and Burton Greenspon.
Special Thanks to Arthur
Mattos, ArtShots Photography.
All photos are available online
at artshotsphoto.com.
Click on proofs/galleries, then
other events.
Raffie winners Andrea and Adrian Mesoznik.
BBYO raised money at the
coat check. Seated, left to
right: Allie Michel, Lindsay
Trapani, and Laura Schewitz.
Standing: Josh Fine.
PUT
YOUR
MONEY
TO
WORK
FOR
YOU
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DOES YOUR COMPANY PARTICIPATE IN A
CHARITABLE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM?
4 ♦
HOW TO MATCH YOUR GIFT TO
THE JEWISH FEDERATION IN 3 EASY STEPS
I Step 1: To make your Federation gift work even harder, just
I ask your company's human resources department for
I directions.
I Step 2: If your company uses a Matching Gift form, complete
I donor portion and sign it.
I Step 3: Send the form to the Jewish Federation of Greater
Charlotte, 5007 Providence Road, Suite 101,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28226.
AS A RESULT...
V You receive donor credit for your gift plus the match.
V You d irect your company’s philanthropic dollars to the
I Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte.
I V Your gift to Federation literally turns the lights on for 1 3
I million Jews in Charlotte, Israel and around the world.
I For more information, please call the
I Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte at 704.944.6757.
Robin Leavitt, Susan Cernyak Spatz, and Janie Meyers.
I
'Ef
EWISH^
FEDERATION^
OF GREATER CHARLOTTE