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The Charlotte Jewish News - June-July 2013 - Page 11 The Sacred Mitzvah of Burial By Sandra Goldman, director, Hebrew Cemetery Association A couple of months ago, I at tended the showing of “In Heaven, Underground” at the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival. The documentary about Berlin’s Weissensee, a 130-year-old Jew ish cemetery, touched me pro foundly. Its 115,000 graves make it the largest such establishment still in use in Europe. The place is beautiful, a secluded forest with uneven, obscured rows of digni fied stone markers. A more convincing picture of a cemetery’s dreamy calm would be hard to find. However, the film begins with 84-year-old Rabbi William Wolff describing one of his primary tasks: “You only have one function at a funeral, to make sure that the coffin is put into its grave. That is the main duty.” I was shocked by his words, and could not disagree more. Burying someone is not a func tion. Rather, it is the biggest Mitz vah one can perform because dead people cannot express thanks. I appreciate learning about the life and legacy of each person who passes. Since I have become di rector at our cemetery, I have at tended and worked with families to plan burials for close to 120 people. Cemeteries are sacred spaces laden with symbolic meanings and communal values. Permeated with the transcendent, the ceme tery is the place where the en counter between the living and the (Hebrew Cemetery V of Greater Charlotte ■1-toiA.or * C-eLe!>ra.te- * ■Et'Ai^ra-ce. Progress is being made in the construction of the new Memorial Building at the Hebrew Cemetery. Memorial Building, pre-planning or how to include the Hebrew Cemetery in your Jewish legacy, please contact Sandra Goldman by phone at 704-576-1859 or by email at director@hebrewceme- tery.org. ^ PICK A ROSENFELD for All Your Real Estate Needs dead is socially organized and cul turally regulated in the framework of our tradition. At its core, the cemetery serves to memorialize the dead. This is why after years of plan ning the Cemetery Board and many generous donors have con nected the dots to create what has been missing on these holy grounds: a Memorial Building. As it is taking shape, I invite you to come and visit the cemetery. Visit the oldest graves dated in the late eighteen hundreds and see how the new memorial building has evolved from the drawing board to the structure already erected on these sacred grounds. It is impres sive. In the future, memorial services of up to 60 visitors can be held in side the Mindy Ellen Levine Chapel, new home to the former Beth El ark. No longer will fami lies have to endure heat, cold or wet weather during a service. In stead, everybody can congregate in the air-conditioned building, which will provide modem bath rooms. The grieving family can find comfort inside the Berlin Family Room before the service, and after interment, those attend ing can gather for a catered event in the Gorelick Gathering Room. The Memorial Building will last for centuries to come. It is no more a dream or an empty shell; brick and mortar are making it a reality. We have been very fortu nate to be able to secure most dol lars needed to erect this building, but in order to complete this proj ect, we need you. We are asking the community at large to step up and help us over the finish line. Every dollar counts, and your sup port will give our cemetery even more heart and soul. In the documentary. Rabbi Wolff of Weissensee says, “The next world is vague because we live in this world.” Because we honor and celebrate our loved ones, we need to embrace our re sponsibility towards each other today. As the oldest and most established Charlotte Jewish insti tution, the Hebrew Cemetery con tinues to serve our community and welcomes your visits, your mem bership and your support. To learn more about the new Over 35 Years Experience - Home 704-321-0220 Barbara Helen Adams Realty 704-517-1547 Marshall Queenstowne Realty 704-517-1073 Phil Warshauer, Elaine Moody unknown attendee, and Larry Schwartz. Levine JCC’s Distinctive Member Reception This year’s Distinctive Mem ber Reception on April 25 was graciously hosted by and held at the magnificent home of Larry Schwartz, Past President of the Levine JCC Board of Directors and currently a Grand Benefactor as well. Distinctive Members and Levine JCC Legacy Gift Givers were invited to this special event to honor their generosity and to thank them for their ongoing com mitment to our community. The evening began with every one enjoying hors d’oeuvres and wine selections by Porcupine Provisions. Guests meandered through Larry’s beautiful home peppered with art work from around the world or sat poolside to chat and get to know each other. After Phil Berman, Chief Ex ecutive Officer, warmly wel comed all the guests, David Van Glish, President, took a few minutes to speak to all of those in attendance. David spoke of the Distinctive Member Pro gram and its impact. He dis cussed our responsibility to provide for those of us in our community who are less fortu- ate through scholarships for oth membership and camp, as well as to support our Sen ior and Social Action pro gramming. David also reminded us of our commit ment to provide for the next generation through the Levine JCC Legacy Gift initiative. Participation in (Continued on page 15) “I worked with Harvey through my career and life transitions after my husband’s passing. 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The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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June 1, 2013, edition 1
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