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The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2009 - Page 20 Jewish Book Month at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library Benyamin Cohen author of “My Jesus Year; A Rabbi’s Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of Faith” This Thanksgiving, be thankful for being Jewish. Join us on Sunday, November 22 at 7:30 PM in Gorelick Hall, as Benyamin Cohen, Atlanta-bom son of an Orthodox rabbi, talks about his hilarious journey that is “My Jesus Year” — part memoir, part spiritu al quest, and part anthropologist’s mission. One day Benyamin Cohen dis covers that his enthusiasm for Judaism is flagging. He observes the Sabbath, he goes to syna gogue, and he even flies to New York on weekends for a series of “speed dates” with nice, eligible Jewish girls. But, something is missing. Looking out of his win dow and across the street at one of the hundreds of churches in Atlanta, he asks, “What would it be like to be a Christian?” Among Cohen’s many adven tures (and misadventures), he finds himself in some rather unlikely places: jumping into the mosh-pit at a Christian rock con cert, seeing his face projected on the giant JumboTron of an African-American megachurch, visiting a potential convert with two young Mormon missionaries, attending a Christian “profession al wrestling” match, and waking up early for a sunrise Easter serv ice on top of Stone Mountain — a Confederate memorial and former base of operations for the KKK. During his year-long explo ration, Cohen sees the best and the Reopening of the Teacher Resource Room at the LSJL Benyamin Cohen worst of Christianity — from megachurches to storefront churches; from crass commercial ization of religion to the simple, moving faith of the humble believer; from the profound to the profane to the just plain laughable. Throughout, he keeps an open heart and mind, a good sense of humor, and takes what he leams from Christianity to reflect on his own faith and relationship to God. By year’s end, to Cohen’s sur prise, his search for universal answers and truths in the Bible Belt actually make him a better Jew. ^ After months of hard work and preparations the newly remodeled and renovated Teacher Resource Room (TRC) is now open to the public. Since its inception in the CAJE trailer on the grounds of the JCC, the TRC has undergone many changes before reaching its cur rent incarnation in the Levine- Sklut Judaic Library. Built on the foundation laid many years ago by Lenora Stein and Herman Blumenthal, the TRC continues to thrive and grow as it serves the greater Charlotte community. “For over 16 years, I have found count less ideas and treasures to enhance Jewish education at the Teacher Resource Center (formerly known as CAJE),” says Temple Israel’s Religious School Principal, Debby Block, “from the trailer overflowing with information, books and tapes to the sleek new, user-friendly resource center, the TRC has always felt like a home away from home to me.” Thanks to the continued sup port of the Blumenthal Foundation, the TRC contains a collection of text and reference books, audio visual materials and provides specialized equipment and supplies designed to help teachers create projects and edu cational aides. “One of the LSJL’s core values is to empower our community’s educators through professional development and a variety of educational resources, thereby advancing the skills and knowledge of those educators,” says LSJL chairperson, Jenny Stem, “and we are extremely proud to house this valuable com munity resource in our library.” The Levine-Sklut Judaic Library & Resource Center is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. ^ Jeilis Year OENYAMINCUIiEK From left Susan Jacobs Temple Beth-El’s Director of Education, Mariashi Groner, CJDS Director, Peggy Gartner of the Blumenthal Foundation, Seth & Robert Stein of the Lenora Stein Foundation and Elka Bernstein, CJP Director, visiting the TRC. % NOW SHOWING CHARLOTTE JEWISH DAY SCHOOL presents ''Open House Tours On Your Schedule'' for parents of rising Kindergartners Call 704-366-4558 to book your private showing at www.cjdschool.org. Donations to the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library We acknowledge with grati tude the following donations to the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center These donations allow us to expand the collection of books, DVDs, CDs, videos, maps, posters, games and var ious teaching aids. The entire community benfists from these thoughtful gifts. Friends of the Levine-Sklut JLRC Fund Melvin and Caren Frank, Edward Pizer, Temple Israel Men’s Club, Joel Josephs and Family In Honor of Sam Bernstein Ruth, Alan and Jonathan Goldberg, Stanley Greenspon, Michael and Beverly Grey, Donald and Susan Jacobs, Robert and Leigh Jacobson, Alan and Kate Kaplan, Gary and Karen Maniloff, Allan and Marcelle Oxman, Ed and Deborah Pizer, Robert and Stacey SeMn, Julius and Ruth Silverman, Lori Sklut, Herbert and Jenny Stern, Sam and Alene Strause New JCC Staff (Continued from page 11) Class Schedule. The facility was utilized by the entire campus, serving a diverse population of students, faculty and administra tive staff Additionally, Jenna is a certified cycling, circuit training and yoga instructor. The Levine JCC offers over 40 group fitness classes weekly to diversify and enliven your exer cise routine. Lyn and Jenna look forward to meeting you personally in the fitness studios and in the David Silverman Fitness Center To find out more about our group fitness programs and other bene fits of Levine JCC membership, please contact Susan Rubenstein at susan.rubenstein@charlotte- jcc.org or 704-944-6741. ^ Charlotte Deadline for December 2009 Chanukah issue: Nevemiier 9. JEWISH^ FED^TION^
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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