The Charlotte Jewish News - March 2011 - Page 5
Women’s News
Charlotte Shows Israel That We Care
Hadas Kasher
By Hadas Kasher,
president, Charlotte
Chapter of Hadassah
\^ile we were eel-
ebrating Hanukkah,
northern Israel was in
flames — but not from
Hanukkah eandles.
Sadly, it was from a
deadly forest fire.
Young Israeli men were killed, the
highest ranking female Israeli
Poliee Chief died from her bums,
thousands of aeres of trees were
turned into mins, and many lost
their homes. The fires of the
Carmel devastated Israel.
Now is time for aetion — our
aetion. Now that the immediate
erisis has passed, it is time to help
with the reeovery effort. Now, we
need to make sure that Israel has
the equipment and training to fight
future fires.
Our Charlotte eommunity has
eome together under Hadassah’s
leadership to ereate a one of a kind
eampaign. We showed our support
for Israel through our Tree
Campaign. The Charlotte Chapter
of Hadassah built trees — trees of
wood — and asked the eommuni
ty to provide the leaves — leaves
of money. Eaeh leaf represents a
donation — from presehool kids
to their older brothers and sisters
their parents and grandparents —
hundreds of donations.
On Sunday February 6,
Hadassah hosted a INF Firefighter
from Israel for an event open
to all. Many eame to hear his
message, to meet him, and to
show him our support. There
was standing room only in
Luski Hall, with over 120
people wanting to be a part
of the reeovery.
We were the best of
Charlotte — working togeth
er as a team.
Temple Beth El, Temple Israel
and their religious sehools;
Charlotte Jewish Day Sehool; the
Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish
Community Center; the Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte
and Charlotte Jewish Presehool
ereated a eoalition to sponsor this
program — an amazing gift to the
Jewish eommunity of Charlotte.
With foeus, eommitment, earing
and teamwork, we made a differ-
enee. Eaeh part of the Jewish eom
munity made a unique eontribu-
tion, as we all worked together.
Thank you all for your support
of Israel. I am proud to be a mem-
CAS
SAH
The “tree" full of “leaves" that rep
resent donatinos made to replant the
Carmel Forest.
her of the Charlotte Jewish eom
munity. I am proud to be
Hadassah.
If you were unable to meet the
Firefighter, and if you were unable
to buy a leaf, you ean still make a
donation. Please eontaet Beverly
Grey at jesdrew@aol.eom or eall
704-846-8049 or send your eheek
payable to Hadassah to: Beverly
Grey, 8827 Alpine Cirele,
Charlotte, 28270.^
See a “Thank You "from the
Jewish National Fund on
page 24.
Youth Visions
8th Grade "Divine Spark" Retreat
We are all created in the Image of HaShem
Hebrew High’s 8th Grade Retreat, “Divine Spark,” focused on
an issue that most of us have faced at one time or another in our
lives ... bullying.
We are all ereated in God’s image, no matter what eolor our hair is,
what body type we have, or how good we are in sports or in the arts. Our
students were exposed to many situations involving bullying and learned
that bullying has many faees ... the bully, the target of the bully and the
bystander who watehes but does not step in to help. Through role play
ing, panel diseussions from experts, and foeus groups, we learned that
bullying, at any level, is unaeeeptable.