5007 Providence Road Charlotte. NC 28226 Address Correction Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Charlotte, NC Permit No. 1208 The Charlotte JEWISH Vol. 18 No. 9 Tishri-Heshvan 5757 October 1996 UChaim Charlotte! By Cary Bernstein At long last, Charlotte final ly has its own Jewish festival! L’Chaim Charlotte *96—A Celebration of Je^vish Heritage, Culture & Faith is planned for October 13 from noon-5 p.m. as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Jewish Community Center and Shalom Park, Presented by the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, the inaugural festival will be staged in the lower parking lot in front of the JCC’s main entrance. It will fea ture Jewish food and music, Israeli folk dancing, exhibits, tours of Shalom Park facilities and more. “This is an ideal opportunity for Jews and non-Jews alike to come together and learn more about the richness of Jewish cul ture and heritage, and see what has been accomplished at Shalom Park,” said Adam Bernstein, JCRC chair. “The excitement has snowballed since the festival idea first surfaced last Spring. To be honest, we’ve been amazed at how much interest and support has been generated in such a short period." L’Chaim Charlotte will fea ture booths and exhibits from some twenty organizations. Pro fessional and amateur entertain- ment acts will perform on stage throughout the afternoon, includ ing klezmer bands, Israeli folk dancing, children’s choirs, Jewish folk music, and more. Food vendors will serve a variety of Jewish fare, including falafel, bagels, kugels, knishes, and a variety of baked goods such as mandelbrot, rugelach, hamen- tashen and challah (to name a few). More than 100 volunteers have signed on to help so far. L’Chaim Charlotte was the brainchild of JCRC member Jerry Klein, local radio talk show personality and long-time Charlotte resident. It follows sev eral earlier attempts by the com munity over the years, most recently in 1989, to establish a local Jewish festival similar to the Greek community’s annual Yiassou festival. L’Chaim will help kick off the community wide festivities for the JCC’s tenth anniversary, which will culminate on October 19 with the JCC’s Annual Gala, which this year celebrates the 10th Anniversary at Shalom Park. It will feature a perfor mance by The Capitol Steps, the nationally famous political satirist troupe. (For more infor mation, contact Roni Fishkin at 366-5007, ext. 234.) “Both events compliment each other by giving everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the festivities,” Bernstein said. L’Chaim will be promoted with announcements on WBT- AM, the media sponsor. There will also be announcements at both Temples, distribution of informational fliers to 3,400 Jewish households and more than 700 students (and their families) of area Jewish religious schools, and outreach to local churches. The Bank of Mecklenburg is the lead corporate underwriter for the festival. Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Temple Beth El, Temple Israel, the Federation and the JCC have also provided financial support. For more information, con tact Cary Bernstein, Federation Development Director and pro ject coordinator at 366-5007, ext. 209. Tel Aviv University to " Get Synagogue Tel Aviv University will be home to a new synagogue and cultural center, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta and donated by Mr. Norbert Cymbalista, a member of the University’s Board of Governors. The building will be named for Cymbalista and is aimed at bridging the gap between religious and secular life in Israeli society. “The Rabin assassination, like noth ing else in Israeli history, has shown the dangers of secular and religious polarization and of lack of communication in this society. I hope this center will help begin a process which is a necessary part of Israel’s identity and even its existence,” said Mr. Cymbalista. The synagogue’s architect, Mario Botta, is internationally recognized as one of the best in his field. His latest projects include the San Francisco Museum of Modem Art, the Evry Cathedral in France, and the Art Gallery in Tc^yo. “Building is a fundamen tally productive activity, it pn- supposes a faith in man, in one’s work, in the need to express oneself and to bear witness to one’s own time in positive terms,” Botta has said. This is the first time Botta has designed a synagogue, and will be his first time working in Israel. The construction is due to be completed in 2 years. BIAS Tapes Promote Citizenship An audio tape and a video tape have been produced by HIAS to promote citizenship and prepare green card holders for the naturalization inter view. The tapes, which are thirty minutes long and in English, provide practice inter views arid enhance the listen er’s speaking and listening skills. There is a workbook provided in Russian which accompanies the audio tape, so listeners can follow along. The audio tapes takes the listener through a series of questions with appropriate pauses to allow time for prac tice response. PerscMial hist(»y as well as facts on U.S. histoiy and government are asked. The cost for the audiotape and worklxx^ is $5.00. To order tapes, send your check or money order to: HIAS Naturalization, 333 Seventh Avenue, New Yoric, NY 10001. JCC Gala Th« Capttd Slaps On October 19,19% at 7:30 p.m., the finishing touches will be in place as The Atrium at Two First Union Center is trans formed into a star-studded stage filled with patriotic color and sumptuous foods to celebrate the Jewish Community Center’s ICXh Year at Shalom Park. The featured entertainment for this festive event will be the nationally known musical and political satirist group. The Capitol Steps. The Steps are a troupe of former Congressional staffers who travel the country satirizing the very people and places that once employed them. Thanks to the trials and tribulations, scandals and screw-ups of our elected and aspiring offi cials during this political year, the Steps are sure to bring the house down with laughter. Florence Jaffa, event co-chairperson, says, “We are very excited about our per formers and that Moira (^inn of WBT- TV will be emceeing the evening’s tribute to our past presidents.” Also adding to the night’s excitement will be a silent auction with oppwtunities to bid on fabulous mer chandise , such as fine art from Skillbeck, Wentworth, First Light and International Galleries, exciting vacations from Mann Travels, Corporate Travel and Old World Travel, a Backsaver recliner from the Relax The Back Store, jewelry from David’s Ltd. arxl Brownlee Jewelers, JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER or CHARLOTTE Hornets and Panthers tickets, weekend get aways at The Westin, Morehead Inn and at Wild Dunes, and many other wonder ful treasures from Charlotte’s finest retail establishments. Although the cenual focus of the Gala will be celebrating ten years at Shalom Park and paying tribute to the ten past presidents of the Jewish Community Center—Sol Shapiro, Mark Bernstein, Ben Jaffa, Bob Abel, Harold Josephson, Miles Levine, Larry Gerber, Mike Van Glish, Hal Levinson and Gene Daumit— the occasion will also serve as a platform for raising funds to support the Center’s social service, education and scholarship programs for children, families, adults and the elderly. The 19% Jewish Community Center Gala is a perfect way to lighten up the political year with humcN* of The Capitol Steps, honor the (Center’s past presidents, contribute to the continual creation of YOUR Jewish Community Onter and ...to have a great time with all your friends! It’s not too late! Reserved seating tickets at all levels are still available. Call Roni Fishkin, Gala Coofdinator, at 366- 5007, today!

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