The Charlotte Jewish News - February 2013 - Page 3
^ 15th Annual Women’s Spring Lecture
^ Thursday, March 14, 6:15 PM at Temple Beth El
^ ^ ' " > > • ' chusetts. For more information or to purchase
Tickets: $40 for Dinner, Lecture and tickets, visit www.jewishcharlotte.org.4^
Dessert; $ 18 for Lecture and Dessert Only
Minimum Donation: $50 to the An- j ET A 7T C LJ ^
nual Campaign J ^
Event Co-Chairs: Randi Lan and FEDERATION^
Stacey Schanzlin greater charlotte
t
Guest Speaker: Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
Author of We Plan, God Laughs: What
to Do When Life Hits You Over the Head
and widely known as the “relationship
rabbi,” Sherre Hirsch is the spiritual life
consultant and lecturer for the Canyon
Ranch Companies in Arizona and Massa-
Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
Synagogues^ Congregations
Diverse Backgrounds Lead to United Group
By Carrie Rabinowitz
They came from all walks of
life and included women origi
nally from Russia, Mexico, and
South Africa, but 18 women from
Charlotte traveled to Israel for 10
days as a united group.
Eighteen women, all mothers
who are raising their children Jew
ish, some with toddlers, some
with college kids, some brought
up observant, others raised Chris
tian, traveled to Israel December
2-12, with the Charlotte Torah
Center’s trip sponsored by the
Jewish Women’s Renaissance
Project (JWRP). All 18 followed
the same schedule but each had
her own agenda.
Nikki Sacks, the mother of two
preschoolers and a managing part
ner at ICR financial consulting,
studied in Israel during college,
and her initial interest in the trip
was just as a means to return
there.
“The first time we got together
as a group, I looked around at
many unfamiliar faces and could
n’t imagine what it would be like
to spend 10 days with these
ladies,” she said of the group’s ini
tial gathering in August. “We had
our Judaism and we all had kids,
but other than that, we were a di
verse group of women. After 10
days of touring, laughing, crying,
learning, dancing, and singing, I
am proud to call every one of
these women my friend.”
Beyond the friendships, the
depth of what she learned will be
a lasting benefit to her family. “I
feel I got to know Israel, its im
portance and the importance of
Judaism in our lives on a much
TNARLOTT
Tiirah
c ^ N T E R_
deeper level,” Sacks said.
The trip, a partnership between
JWRP and the Charlotte Torah
Center (CTC), was a highly sub
sidized action packed journey to
Israel designed for women who
have children at home younger
than 18. The TAG (Transform and
Grow) trip is designed to inspire a
renaissance of positive values that
transforms the participating
women, their families, and their
communities.
Mindy McShane, a mother of
three and a teacher at the Charlotte
Jewish Preschool, now lights
Shabbat candles, takes a weekly
Jewish history class, and is more
loving to her family. All, she says,
as a result of the trip.
“The biggest thing may be that
even if everything seems exactly
the same. I’m more Jewishly
aware and constantly thinking
about how to be better and how to
be more Jewish,” McShane said.
“I’m also in love with Israel. Be
fore I was a supporter but I am
even more so now. I could see my
self or my children living there
someday. But if that never hap
pens, it must remain an option for
future generations and we must
fight against negative propaganda
and anti-Semitism.”
Debby Weiss, an account man
ager for Briteverify, worried about
leaving her children, ages l-Yi, 4-
Vi and 6, a fear common to most
of the women. She came back
thankful that her husband, Evan,
was so supportive of her journey.
“It was a life-changing, incred
ible experience,” Weiss said. “I try
to talk about God more at home
and although we did Shabbat, it
now has more meaning. This will
continue to occur every Friday
night. I really love being Jewish,
and I still have so much to learn.”
Sara Oppenheim, who coordi
nated the trip, leads the CTC
along with her husband, Chanoch.
The Center serves as a community
resource for traditional Jewish ed
ucation at all levels for people of
all backgrounds. Through group
classes, one-on-one study, special
seminars and explanatory learning
worship services, the Center fos
ters life-long study, appreciation
for Judaism and pride in one’s her
itage.
“I feel truly blessed to have the
opportunity to visit Israel through
Sara’s efforts and the partnership
of the CTC and JWRP,” said Na
talie Osman, a mother of two and
former state tennis champion of
NC. “I converted to Judaism last
year, and I feel a real connection
having visited the homeland to ex
plore the roots and culture that de
fine this beautiful religion. I feel a
warmth in my heart that my per
sonal journey is only just begin
ning. The trip to Israel is life
changing and I hope that all Jew
ish moms have a chance for the
same unforgettable experience.”
Sara is currently accepting ap
plications for the next trip, sched
uled June 16-26, 2013. For more
The Failed Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Process: Valuable Lessons Learned
With Dr. Gershon Baskin,
Wednesday, February 6, at 7:30
PM at Temple Beth El
Dr. Gershon Baskin, an expert
in the Israeli Palestinian peace
process, will bring to Charlotte his
unique first-hand experiences and
his analysis of the negotiations
over the years.
Dr. Baskin is the founder of the
Israel-Palestine Center for Re
search and Information (IPCRI)
and served as director from 1988
to 2011. A scholar and activist, Dr.
Baskin has devoted his career to
exploring ways to bring about a
peaceful settlement to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. He has ad
vised two Israeli Prime Ministers
and has considerable first-hand
experience in grappling with the
many difficult and seemingly in
surmountable issues that have
hampered efforts to negotiate an
end to the conflict. Among his
various activities. Dr. Baskin
played a pivotal role in the secret
talks between Israel and Hamas
that resulted in the release of
Gilad Shalit.
This program is free and open
to the public. It promises to offer
a new and enlightened perspective
on this conflict that tears at the
hearts of so many of us. The lec
ture is sponsored by Temple Beth
El and UNC Charlotte’s Depart
ment of Global, International and
Area Studies in the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences. 4^
Dr. Gershon Baskin
I I TEMPLE
BETH EL
information, contact her at 980-
355-2354 or via e-mail at
sara@charlottetorahcenter.com. 4^
Luck doesn’t buy & sell hon^s.
Experience does!
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INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!
Reserve your spot today!
lewish Federation's
Mission to Poland and Israel
A Jewish Journey to commemorate the past
and celebrate the present
[ JUNE 16 -*
Round-trip airfare from Charlotte
Program includes overnight stays in Warsaw,
Krakow, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
First Class Flotels
Professional tour guides
Meals
Air-conditioned private buses
$6000* per person (taxes & gratuities included)
Approximate cost. Price will lx based on number of participants.
For more information, contact Rachael Levine at
rachael.levine@jewishcharlotte.org or 704.944.6757
*if>dudes $500 FedBfation subsidy