Page 2-THE NEWS-December, 1984
THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH HEWS
PubHshed monthly by:
Charlotte Jewish Federation
Foundation of Charlotte Jewish Community
Marvin BienstKk, Director
Jewish Community Center Charlotte Hebrew Academy
Martin Schneer, Director Eleaitor Weinglass, Director
Editor. Rita Mond
Advertising. Blanche Yams, mgr.
Barbara Zelickson
Staff. Doris Edelstein, Monroe Katz,
L. Edward Sizemore, Ethel Burstein
Copy deadline the 10th of each month
P.O. Box 220188, Charlotte, N.C. 28222
Tk» ajipMraac* o# tm Tbm JV«w* domm mot eommtitmtm m kmmhemtk
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From the Desk of Marty Schneer
—JCC Executive Director
Editorial
Kindle The ^^Llghts of Freedom
On December 18, Jews all over the world will be lighting
the first candle in celebration of Chanukah. We remember
the Macabees, who fought bravely and won their fight,
however brief the victory. We rejoice in the knowledge of
a reborn Israel, living not without problems, but surviving.
We, in the United States, live as free Jews: Free to wor
ship and actively participate in a free society. Many Jews,
however, live in countries where they can not exercise their
rights as free citizens and are denied their rights to wor
ship as Jews. We have helped some to emigrate to the U.S.
and Israel, but there are more who stiU heed our help. We
should also remember that even though Israel is a land
of freedom, they, too, need our help; our continued finan
cial assistance is vital.
Though we are currently “at peace" here, many coun
tries are not. Anti-Semitism is still rampant throughout
the world. Our enemies would like to rule and impose their
will on all humanity. We play a game of survival; we strive
for a peaceful solution of the problems for all men and na
tions. We will not and can not permit such groups as the
Arab terrorists, the KKK and the neo-Nazis to continue
their activities. Our Jewish people have survived and will
continue to survive.
There have been several recent events of significance
which, we as Jews, should be aware. Fortunately, the Anti-
Defamation League of B’nai B’rith is taking necessary
measures. These events are:
1. The Carolina Knights of KKK changed its name to
Confederate Knights of KKK with the intention of
expanding recruitment and operations. They have
recorded telephone messages, which have increased
in recent months.
2. Phillip Lebus, a notorious anti-Semite from St.
Petersburg, Fla., was in Raleigh recently distributing
his hate literature. He was there to “show support
for Gleiui Miller's Carolina Knights.”
3. Ben Klassen, founder of the “Church of the Creator”
in Mulberry, was the only hate monger in the state
who agreed to participate in a project, announced by
the National Socialist Party in San Francisco, of put
ting swastikas on synagogues and other Jewish in
stitutions. Appropriate officials were alerted.
4. On election night an Asheville TV station announc
ed several times that there were zero Jewish votes
for President Reagan. This misinformation was cor
rected £dong with a release that states: “Jews do not
constitute a monolithic voting block.”
5. Lyndon La Rouche has lost his libel suit against ADL.
A federal court jury said that ADL did not defame
him by describing him as an “anti-Semite” and a
“small-time Hitler.”
6. A recruiter for “Young Life” appeared during lunch
time at South Mecklenburg High. Read “On the
Issues" for full details.
As we kindle the “lights of freedom” let us also pray
that 1985 will bring us a year of prosperity, good health,
happiness and peace.
Candlelighting
Dec. 7
Dec. 14
Dec. 18
Dec. 19
Dec. 20
Dec. 21
Dec. 22
Dec. 23
Dec. 24
Dec. 25
Dec. 28
4:53 p.m.
4:54 p.m.
4:55 p.m.
4:55 p.m.
4:56 p.m.
4:57 p.m.
4:58 p.m.
4:58 p.m.
4:59 p.m.
4:59 p.m.
5:01 p.m.
(1st candle Chanukah)
(2nd candle Chanukah)
(3rd candle Chanukah)
(Shabbat & 4th candle Chanukah)
(5th candle Chanukah)
(6th candle Chanukah)
(7th candle Chanukah)
(8th candle Chanukah)
What a great thrill to final
ly feel that the Armstrong
House is really a temporary
Jewish Community Center.
Even though we have had
many meetings and small
events at the House, it still
seems after over a month like
the offices of a construction
company. Sunday, November
4, changed all of that
for us as we held our first of
ficial Open House and Family
Jewish Book Month program.
