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The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2016 - Page 20 Synagogue. One Torah’s Journey ONGREGATIONS Every Torah tells a story. From the praetieed hand of an expert seribe inking eaeh letter to eount- less aliyot and reverent kisses of worshippers, every Torah has a history and a journey The journey of a Torah now gratefully embraeed by Temple Solel in Fort Mill, SC, started in New Castle, PA, at Temple Fladar Israel whieh has been engaged with the Jewish Community Legaey Projeet. JCLP is a re- souree for small eongregations outside of metropolitan areas that have an aging population and dwindling leadership and aets as a liaison between eongregational leadership and a variety of part ners to foeus on short-term sus tainability and long-term planning. New Castle is situated in what was onee a vibrant indus trial part of Western Penn sylvania. Hadar Israel eame into existenee in 1997 as a result of the merger of the eity’s two synagogues, both with long histories dating to the turn of the twentieth een- tury. The Jewish popula tion of New Castle began to deeline in the 1960s along with that of the gen eral population, as ehildren and grandehildren left the Next Generation of Temple Solel children under the chuppah standing in front of ark area in seareh of opportunity. One objeetive of JCLP, whieh does not eharge for its serviees, is to eonsider how to disperse ritual objeets among appropriate reeipi- ents, ineluding Torahs. A founding member of Temple Solel, A1 Rogat, initiated a request for a possible Torah transfer through Merry Lugasy, of the Union for Reform Judasim. David Samat, presi dent of JCLP, reeeived via Lugasy a heartfelt letter written in mid- August from the lead ership of Temple Solel. The letter artieulated - through words and pie- tures — the need for a Torah to take the plaee of one that had been on Shelley Pawlyk, Carole Schwartz Cohen, James Fox, and Al Rogat loan to the young eongregation. President James Fox and Viee President Shelley Pawlyk said in this letter that Temple Solel, founded in 2012, was growing and passionate about the praetiee of Judaism but the eommunity was not yet able to afford their own Torah. Samat brought the request to the attention of Temple Hadar Is rael President Sam Bemstine and things happened very quiekly. “One of our big eoneems,” says Bemstine, “is to make sure the signifieant objeets that have served us for 100 years ean be shared with Jews globally.” Quite eoineidentally, Hadar Is rael members Carole Sehwartz Cohen and her son would be not far from Fort Mill when they drove to the Charlotte, NC area over Labor Day weekend. She agreed to provide speeial transportation and her daughter Cindy, who lived in the area, would make the final delivery. The Torah was wrapped most earefully and a meeting point designated. September 5 dawned bright and sunny. Emo tions ran high among the reeeiving delegation from Temple Solel as they ae- eepted the preeious gift of their new Torah. Several weeks later, other members of Temple Hadar Israel felt the pull of the Torah just be fore they were to travel to Savan nah, GA. More arrangements were made and a graeious luneh shared in Fort Mill. The liveli ness of Temple Solel impressed the Pennsylvani ans and they were espeeially de lighted to see the Torah, whieh had been lovingly eleaned and pre served by Temple Solel eongregants, in its new ark. “We ean all feel espeeially proud for making this generous gift to a well-meaning eongregation,” said Beverly Greenberg in an email to her fellow eongregants. “We will be forever eonneeted to Temple Solel and Fort Mill.” They are all also forever eon neeted to Beit Cenfrum Ki Tov in Warsaw, Poland, as this new Pro gressive eongregation reeeived the donation of a Torah from Hadar Israel last spring. “Thanks to the guidanee of the JCLP, plaeing these Torahs with these eongrega tions is our way of extending the life of Judaism in New Castle and keeping Hadar Israel alive,” says Sam Bemstine. When they heard about the ar rival of the Torah, Seott and Terry Lange of Temple Solel reealled (Continued on page 27) Temple President, James Fox, reading from the new Torah standing next to Russ Cobe, lay leader. m SOAR 366 450 athletes volunteers participated this June. The extraordinary dedication and effort it takes to make the week successful is awe-inspiring... or the past 16 years, the Levine JCC has hosted and provided a free week of camp for Special Olympics. The 16th Annual Camp SOAR was another overwhelming success! For that, we thank all of our Volunteers and Sponsors for your invaluable contributions. You have captured the unique spirit that makes Camp SOAR a wonderful experience for campers and volunteers alike. We are grateful for your commitment and hope you will join us again next year. Mark your calendar for June 12-16,2017. Camp Soar is a week-long, free camp for athletes with special needs. "Everything is POSITIVE, everything is UPLIFTING. It's because of our volunteers and the community and the athletes that we are able to do what we do."- bob bowler, camp director MORE FUN FACTS! 000 ^ bowling PINS ^ knocked down! 3.600 !► BINGO prizes donated and won! -SPONSORS- Special Olympics North Carolina Mecklenburg County ^ Levine JCC Charlotte 1,520 k slices of PIZZA consumed! 350 ► mini-BIRDHOUSES decorated! canteen PARTICIPATING VENDORS & ORGANIZATIONS Bank of America Duke Energy LPL Financial Family Dollar Mecklenburg Swim Association Area High Schools Curious George DJ Service Steve Langley Entertainment Papajohns pi marketing Charlotte Soccer Club
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