An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Charlotte
Vol. 40, No. 4
Nisan-lyar 5778
April 2018
Join Federation, and Be
the Start of Something
Powerfui!
Through our Annual Cam
paign, the Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte joins with 153
Federations aeross North Ameriea
to answer the needs of the Jewish
world.
When a ehild needs a Jewish
edueation, a subsidy to partieipate
in a Jewish experienee like Jewish
summer eamp or a BBYO leader
ship eonferenee, Federation is
there. When a family loses its in-
eome or an entire eommunity is
devastated by a disaster, Federa
tion is there. It’s a pledge we live
by.
Whether nurturing and sustain
ing Jewish identity for future gen
erations or supporting our
brothers and sisters in Israel, Fed
eration is where our eommunity
eomes together as one; where we,
as a eommunity, develop innova
tive responses to eritieal issues;
where anyone who needs help ean
get it; where an energized Jewish
eommunity grows and eelebrates;
and where everyone ean make a
differenee.
The Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte has been sup
porting, sustaining and revitaliz
ing Jewish life for more than 75
years. Today our work is far from
finished - and we need your sup
port to meet our 2018 Campaign
Goal of $4,000,000 ... mueh
needed dollars to help us meet the
needs of our entire Jewish eom
munity.
Your eontribution enables us to
use your gift wherever it’s needed
most. 70% of our Annual Cam
paign is alloeated to nearly 50
loeal ageneies and programs in
Charlotte; while 30% of the eam-
paign is alloeated to our partner
ageneies in Israel, and in 70 eoun-
tries around the world.
Help us answer the needs of the
Jewish world by making your
pledge to Federation today.
We pledge to answer the needs
but we ean only do that with your
help. If you have already pledged
to the 2018 Annual Campaign, we
thank you. If not, please eonsider
a meaningful pledge today. For a
eomplete list of our 2018 alloea-
tions, or to donate online, please
visit www.jewisheharlotte.org. All
pledges are payable and due De-
eember 31.
So join us, and be the start of
something powerful. We ean’t do
it without you. ^
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CAMPAIGN 2018: AT A GLANCE
Goal: $4,000,000
—I
950 Donors
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45%
Complete
it
as of 3-16-18
Si
Raised
$L8
12,084
Jewish Federation
OF GREATER CHARLOTTE
THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
WWW.JEWISHCHARLOTTE.ORG
AIPAC Policy Conference 2018: The
View from Participants
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Robert Stephen Ford, former ambassador
to Syria, with Charlotte delegation head,
Sam Zimmern. Photo by Alyson Traw
Alyson Grossman Traw: On
Mareh 4-6, an energized pro-Is-
rael group headed out from Char
lotte to join 18,000 of our elosest
friends for the AIPAC Poliey Con-
ferenee. AIPAC (Ameriean Israel
Publie Affairs Committee), the
largest pro-Israel bi-partisan lob
bying group in the United States,
works to strengthen and advoeate
for the United States - Israel rela
tionship in ways that benefit both
eountries. Poliey Conferenee
brings together people of all polit-
ieal stripes and from all walks of
life.
This year, we had the privilege
of hearing pro-Israel messages
from sitting and former members
of Congress from both parties,
eurrent and former ambassadors
(ineluding Ambassador to the
U.N., Nikki Haley), Viee Presi
dent Mike Penee, members of the
Knesset from Israel, along with
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne
tanyahu. We attended breakout
sessions on important topies sueh
as BDS, Syria, and the threat that
Iran poses to Israel and the United
States. We also had the opportu
nity to learn about many of the
amazing teehnologieal, humani
tarian, and medieal innovations in
Israel and how Israel eon-
tributes around the world. This
ineluded meeting Winston, a
guide dog trained at the Israeli
Guide Dog Center - the only
nationally aeeredited guide
dog eenter in the Middle East.
As a lover of olive oil, I partie-
ularly enjoyed meeting with
the senior seientists from Vol-
eani - a division of the Israeli
Ministry of Agrieulture - to
learn about olive oil produe-
tion and how they are working
to make hummus even health
ier. AIPAC National Couneil
member Cindy Montanez, the
youngest woman ever eleeted
to the CA legislature, shared
the important eontribution Is
rael made to Mexieo after the
7.1 earthquake hit on September
19. This story is not unique, as
there are eountless other instanees
pending legislation with Rep. Pit-
tenger. Rep. Adams, Rep.
MeHenry, Rep. Foxx, and Sena
tors Tillis and Burr. Our represen
tatives and senators engaged in
thoughtful dialogue and seemed
genuinely eommitted to maintain
ing the strong bond Israel has with
the United States.
For those of us who love Israel
and support the speeial bond Is
rael has with the United States,
Poliey Conferenee is a truly amaz
ing experienee. As a small town
Jew who grew up in Kingstree,
SC, I am moved beyond words
eaeh time I attend. I met people
of every generation and from all
parts of the world. I feel privi
leged to be part of this diverse, bi
partisan AIPAC eommunity, and I
eannot wait until my ehildren are
old enough to join me in this
unique experienee.
Conference attendance was 18,000 strong. Photo by Shelley Pawlyk
of Israeli aid workers quietly help
ing around the world (ineluding in
their own baekyard in Syria) and
engaging in tikkun olam. Poliey
Conferenee always eoneludes
with a day of lobbying our Con
gressional delegation on Capitol
Hill. Our group, led by Sam Zim-
mem, had the opportunity to have
meaningful eonversations about
Ginny Rosenberg: The 2018
AIPAC Poliey Conferenee,
“Choose to Lead,” featured the
positive aspeets of the U.S.- Is
raeli relationship and highlights of
AIPAC’s eurrent lobbying efforts
on behalf of Israel.
The eonferenee also featured
the best of Israeli teehnology,
(Continued on page 24)