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The Charlotte Jewish News - October 2020 - Page 4 Levine JCC (Continued from page 1) who remained incurred salary cuts and benefit eliminations. Entire departments were elimi nated in order to sustain the J, and the losses continue to this day, despite every effort to pivot and provide new programs and services to our community. We are grateful to those who have continued their member ships, paid monthly program and service fees, sustained or upgraded to Distinctive Mem bership, or made donations. Many of our members contrib uted to the Jewish Charlotte Emergency Response Fund, created by Jewish Federation of Charlotte. This fund raised close to $500,000, $100,000 of which was distributed to LJCC to provide critical programs, services, and to support LJCC staff during these past few months. While the board and staff are working tirelessly to ensure that the LJCC’s doors are open when we are on the other side of this pandemic, the truth is that this will be difficult if the cur rent trend of membership loss continues. These have been challenging times for us all. Board president Raizel Kahn reminds those who have frozen or canceled their memberships that, “Your com munity needs you now. Your monthly membership dues are the difference between a thriv ing JCC and one that doesn’t survive COVID-19. The pro gramming happening at the J right now is phenomenal and safe. Come back and check it out. The day’s most fulfilling moments for many of us, phys ically and mentally, are hap pening every day on campus - whether it be sweating through a workout or helping out Oasis — being part of this communi ty (even if virtually) is power ful and meaningful, especially right now. We miss you and need you.” ♦ ■- e V I n e JCC Charlotte Note: Safely re-opening requires some temporary changes. Many pro grams require reservations, which can be made online, and some have temporarily changed location. A health screening and waiver are required before entering the building. For a more comprehen sive list of changes to be aware of, visit our website at https.V/www. charlottejcc.org/ We look forward to seeing you! Something to Crow About Richard Klein By Nadine Fox The truth of the matter is that Richard Klein’s charming ly illustrated, newly published children’s book, “Something to Crow About,” has a lot to say to adults too. In simple rhymes, tar geting three to eight-year-olds, are disguised real-life questions: Was this the life for which I was meant? From where do I come? Is physical appearance desti ny? What’s truly important? The author introduces us to Moe the Crow, a tiny, black baby bird who can only look down on the exciting ebb and flow of life from ground level beneath his tree perch. Sensing his distraught demeanor. Mama Crow quickly intervenes with an intriguing tale of his ancestry and evolution into a creature of promise and pride. Though not his intention at the time he wrote the book, it turned out to be a perfect metaphor for the Black Lives Matter Movement. The youngsters will be en chanted with illustrator Ariel Cobum’s colorful, diverse draw ings. They are stylized in a man ner that is original. Moe and his ancestors certainly jump off the page. Something to Crow About is an inaugural edition of what will be a series of three stories, introducing a frog with Jewish holiday woes and another con cerning a locomotive caper. The author, a husband, fa ther of four and grandfather of eight, has published before. His first book, “Putting the Fun into Fundraising,” was inspired by his years of involvement with Jewish and civic causes. He has served as president of the Jew ish Federation of Greater Char lotte, president of Beth Shalom Congregation, a board member at Temple Israel, vice president of Temple Beth El (currently his family attends Congregation Ohr HaTorah), Hadassah asso ciate member, vice president of Fundraising of the Oratorio Singers and has served profes sionally as the associate network director and Southeast Network Regional Director for the Jewish Federations for 21 years. One of Klein’s proudest ac complishments while with Fed eration involved John Belk of Belk Department Stores. Rich ard, past Master of Excelsi or Lodge # 261 A.F. & A.M., member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Oasis Temple of the Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters, knew Belk personally as a fellow active brother of the Masonic organization. One day, while chatting, Richard suggested Mr. Belk travel to Israel with him on a personal tour and mission, and Mr. Belk agreed. After much planning, the two went on an extensive vis it to Israel. Upon visiting the well-known, but very poor, vil lage of Dimona and touring a mn-down, decrepit community center, John’s heart was touched and he made a personal gift of $500,000 to finance the total re build and refurbishment of the center. Prior to that, Richard was President of Walter J. Klein Company, Ltd., associated with the family-owned production company for 30 years. He wrote 65 scripts, all produced for television and group audienc es. While there, he belonged to the famed Friar’s Club of New York, working with major per sonalities of the era, including Morey Amsterdam, Richard Jansen, Avery Schreiber (all of whom were Jewish), and Joan Fontaine (who was not). Local ly, the talent included names like Ty Boyd, Gladys Lavitan, and Clyde McLean. He tells the story of his teen years in which his father rou tinely volunteered him to show screenings of their films to friends and groups, including Charlotte’s famed Jewish per sonality, Harry Golden. Klein grew up in the film business and traveled domestically and over seas with his father. One memo rable trip was to film “The Safari Rally,” where he had to drive all night from Nairobi to Tanzania and back, driving for the first time on the left with Impalas intermittently jumping into the road. All for about five minutes of filming! He filmed that race three times, in Kenya, Tanza nia, and Uganda. Another of the company’s memorable achieve ments was producing a film for Public Service called “The Big Yellow Bus.” It was picked up nationwide for its clear, effective visual of school bus safety. Richard’s ancestors first ar rived in America right after the civil war. His grandfather, Ar thur Goodman, Sr., arrived in Charlotte with his wife, in the 1920s, as a department store buyer. He left and after a short career in the Five and Dime business with Ben Jaflfe, Sr., he attended Duke Law and began a law practice in Charlotte. Both Arthur Sr. and Richard’s un cle, Arthur Goodman, Jr., came to serve in the North Carolina Legislature as Representatives. Richard’s mother, Elizabeth, married a WW 11 soldier, Walter Klein, stationed here in Char lotte. This family has a long and deep history with Charlotte, four generations having been born at the former Presbyterian Hospi tal. They are embedded in the Jewish history of our communi ty. Richard is currently fracing the military history of his fam ily. He and his father served in the U.S. Army. He is very proud that his son, son-in-law, and grandson have all served in the IDF. Richard jokingly told me he wrote the book based on how many times he has had to eat “crow,” but I think not. He defi nitely has “Something to Crow About.” The book is now available online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 1, 2020, edition 1
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