The
Charlotte
Jewish
NEWS
Non-Profit ()rf{Hni/4ition
BULK RATK
U.S. I’ostHKi* PAID
C'harloUt', N. ('.
IVrmit No. I2»S
Vol. 2 No. 6
Charlotte, Nortli Carolina
June-July 1980
Academy Appoints New Director
Dr. Stephen Fishman, Presi
dent of the North Carolina
Hebrew Academy at Charlotte,
has announced the appoint
ment of Dr. Raphael H. Panitz
as the new Director of the
Academy. The acquisition of Dr.
Panitz comes at the end of a six
month international search for
a replacement for Rabbi San
ford Tucker, the current Direc
tor. Dr. Panitz will assume his
new responsibilities with the
1980-81 school year.
Dr. Panitz, 30, holds a Ph.D.
in Biblical studies from the Un
iversity of Pennsylvania. He
receiv^ his Bachelors degree
from New York University and
did course work at the Jewish
Theological Seminary.
Dr. Panitz brings to the
academy an extensive
background in Judaica, fluency
in the Hebrew language and a
Dr. Raphael Panitz
profound love for children. His
experience and competency ex
tends to the area of Hebrew, Bi
ble, Jewish History, Midrash
Wildacres Perfect Setting
by Estelle Hoffman
Wildacres opened its 1980
season Ma^ &- with the second
annual Yiddish Institute. All its
members expressed their
gratification with enthusiasm
at the close on Sunday, May 11.
There was a high level of in
tellectual stimulation and social
warmth throughout the session.
Enrollment was filled to capaci
ty with many participants en
joying their attendance for the
second time.
Guest lecturers were
Abraham Shulman, who was
invited to return this season,
having whetted the literary
appetities of our 1979 Institute’s
members, and Ruth Rubin. Mr.
Shulman is an author of books
in Yiddish and English, of
musical plays, and is a lecturer.
His vast experience results from
his residence and travel in dis-
In
The
News
Special Features:
Welcome
Newcomers.p. 6-7
Graduation ... p. 9
Books in Review p. 12
Candlelighting p. 2
Club News p. 10
Community
Calendar p. 12
Dry Bones p. 4
Editorials p. 2
Hebrew Academy — p. 8
JCC Activities p. 11
Random Thoughts ... p. 3
This ’n That p. 5
World Beat p. 3
and Prayer Book.
The addition of Dr. Panitz as
head of the Hebrew Academy
will not only prove beneficial to
the academy but will be a
positive addition to the
Charlotte Jewish community.
Faculty Increased
The Hebrew Academy board
has voted to increase the faculty
of the academy for the year
1980-81 in response to a radical
ly enlarged prospective enroll
ment. In order to fill the new
positions created, the Academy
board and education committee
have been conducting an exten
sive search for new teaching
talent. Two new teachers have
been offered contracts and have
accepted them. In addition, the
Academy has been fortunate
enough to retain the services of
Nancy Goodman who will com
plete her first year this month.
Carol Pollock will be the new
kindergarten teacher. She has a
B.S. in human resources from
West Virginia University,
Morgantown, W.Va. The past
two years she has been working
as a kindergarten and first
grade teacher in Gaston Coun
ty. Before that she was a
specialized homebound/hos-
pital teacher in Marion County.
This year she has also been
teaching kindergarten at
Temple Beth El, Charlotte.
Carol brings an unique perspec
tive and a great deal of valuable
experience to the Academy.
Lani Levine has been added to
the staff as a secular teacher.
She will bring new strength to
the Academy in the fields of
mathematics and physical
sciences. She is a native
Charlottean, has been an active
participant in local youth
groups and recently an advisor
to their groups. She is also
familiar with many of the
children of the Charlotte Jewish
community having worked with
them as a camp counselor. Lani
is currently doing her student
teaching at Irwin Avenue
Elementary School and is a
graduate of UNCC. She will be a
bright, shining new addition to
the Academy staff.
