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The Charlotte Jewish News -October 2013 - Page 10 Temple Emanuel to Celebrate 100 Years Rauch Selected For Wisdom of Solomon Lifetime Achievement Award By Nadine Fox, Seminars and Soirees In 1891, David Lebowitz, a young man from Lithuania, trav eled through Gaston County sell ing his merchandise to local people. He fell in love with the area, married his beautiful wife, Lena, and bought a store which he named Lebowitz Department Store; now known as Lebo’s. In 1901, they gave birth to the first of six daughters, Tena, who was the first Jewish child bom in Gas tonia. The Jewish community grew and by 1907 there were 29 Jews living in the area. In 1913, David Lebowitz became the pres ident of the Hebrew Congregation of Gastonia, now called Temple Emanuel. One hundred years later, Tem ple Emanuel serves the Jewish communities of Gaston, Cleve land, and Lincoln counties provid ing services, educational programs, and activities. As part of its focus to recognize outstanding citizens for remark able and wise contributions to the greater Gaston area, Temple Emanuel created the Wisdom of Solomon Award in 2009. This year’s award will be presented on November 16 to Senator Marshall Rauch for his lifetime achieve ments. This award has become recognized in a short time as one of the most coveted awards given by a religious institution in North Carolina. Former winners have been a community college president, a mayor, a banker, and a pastor. Each one of these past winners has been an “Out of the Box” thinker whose strategic activities and wise judgment have enhanced their community in new, unusual ways. ' Marshall Arthur Rauch, former CEO and Chairman of the board of Rauch Industries, now Chair man of the Rauch Foundation, has been chosen to receive the first special Lifetime Achievement Wisdom of Solomon Award. Sen ator Rauch is known to all his friends as Marshall and everyone he touches becomes a friend. It is difficult to conceive of anyone who has had a more positive im pact on his adopted community than Marshall. He portrays a Jew ish sensibility that permeates all his actions. He lives Tikkun 01am. The award will be presented at the 100th Anniversary Centennial Gala Dinner Dance being held at Gaston Country Club on Novem ber 16. The lively Alan Kaufman Swing Band will provide enter tainment. Tickets to the gala are $125 each and ads in the com memorative book are also avail able. Contact Alan Nash at alanenash@gmail.com or 617- 510-1334. About Senator Marshall Rauch Marshall hailed from New York, went to Duke University, got sent into battle in WWII where he received a Bronze Star Medal. He married his college Marshall Rauch sweetheart, Jeanne Girard, and they came to join her family in Gaston County to begin their lives. They raised five wonderful children together. A family man, he takes pride in all his grandchil dren and to celebrate his recent 90th birthday, he became a great grandfather for the first time. It did not take long for Mar shall to integrate his skills into the local society. To delineate all of Marshall’s awards, board positions, honors, philanthropy, and selfless giving to individuals in need would take pages. Instead, here are some highlights and numbers of his ex traordinary career. His worldwide company was the inventor and producer of the famous satin spun Christmas ornament. You have probably driven down 1-85 South and seen his name on a portion of the road in Gaston County. He holds two honorary doctorates. from Pfeiffer and Belmont Abbey. He has been Man of the Year for five organizations. He was named NC Senior Master Entrepreneur of the Year. He has been president of Temple Emanuel, Finance Chair, served on the Board of Governors at the Jewish Home for the Aged, and was a member of the National Counsel of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Po litically active from an early age, he served as Mayor Pro-Tern and Councilman of Gastonia and most proudly as a NC State Senator for over 23 years. During that time, he was NC Senate Chairman of Finance, Inter-government Rela tions, and State Government. Somehow, Marshall found time to also serve on the Board of Gover nors of the University of North Carolina. Let the numbers tell the story: between board member ships, political offices, religious, and charitable organizations, he has held or been awarded 92 po sitions, almost every one carrying major responsibilities. This does not begin to address the quiet deeds he has performed that have no name or notoriety, just assisting where there was a need. The full spectrum of his accomplishments will be listed in the Keepsake Commemora tive program for all to see. It should be mentioned that Marshall is quite the raconteur telling interesting stories at the drop of a hat and mostly letting loose his big guffaw of a laugh with an ear to ear grin. He contin ues to play golf, exercise, and lead a full social life. If you had never met him before you would never guess he is in his ninth decade. He has the mettle of a man much younger and a certain suave aplomb about him. Let me close by telling you a personal story that goes back a very long time. While Marshall Rauch was in his busiest years in Raleigh and still Chairman of a huge thriving business, a member of Temple Emanuel passed away and as is the custom here, most all of the congregation’s members had come to the Temple section of our Gastonia cemetery for the graveside memorial and inter ment. When the service was com plete, everyone left for their cars to go home. Except Marshall. I watched from my car as he stood by the side to make sure all the dirt was properly covering the new grave and the burial was done Jewishly. He was the person there who had the least time but this was important to him. He was the gate keeper. I will never forget this moment or the man who is a mensh. Temple Emanuel
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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