We could all smell the hot
apple cider and feel the
warmth of the fireplace as we
entered the ‘Center’ to look
over the wide selection of
Jewish books. Before long,
both children and adults curl
ed up on the carpeted floors to
listen in wide-eyed fascination
to the storytellers and mimes
who made the various Jewish
folk tales and stories come
alive.
We are all a little more ex
cited about our new home, and
we plan to offer many other
programs at the Center that
take advantage of our cozy
surroundings. Thanks go to
Sandra Gunn, Terri Cathcart,
Lynne Sheffer, Sandra Wilson,
Louise Bernstein and the
storytellers for helping to
make the day such a success.
* * *
Another very encouraging
event took place last month
that demonstrates the Cen
ter’s ability to raise funds and
provide members of the com
munity with quality social ex
periences. Our Silent Auction
Dinner/Dance, held at the
Marriott Hotel, was highly
successful in raising over
$8,000. Approximately 150
people of all ages and persua
sions in tihe Jewish conmiunity
attended the affair. The com-
mon refrain heard following
the event was “we need to
have events like this more
often.”
Of course, when we are at
the new Center it will be a lot
easier to hold similar
functions.
However, we will continue
to seek alternative ar
rangements. For example the
“J” is planning a New Year’s
Eve event at one of the local
hotels. Specific information on
this event will be available
shortly.
* * *
The JCC Board has discuss*
ed a variety of measures to
show our appreciation to the
many members who have sup
port^ us during this transi
tion period. A series of free
membership events will be
scheduled for the months
ahead, culminating in a major
event this spring. Other
membership bonuses are being
contemplated and will be an
nounced in the near future.
We are hopeful that swim
arrangements for next sum
mer can be finalized prior to
the first of the year. There is
an outside chance that our
new pools will be available for
use if the required bath house
facilities meet Health Depart
ment standards at the time of
opening. We are doing every
thing possible to provide
satisfactory arrangements for
the membership. Again, we
appreciate your continued
support.
Love and Caring For Your Fellow Man
By Faith Abrams Sizemore
This story first appeared in
the Colorado Springs, Col
orado Gazette Telegraph in
1979 for their special
“Yuletide Memories. ” It car
ries a very special message for
all people.
The younger readers will not
remember this, of course, but
those of my generation will
remember Christmas of 1942,
one year after Pearl Harbor
and America’s entry into
World War II.
We were living in the
southwest part of Miami,
Florida, at the time. My father
had bought a very large house
in what was then the “sticks.”
I was ten, and my 17-year-old
brother was then too young
for military service, though he
later served under Patton and
suffered frostbitten feet dur
ing the Battle of the Bulge.
Miami had always been an
important center of transpor
tation and cominiinip.flt.inna, so
it was quite natural that there
was a significant military
presence there during the
early ’40s. Troops were in
training there, not just ours,
but also British troops, or
“Limeys,” as we called them.
Shortly before Christmas of
’42, the I^ami Herald announc
ed that British sailors, who
were undergoing training at
Miami Beach, would have to
remain there during the
Christmas season, since it was
not possible for them to return
to England for the holiday.
These men had neither family
nor friends in this country.
The writer of the article ask^
the people of Miami to open
their homes to these gallant
sailors (remember that
England had joined the
hostilities before we did) and
to invite one or two of them to
join with them for Christmas
dinner.
My father, who had been
working for quite some time as
a USO canteen volunteer,
responded to the article.
Rather than the one or two
suggested by the Herald's
writer, he invited seven. Why
that particular number, I can
not say — but seven it was.
The meal was a traditional
holiday meal: turkey, whipped
potatoes, cranberry sauce,
pies, rolls, etc. The British
sailors seemed to really enjoy
that meal, and they showed
genuine appreciation for what
my parents had done. My
older sister arranged to write
to the men after they left
Miami Beach. Unfortunately,
we never heard from any of
them, so we had no way of
knowing which of them made
it safely back to England.
I suppose that "our” seven
British sailors found the
Christmas of ’42 to be doubly
unique. For all of them, it was
their first Christmas away
from home (they were aU quite
young). Secondly, they found
that the expected Christmas
tree, presents, caroling and
Saint Nick had been replaced
by a sense of family love, shar
ing and joy. You see, my
father, may he rest in peace,
was an Orthodox Jew and did
not celebrate Christmas — but
he could celebrate love and
caring for his fellow man —
and this our Talmud not only
allows, but demands of us.