Page 4-THE NEWS-June/July 1994
Temple Beth El
Celebrates 50th in Grand Style
By Susan Kramer
On April 22-24, Temple Beth
El of Charlotte, North Carolina
marked its first fifty years with
a three-day celebration that
included something for every
member of the congregation.
The theme for the celebration
was “L’Dor Va’ Dor—From
Generation to Generation.”
There were quiet moments of
worship, a glittering evening
affair and a program presented
by the children of the Religious
School that incorporated song,
dance and a recreation of a play
written by renowned author and
founding member of Temple
Beth El, Harry Golden.
Friday night’s Shabbat wor
ship service presented a scene the
eight founding families of the
temple could scarcely have im
agined fifty years ago: 300
worshippers gathered in a mag
nificent sanctuary to remember
and praise their vision. One by
one, as Rabbi James Bennett
read their names, many of the
founders and charter members,
past presidents of the Temple,
the Sisterhood and Brother
hood, made their way to the
front of the sanctuary. Then, as
Dr. John Blizzard sang. Sonny
Melasky, one of the founders lit
a candle and passed the flame
on to Judith Neiman, another
founding member, who in turn,
passed her light on to her neigh
bor. Soon, seventy five candles
glowed in the darkened sanctu
ary and the congregation rose
and recited the Shehecyianu.
Rabbi Julie Spitzer, Director
of the Mid-Atlantic Region of
the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations, brought greet
ings and Mazel Tov from the
national movement and Com
missioner Lloyd Scher read a
proclamation from the Mecklen
burg County Commission de
claring April 22 “Temple Beth
El Day” in Mecklenburg Coun
ty.
Saturday was no less exciting
I
beginning with morning services
at which Andrea Eckert became
a Bat Mitzvah. As her family
passed the Torah from genera
tion to generation, the theme of
the weekend “L’Dor VaDor”
was quietly underscored.
Later that evening, the Silver
man Social Hall was trans
formed into a wonderland of
black, white and gold as two
hundred guests gathered for the
black-tie fundraiser dinner. It
was an elegant affair, marked by
soft candlelight and the wafting
scent of orange blossoms from
the magnificent floral arrange
ments that graced each table. An
unfortunate accident cancelled
the appearance of entertainer
Dennis Wolfberg. Even that did
not dampen the evening as Brad
Temple Beth El
Greenberg quickly arranged for
two other comedians to “pinch
hit.” Mickey Gold, President of
Temple Beth El, noted “You
have to think that this is just one
more example of how our Tem
ple has been able to overcome
adversity through the years.”
However, no adversity was in
sight. On Sunday, the Religious
School presented its program to
honor the Fiftieth Anniversary.
After a moving talk by Mike
Tanner, one of “Schindler’s
Jews” commemorated in the
movie of the same name, the
seventh grade class performed a
play. Written originally by Har
ry Golden for his seventh grade
Sunday school class 40 years
ago, the play traced the origins,
founding and perseverance of
the State of Israel. The kinder
Photo/Rita Mond
garten through third grade, led
by Nancy Segal, performed a
Hebrew dance. Rabbi Bennett
led the fourth through sixth
grades in a set of rousing songs
that ended with the Shehecyia
nu.
Family and friends gathered
on theTemple’s grounds under a
pictureperfect Carolina blue sky
for a picnic. Steward Scher
provided toe-tapping music as
children ran and played among
the crab-apple trees.
It was a wonderful transition
for the congregation; from a
Friday night that looked back
in praise, to a Sunday morning
that looked forward and rejo
iced. It was, simply. Temple Beth
El, preserver of the past and
hope of the future.
Hunt Signs Cooperative Agreement with Israel
North Carolina Governor
James B. Hunt, Jr. signed an
historic memorandum of under
standing with the state of Israel
on April 28. The agreement, co
signed by Counsul General of
Israel Arye Meikel, paves the
way for economic, cultural and
educational exchanges between
the two governments.
Last October, Hunt estab
lished the North Carolina Inter
national Commission with Israel
as its first target country. The
memorandum is a tool to help
the commission foster economic
development, facilitate universi
ty and industrial alliances and
promote the exchange of arts,
culture and education. The
International Commission has
been called a model for other
states by chambers of commerce
and U.S. and Israeli officials.
“This project will enable
North Carolina’s citizens to
learn about Israel...about their
arts, social sciences, science,
technology, agriculture and
economic trade. We trust Israel’s
citizens will also learn a great
deal from their contact with us,”
Governor Hunt said at the
signing.
“As economies globalize and
advanced technologies emerge,
new strategies are needed for
North Carolina to stay compet
itive.” said William L. Cassell of
Greensboro, co-chair of the
International Commission. “The
commission will work directly
with the Israeli government and
business officials, actively pro
viding the services necessary to
give our companies the greatest
access to Israeli markets.” In the
past three years. North Carol
ina’s annual exports to Israel
have averaged nearly $65 mil
lion. The goal is to nurture that
growing market and to increase
employment and economic op
portunities in both regions.
• Three task forces have been
established as part of the Inter
national Commission and are
already at work, matching North
Carolina companies with their
Israeli counterparts. The goal of
the primary task force is to
increase employment and eco
nomic opportunity for North
Carolina. Another task force
will set up university-industrial
alliances. The third task force
will work to create exchange
programs in the arts and edu
cation. Charlotte members of
the task forces are: Jeanne
Corwin, Steven Kropp, Richard
Osborne and Emily Zimmern-
Economic; Harold Josephson-
University/ Indutrial Alliances;
Amy Blumenthal, Natalie Co
hen, Patty Gorelick, Daniel
Levine, Marcia Simon and Jean-
nie Rauch of Gastonia-Arts/
Education.
Charlotteans present at Governor’s mansion for signing of NC/Israeli
agreement, (L-R) Marcia Simon, Emily Zimmern, Counsul General Arye
Meikel, Gov. Hunt, Harold Josephson, Jeanne Corwin, Kathy Hargett.
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