The Charlotte Jewish News -December 2011 - Page 26
JPS Chanukah Mitzvah Project
By Dedee Goldsmith, director of
the Jewish Preschool on Sardis
There is an amazing feeling that
I get when my worlds eollide.
Eaeh month that passes, I find new
ways that the Jewish Presehool on
Sardis has a positive impaet on my
life. This month, the eollision of
my worlds gives me an opportuni
ty to share the Jewish Presehool
on Sardis with the greater
Charlotte eommunity.
In my “spare time,” I run a par-
ent-ehild volunteer group. We are
always looking for aetivities in the
eommunity where ehildren and
their parents ean be involved and
eontribute to many wonderful
organizations and true needs. Over
the years, we have served meals at
a shelter, eleaned up parks, eol-
leeted elothing and toiletries for
hurrieane vietims, eolleeted mon
etary donations for various organ
izations, donated hair to ereate
wigs for those fighting eaneer, vis
ited new friends in assisted living
eommunities and nursing homes,
to name just a few. Our group’s
mission is in line with the saying
by Gandhi, “Be the ehange that
you wish to see in the world.”
This year we were fortunate
enough to get involved with the
*
jps
TtvAwMIl
* * * « * Pr»Kt)«ol
Ronald MeDonald House of
Charlotte. As part of the projeet,
we donned our waekiest hats, put
on the red aprons,
and were part of a
larger group of vol
unteers that raised
over $110,000. The
kids walked away
feeling so good
about their hard
work in addition to
having a blast partieipating. They
felt so good, that they wanted to
do more. As it turns out, the
Ronald MeDonald House is
always looking for many people to
help with many projeets. Needless
to say, I was eager to hear how the
kids eould partieipate more and
with that, I seheduled a meeting to
learn about more possibilities.
At the meeting, there was dis-
eussion of deeorations for the hol
idays. I don’t know about you, but
when I hear “holidays” here in
Charlotte, that is just about as
good as hearing “Christmas.” So I
asked what types of deeorations
they were putting up. Was
Chanukah mentioned? Nope.
Menorah? Nope. Dreidels? Still
nope. This is where the gears of
my brain start ehurning ...
!iJ
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Chanukah decorations. Jewish
Preschool on Sardis. Mitzvah
committee. Perfect match. And so,
the JPS Chanukah
Mitzvah Project was
conceived.
The very next day I
was on the phone with
our Mitzvah committee
and PTO heads, trying
to plan away. Our
school is excited about
our Chanukah Mitzvah Project.
Here at JPS, we are planning an
afternoon where our children and
parents can come after school to
create Chanukah decorations that
will brighten the already warm
environment that is at the Ronald
McDonald House. No matter the
age, skill level or time, we will
have something for everyone. The
results of our project will then be
taken and distributed around the
house in the form of door hangers,
table centerpieces, and/or mantel
decor. What a heartwarming way
to share ourselves with the com
munity at large.
Of course at JPS, the children
participate in mitzvot every day.
They give tzedakah to those in
need, help their friends when they
need a helping hand, and keep our
garden growing with water, just to
name a few. This Chanukah deco
ration mitzvah project allows the
children to give in ways that are
beyond the day to day practices.
Within the walls of our school
they will work as a group working
towards a common cause or goal.
Outside the walls of our school
they are sharing the wonderful
skills and talents they develop at
school; giving and caring to oth
ers. Knowing that they are giving
of themselves to benefit others
should make us all feel proud -
because giving from the heart is
the greatest mitzvah of all.
If you would like to learn more
about our Chanukah Mitzvah
Project or would like a tour of
our school, please contact us
at 704-364-8395 or e-mail us
info@jpsonsardis.org. ^
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New Director for Hadassah
Medical Organization
By Hadas Kosher, president,
Charlotte Chapter of Hadassah
The new century at Hadassah
starts with a new head for
Hadassah Medical Organization,
Professor Ehud S. Kokia.
