The Charlotte Jewish News - August 2014 - Page 3
^ Completing the Journey
I
t
I
Thanks to the past generosity
of thousands of donors aeross
the eontinent, the Federation
movement partieipated in a
modem day Exodus story - the
miraeulous immigration projeet
that brought the majority of the
Jews of Ethiopia to Israel.
Today, the Ethiopian eom-
munity in Israel is 120,000
strong and in one generation
has produeed leaders in govern
ment, defense, journalism, arts
and eulture and every faeet of
Israeli soeiety.
In 2011, the government of
Israel made a historie deeision
to bring the remaining 8,000
Jews in Ethiopia to Israel to re
unite them with their families in
Israel. A new initiative “Com
pleting the Journey” was estab
lished to make this dream a
reality.
A few months ago, Asher
Seyum, who serves on behalf of
the Jewish Ageney and the
Government of Israel as Consul
General to Gondar, Ethiopia,
made a quiek trip to Charlotte.
Asher is in eharge of bringing
the last of the remaining
Ethiopian Jews to Israel and
during his visit, he spoke about
his progress, the reorganization
of the Gondar pre-Aliyah eom-
pound, establishment of a pre-
sehool, and development of a
full range of informal eduea-
tional programs for Ethiopian
Jews of all ages. Under his
leadership, over 6,000 new olim
(immigrants) have arrived in Is
rael.
Beeause ofhis personal jour
ney, Asher Seyum is uniquely
qualified to lead “Completing
the Journey.” In 1984, at the age
of thirteen, he and his family
left their village in the Gondar
region of Ethiopia. Their jour
ney to Israel was fraught with
tragedy, ineluding the imprison
ment of Asher’s brother and
their family’s separation from
him over the next seven years.
In Israel, Asher was a dedieated
young student and quiekly be-
eame the voiee of his eommu-
nity. His serviee in the Israel
Defense Forees and his subse
quent professional aeeomplish-
ments distinguished him as an
exeeptional leader.
In 2005, our eommunity
responded generously to Oper
ation Promise with a eommit-
ment of just over $100,000 for
the resettlement and absorption
of 20,000 Ethiopian Jews. To
eomplete the journey of bring
ing the remaining 8,000
Ethiopians to Israel, and to
Synagogues.
^mGREGATIONS
Havurat Tikvah Reviews the Past, Plans
for the Future
It may be abnormally hot this
summer, but that does not stop us
at Havurat Tikvah from working
diligently to plan the ealendar for
the year 5775.
On June 8, we held our annual
meeting and reeeived reports on
the Havurah’s aetivites from the
past year, ineluding ineluded High
Holiday and other eelebrations,
adult edueation, and soeial aetion.
The treasurer then gave a report
on the Havurah finanees. Moving
on to planning for next
year, we eleeted the ineom-
ing eommittee leaders and
members to eontinue the
aforementioned aetivities.
In addition, there was an
open diseussion of what is
going well, not so well, and
how we would like to see
Havurat Tikvah develop.
The meeting was
well attended and
effeetive, and now
the Havurah is busy IlSl!
taking people’s ideas into eonsid-
eration as we prepare for the up-
eoming year.
Of eourse, foremost on Havurat
Tikvah’s thoughts as the new year
approaehes are the High Holidays,
whieh arrive in late September.
The Havurah has several events
planned for Rosh Hashanah, Kol
Nidre, and Yom Kippur, ineluding
serviees at Avondale Presbyterian
Chureh, luneheons, and gather
ings for refleetion and repentanee.
_ For more detailed
information, please
look for Havurat Tik
vah’s September arti-
ele in the Charlotte
Jewish News.
On September 5,
the Havurah will host
a Kabbalat Shabbat to
weleome everyone
hope
225-5330.^
Jewish Reconstructionist Communities
In Association with the Reconstructionist Rahbinictil College
Stay iu the Loop with Ballautyue Jewish
Ceuter
make their dreams a reality, our
federation has established a
goal of $18,000.
Please take a moment to eon-
sider a donation to bring this
exeiting ehapter in the history
of the Jewish people to its
eonelusion. Pledges to “Com
pleting the Journey” ean be
made online at www.jew-
isheharlotte.org. ^
Here at the Ballantyne Jewish
Center we’ve been working dili
gently all summer on exeiting and
innovative programs for the up-
eoming aeademie year in Ballan
tyne and Sun City. Hebrew
Sehool, High Holidays, Tashlieh
Cruise, Chanukah Wonderland,
Shabbat Dinners to name a few.
Make sure you are in the loop.
Subseribe to our emails and you
will be the first to find out when
things are happening.www.Jew-
ishBallantyne.eom or email
info@JewishBallantyne.eom.
Mommy and Me with a Jewish
Twist in Ballantyne
A morning out for little ones
and their Moms, Dads, or Care
givers. We will sing, danee, play,
make a fun eraft, and enjoy a
snaek, all with a Jewish twist.
Come on out and
join us. Appropri
ate for ages 0-3.
Sibling helpers
are weleome.
Monday, Au
gust 11, 9:30-
10:30 AM at the
I
i
i
i
Luck doesn’t buy & sell homes...
Experience does!
6t/cyuv^...
Av-\m/LanjgmuYv
704-367-7240
baek from the summer. We will
enjoy a eatered dinner and brief
Friday night serviee. For more in
formation, please visit our website
ealendar (http://www.havurattik-
vah. org/e vents/ealendar/).
Havurat Tikvah is an affiliate
of the Jewish Reeonstruetionist
Federation, providing a eomfort-
able, family atmosphere where all
Jews ean feel weleome. If you are
interested, we invite you to visit,
get to know us, and to beeome
part of our eongregation of nearly
60 households.
For more information about
any of our aetivities, eheek out
our website (www.havurattik-
vah.org). You ean also find Havu
rat Tikvah and Havurat Tikvah
Teens on Faeebook. If you have
any questions about membership
or other aspeets of Havurat Tik
vah, give us a eall at 980-
tJGREENSPON
& ASSOCIATES
SPBOAUZmO \N:
INDIVIDUAL; Heahh ■ Ufe ■ Medicare * DiubllHy ■ LTC liuurance
GROUP; Madical • Ufa > Dental ■ Vltion • Ditablllty * 4Clk Plant
CONTACT US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT OBAMACARE & MEDICARE
“Provtd'spg the fowest-prioed plans wltfi outstanding sendc? since 1974/
Keith Green&pon - Licensed Broker/Advisor
(704) 376.7434 • GREENSPON.COM
A Ballantyne
CENTER
Ballantyne Jewish Center,
8632 Bryant Farms Rd. For
more info or to RSVP eontaet
Leah Levin Leah@JewishBal-
lantyne.eom 704 246 8881 or
visit our website www. Jewish-
Ballantyne.eom. ^
JEWISH^
FEDE^RATION5
OF OReATER CHAFtCOTTE
Applications for the 2015
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Impact and Innovation Fund are now available.
The Jewish Federation's Impact and Innovation Fund
distributes grants that are intended to inspire
individuals, organizations, synagogues, and agencies
to provide innovative and impactful engagement
opportunities for the greater Charlotte Jewish community.
For more information or to receive an
application, please contact the
Federation office, 704.944.6757
www.jewishcharlotte.org