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The Charlotte Jewish News - May 2014 - Page 20 Walking to Sinai By Charlotte Miller, Administrator, Temple Or Olam, Concord We have finished es- eaping from those narrow plaees that hold us fast — to the hurtful, to the disre- speetful, to harmful habits, to unresolved issues, to the fear of the new and the ehoiees it demands. I say “we” beeause this year I was ineluded at the eongregation’s Seder table for the first time as more than a guest. I am now a “eonvergenee” seeker, a student of all things Jew ish that ean transform me from questioning Christian to praetie- ing Jew. I am finally honoring the Jewishness at my eore. I am different from my South ern family members, most of whom marehed nieely through their lives being the same soeial and eultural Christians as the eommunity they inhabited. I was (am) stubborn, questioning, and passively disobedient from a young age. Even as an obstinate person, I managed to make the same soeial deeisions — go to eollege, get married, have ehil- dren, forego a eareer. It has been a good life, though the glimmer of what I really was has long been bubbling to the surfaee. A ehanee meeting at Beth El’s eomparative religion series brought me to Rabbi Barbara Thiede and Temple Or Olam in Coneord. It’s a small eommunity. Small enough to know everyone Charlotte Miller well. Small enough to ae- eept me as a vital part of the eongregation. Small enough to study with Rabbi Thiede. I wanted to begin that study. Last year she asked me what happened after I asked myself “when?” I answered, “why not now?” It was time to learn. There is no way around the eventually obvi ously faet that to be Jewish, a per son must praetiee the rituals that remind us of the eovenant. I have begun at the base with learning Hebrew and regular Torah study, attending serviees, and enjoying holidays and festivals. I look for ward to lighting the eandles on Friday night with wine, a good dinner, and peaee at the end of the week. There are ehoiees I must make as my husband beeomes ae- elimated to a dual-religion house hold. But the path has been ehosen. Where is this willingness to take another path eoming from? As someone with a long-time in terest in and eomfort with Ju daism, might I be a gilgull Now I am realizing that other people saw what I was not able to admit. Many of the friends who are happy for me said they are not surprised. If my nature has been that obvious to the outside, maybe with my publie deelaration I have given myself permission to ex press what has lain obseured so long. CCLEBRAJE INDEPEJIDENCE! t # Charlotte 3 Jewish Preschool CELEBRATING 25 YEARS currently enrolling At CJP, we are dedicated to instilling within each child an excitement towards learning and a joyful attitude toward Judaism. ^ News from Temple Kol Tikvah at the Lake What about other reaetions? Mostly “if it’s something you want, then go for it!” from friends. Children wanted to be eertain this was a well-eonsidered deeision. I had a wonderfully- long eonversation with a friend whose family is aneestrally-Jew ish but now agnostie. That was thoughtful opportunity to eon- verse about what we both believe. I look forward to the next year or so and how this proeess will unfold. I’m sure the euphoria of the first eneounters will diminish as we all settle into what it means in the real world to apply prae- tiees and observanees. We shall see what transpires. Whatever it beeomes, it will be interesting and I am looking forward to the ad ventures along my path. ^ Sinee its dedieation eeremony on April 14, 2013, Temple Kol Tikvah has beeome an integral part of the Lake Norman eommu nity. This dynamie Reform Jewish eongregation has foeused its ef forts and programming on the members and the needs of the neighboring areas. Under the spir itual direetion of Rabbi Miehael Shields, Lynn Calnek, Direetor of Lifelong Learning, and many ded- ieated eommittees, the results have been both rewarding and meaningful. Rabbi Shields serves as an ad- junet ehaplain for Davidson Col lege, and together. Temple Kol Tikvah partners with the sehool on many projeets. T.K.T. also pro vides food for both Ada Jenkins and Loaves and Fishes through a food eolleetion program. The eon gregation eontinues to support the Levine and Diekson Hospiee House in Huntersville as well. On Mareh 23, T.K.T. held its first 5K/Fun Run event, with the help of the Davidson Youth Base ball Assoeiation. Despite a dismal weather foreeast, over 150 eager runners and walkers partieipated. People of all ages enjoyed the eompetition. Part of the proeeeds from the event will be shared with the D.Y.B.A. to help their reere- ational program. Temple Kol Tikvah hosted a Community Passover Seder on April 15 at Northstone Country Club, for members and non-mem bers. There is exeitement building for T.K.T.’s first Mitzvah Day (doing good deeds), whieh is planned for May 18. A blood drive and various aetivities will be or ganized to provide eommunity serviee. Be sure to also mark your ealendars for a Giant Tag Sale fundraiser, whieh the Temple will be holding on June 1 (rain date of June 8). If you are interested in the possibility of winning up to $10,000, then you won’t want to miss the Reverse Raffle and Silent Auetion dinner on September 13. We look forward to eontinue shining light on our eommunity and beyond. Please join us for weekly Shabbat serviees, and visit us at www.templekoltikvah.org to learn more about us and gain ad ditional information about upeom- ing events. ^ • Age 1 - PreK • FuU Day & Half Day • Located at Shalom Park 2014-15 School Year! ^ i Schedule Your Personal Tour Today! cjpkids.org • 704-944-6777 CJP is a partnership of Temple Beth El, Temple Israel and the Levine JCC
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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