The board has voted to add a
Hebrew language teacher. A
search is currently underway
and several potential can
didates are now being con
sidered.
The board and officers of the
Hebrew Academy are an
ticipating an exciting new
school year with an expanded
staff and the largest enrollment
in the Academy’s history.
tant lands and his background
in Yiddish history and literature
is profouxud»Hi» topics, were “A
New Approach to Sholom
Aleichem,” delivered with keen
insight into the universal accep
tance of this most famous Yid
dish story teller, and “The
World of a Yiddish Lecturer,”
dealing with his own experi
ences, related in his latest hook
bearing that title.
Ruth Rubin is a folksinger,
recording artist, lecturer,
educator and author. She is
recognized internationally as a
leading authority on Jewish
folksong, having deeply
research^ the folklore and
history of Jewish people
throughout the world. A native
of Montreal, she resides in New
York, and delighted her
audience with explanation and
rendition of Yiddish folksong.
Tlie Yiddish Institute was
conceived by Baila Pransky,
who serves as its coordinator,
assisted by Abraham Luski,
whose artistic talent and
profound knowledge of Oddish
literature and language are a
guiding inspiration. The Yid
dish Institute is sponsored by
the Charlotte Jewish Communi
ty Center, whose director Mar>
vin Bienstock is highly sup
portive of the endeavor, par
ticipating in planning and con
ducting a workshop, “An Ex
perience in Jewish Values.”
Assisting in plans and activities
is a committee from Charlotte,
comprised of George and
Sarah Ackerman, Julius and
Mae Goldman, Leo and Es
telle Hoffman, Abraham and
Rose Luski, and Baila and
John Pransky.
The schedule of the Institute
offered workshops in Yiddish
literature, conducted by
Abraham I^ski, Yiddish con
versation and writing by George
Ackerman and Leo Hoffinari. A
bookstore was presided over by
Rose Luaki. This was a treat
for members who live in cities
without Jewish bookstores.
Religious services were con
duct^ in Hebrew and Yiddish, a
Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Cauliflower?
Where could you find all of the above
mentioned vegetables? At the JCC, of
course! On May 4th over 40 campers
and their parents met at the JCC and
planted a garden. John Carr, our super
nandy-man at the ** J’% has been giving
it tender loving care and will continue
to do so until camp starts. Then our
campers will take over and nuture it
until it is time to reap the harvest. It is
our hope that every camper will be able
to take home something they helped
Eow. Special thanks go to Gloria
rner and Bob Abel who really put
their hearts and hands into this pro-
ject. (photo/Gloria Lerner;
printed/Michael Phillips)
rewarding experience for all.
John Pransky conducted FViday
evening services and GSeorge
Ackerman and Leo Hoffinan
presided Saturday morning,
during which a Memorial Ser
vice was held for I.D.
Blumenthal and for Nat Kaplan
who attended the 1979 Yiddish
Institute with his wife FVieda.
Mae and Julius Goldman
were in charge of hospitality at
evening socials and they ob
tained and transported kosher
foods from Charlotte. Mae was
assisted by Lillian Bienstock
in serving refreshments at even
ing sessions and the Oneg Shab-
bat.
'nie unique atmosphere of
Wildacres provides a perfect set
ting for the Yiddish Institute
and was enhanced by the
presence of Herman and
Anita Blumenthal. The
Blumenthal Foundation is vital
to the existence of the Yiddish
Institute, through its co
operation and the facilities of
Wildacres and its excellent
staff. Phillip Blumenthal is resi
dent manager, Bernice Good
man its excellent cateress. Dr.
Boyd Mattison its resident
geologist and naturalist. All
members of the Institute are
grateful to them and their
assistants for the enjoyment of
this exp>erience.
The Yiddish Institute is an an
nual event. Next year more peo
ple will be able to attend because
the new Lodge at Wildacres will
be completed.
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