The Charlotte
Vol. 31, No. 7
Av-Elul 5769
August 2009
An Affiliate of ttie Jewish Federation of Greater Ctiariotte
New Parking Garage Dedicated
Levine Family Honors the Memory of Barbara Levine
Are you finding parking
at Shalom Park a little eas
ier these days? More
spaces, closer in, every
thing you like in a parking
situation.
Thanks goes to the
Levine family and the new
Barbara L. Levine Parking
Deck, opened and dedicat
ed on June 7.
The ceremony took
place under a full, hot sun
which didn’t dampen the
spirits of the participants.
Eric Sklut opened the cer
emony to give the history
of the decision to build the
parking deck. Howard
Amy Levine, Alfred Dawson, Blair Sklut, Haley Sklut,
Mason Sklut, Lori Sklut, Eric Sklut, Julie Levine,
Howard Levine, Leon Levine, Sandra Levine; front row:
Sophie Levine, Evan Levine.
Levine
spoke with gratitude to his parents
for their generosity and the lessons
he has garnered from them.
Lori Sklut read a moving speech
about her mother, Barbara Levine,
who passed away when Lori was
just five. In attendance was
Barbara’s dear friend Geri
Gertzman whom Lori spoke of
fodil.
with fondness.
“A few days ago, I received a
beautiful letter from Geri
Gertzman who was a dear friend of
Mom’s during our Lansdowne
years. I thought it would be nice to
reflect on Geri’s comments, and
share some of them with you now.
‘“Dear Lori and Howard:
‘“Sometimes it seems like a intrusive.
hundred years ago, and
sometimes it seems like
yesterday, when I wrote
your Grandmother Faye a
note promising to always
remember her beautiful
daughter, your Mother and
my dear friend.
“‘In the note, I wrote
“every spring - when I see
the daffodils. I’ll think of
Barbara.”
“‘Barbara always, from
the moment we first met,
reminded me of both spring
and daffodils. Like a spring
day, she was sunny, bright
and refreshing. Like a daf-
she was sweet, pretty and
unassuming.
“‘Then and now, when I see the
daffodils in spring, I think of my
lovely friend and my heart smiles.
“‘When I learned of the Barbara
Leven Levine Parking Pavilion, I
hoped to be a small part in honor
ing her memory, without being
The new Barbara L. Levine Parking Pavillion.
“Geri went on to include a
check which we will use to plant
daffodils here, so when you see
them in the spring, you will think
of our mother and what she meant
to us and to so many. Thank you
Geri, for your kind letter and for
your contribution for the daf
fodils.”
The ceremony concluded as the
ribbon, held by the grandchildren
of Leon and Sandra Levine, was
cut with oversize engraved silver
shears.
The three-deck parking lot is
now open for parking. ^
Fourth Annual Schloss
Summer Lecture at Temple
Beth El
“African American and Jewish
Relations in the Past and Present
in the South and in the Future In
Charlotte”
Dr. Ron Carter, President of
Johnson C. Smith University
Harvey Gantt, Architect and
Former Charlotte Mayor
Dr. David Goldfield, Robert Lee
Bailey Prof of History, University
of North Carolina at Charlotte
August 14, 2009
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Sandra and Leon Levine
Foundation Rescue LJCC
Senior Program
Community Can Help Oasis Make Up
for Lost Funds
Former Mayor Harvey
Gantt
Join us for our 6 PM Summer
Shabbat Service.
Stay for dinner at 7 PM.
7:30-8:30 PM Schloss Summer
Lecture.
“In the great social movements
in our country’s history, Jewish
and African Americans have stood
shoulder to shoulder,” then
Presidential Candidate Obama
remarked in June of 2008. “They
took buses down south together.
They marched together. They bled
together And Jewish Americans
like Andrew Goodman and
Michael Schwemer were willing
to die alongside a black man —
James Chaney — on behalf of
(Continued on page 12)
Among the many agencies los
ing funding due to the local cuts
from United Way is our own Oasis
Senior Enrichment Program at the
Levine Jewish Community Center.
Sandra and Leon Levine and
the Levine Family Foundation
have given a $50,000 gift that will
help bridge the gap created by the
cuts. This year’s decrease in fund
ing from the Charlotte’s United
Way had a significant impact on
the Oasis program. The program,
which provides meals, fransporta-
tion, wellness and exercise activi
ties, education and companionship
to more than 300 seniors annually,
was one of the hardest hit agencies
in the Carolinas. In June, the
United Way board announced it
was cutting the Oasis funding by
approximately $84,000, represent
ing a cut of almost 80%.
“We have relied on United Way
funding for this important pro
gram for the past several years,”
explains LJCC CEO Philip
Berman. “We are concerned that
the loss of these dollars will seri
ously impact the programming
landscape for our seniors.”
Eighty-four thousand dollars rep
resents 50% of the Oasis program
budget. “Leon and Sandra Levine
understand the importance of this
program for our growing senior
population,” Berman adds, “and
they wanted to help the J maintain
the curriculum while we figured
out how to raise the additional
necessary funds to sustain this
vital program. For example, we
offer a free resource center to sen
iors that provides information
about housing, transportation,
(Continued on page 25)