By assuming the leader
ship of Hadassah Medical
Organization, the pioneer
ing health care provider
for the State of
Israel,which includes both
Hadassah University
Hospital Ein Kerem and
Hadassah University
Hospital Mount Scopus,
Professor Kokia replaces
Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef,
who served as Director General
for 11 years.
Kokia, 61, has a 37-year career
as a physician and health-care
executive. Most recently, he was
CEO of Maccabi Healthcare
Services.
“I undertake this important
responsibility with appreciation
and awe for the Hadassah Medical
Organization’s pioneering contri
butions to the State of Israel and
the Israeli medical system,” Prof.
Kokia said. “I know that as they
have for decades, HMO’s 6,000
employees will be at my side as
we continue the path that was
paved by my colleague and friend
Prof. Mor-Yosef. And I know they
will be joined by the hundreds of
thousands of members, friends,
and supporters of the Hadassah
Women’s Zionist Organization of
America, to help us continue to
provide superb patient care and
produce groundbreaking research.
“I eagerly await the opening of the
Sarah Wetsman Davidson
Hospital Tower, our outstanding
new in-patient facility, which will
enhance the Hadassah Medical
Organization’s already extraordi
nary international reputation for
excellence and look forward to
working with my colleagues to
help realize Hadassah’s historic
mission.”
Hadassah Medical Organiza-
Hadas Kasher
tion has additional reason to cele
brate recently the hope for a future
cure of insulin-dependent (type 1)
diabetes received a boost from the
research findings of a multi-year
project led by Prof.
Yuval Dor of Hebrew
University’s Institute
for Medical Research
Israel-Canada with
Hadassah University
Medical Center’s co
lead author Prof.
Benjamin Glaser and
his research team, who
identified the key sig
nal that initiates pro
duction of insulin-producing beta
cells in the pancreas.
I wanted to share this break
through with you as November is
American Diabetes Month. With
about 26 million children and
adults in American living with dia
betes, and another 79 million at
high risk for developing type 2
diabetes, (source the American
Diabetes Association) the disease
is taking a devastating physical,
emotional and financial toll on our
country.
Recent numbers by the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention paint a desperate situa
tion of where we are at, and where
we are headed:
* Every 17 seconds, someone is
diagnosed with diabetes.
* Diabetes kills more people
each year than breast cancer and
AIDS combined.
* Recent estimates project that
as many as 1 in 3 American adults
will have diabetes in 2050 unless
we take steps to stop diabetes.
The above discovery is one of
step out of many taken daily by
Hadassah researcher. This
research and other are become
available due to your efforts. Each
and one of you here in Charlotte
who takes active part in our organ
ization by volunteering or donat
ing help raising the funds that
impacts life around the world. ^
Sushi in the Succah
Attracts Young Hadassah
Hadassah celebrated Sukkot
mingling and enjoying delicious
sushi under a beautiful sukkah
promptly displayed in the heart of
South Park at Cowfish Restaurant.
The Young Hadassah commit
tee hosted this event. The commit
tee, chaired by Patricia Johnson,
Dorit Cohen and Allison Neiss,
has a mission to create opportuni
ties for young members (ages 18
to 45) to connect. Hadassah is
committed to ensure this particu
lar group is involved and engaged.
Janice Bernstein provided a
compelling account of how
Hadassah researchers are pioneer
ing tomorrow’s healing practices.
Cutting edge diagnostic approach
es are being developed including
blood tests that will be as effective
as colonoscopies.
Emily Johnson, BBYO
Ohavim’s Sh’licha, led the Sukkot
ceremony including shaking the
lulav and etrog.
There will be a Hadassah
Young Leaders event at Strike
City in December.
For more information about
Hadassah Young Leaders, like
us on Facebook (Charlotte
Hadassah) or e-mail youngchar-
lottehadasah@gmail.com. ^
HA
DAS
SAH