5007 Providence Road
Chariotte. NC 28226
Change Service Requested
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Charlotte, NC
Permit No. 1208
The Charlotte
A Long, Cold Winter
for Russian Jews
The collapse of the Russian
economy has left members of
Jewish families in desperate situa
tions. Before the fall of the ruble,
older Russian Jews lived on mea
ger, fixed pensions. Their pensions
now are worth only one-half their
former value, and people are
going hungry. With the onset of
winter, some people will have to
make the difficult choice of heat
ing their apartments or food.
It is estimated by the Joint
Distribution Committee (JDC), an
international Jewish relief agency,
that 150,000 elderly Russian Jews
are affected by this economic tur
moil and they are increasing their
efforts to assist.
Jewish communities around the
world are being asked to step up
their efforts to support Russian
Jews through increased financial
assistance. These extra dollars will
enable JDC to purchase food to be
Special Jewish athletes
will come to Charlotte
By Michelle Straz
Charlotte will play host to some
special young athletes on
December 9th at 7:30 PM in the
JCC gym. Honorary chairpersons
for this event are Eric and Lori
Sklut and the Friends of Israel
Sports Center for the Disabled.
Permanent chairpersons include
Abraham and Rose Luski. The
Israel Sports Center for the
Disabled serving over 2,500
youths is one of the three largest
sports centers for the disabled in
the world. With its 24 sports
branches, the Center specializes in
the physical and psychological
rehabilitation of Israeli children
and youth. On December 9 a trib
ute reception and wheelchair exhi
bition featuring children with dis
abilities from Israel will introduce
our community to these young
individuals. To help you appreci
ate their accomplishments, we
provide you with the following
background information about the
participants in the jM’ogram.
Ilan Lusky was bom with a
muscular disease which affected
both his legs. When he first
arrived at the Center at age four.
his mobility was limited to crawl
ing. With intensive work, his
physical condition improved. He
trained hard four times a week and
concentrated on swimming, field
events, table-tennis, and tennis.
He took first place several times in
the Rosenzweig Family
Championship for the Disabled
Children in Israel. When he was
twelve, he won the World
Championship for Disabled
Children in Miami. Now, in his
final year in high school, Ilan was
recently elected to the Center’s
Board of Directors as the repre^
sentative of our young athletes.
Gil Mizrachi, aged 12, is handi
capped by cerebral palsy which
injured all four limbs, his speech,
and his sight. Gil arrived at the
Center at age 3 in a complete state
of physical and psychological
helplessness. He started exercis
ing in the swimming pool, and
only after a few years began to
play table tennis and participate in
light athletics. Encouraged by his
slow but stable progress, he has
also now started wheelchair racing
and judo. Gil is a good pupil.
Shimon Skhayak, aged 14, is
handicapped by cerebral palsy.
Inside this issue...
Wise Implications?
Dr. Ken Siebt
The Jewish TVmvelcr
Plsit Boston with Maxine SUvmtein
Chanuiuih gift guide.
Stories and gift ideas for the happiest holiday
JEWISH
Vol. 20 No. 11
Kislev-Tevet 5759
December 1998
delivered to homebound persons
and to purchase clothing and other
essentials. Locally, the Jewish
Federation supports JDC through
its overseas allocation. “Hunger
relief in the former Soviet Union
is on our minds," stated Bill
Gorelick, Federation President,
“and we will do everything we can
to relieve the pain of hunger.” O
Chanukah 5759 in Charlotte
These events are sponsored by groups in our
community to celebrate Chanulcah.
Dec. 8 - ORT Pot-luck Chanukah Dinner at the home of Bellita Jacobson
Dec. 10 - Hadassha Chanukah Party at the home of Lynda White
Dec. 12 - Youth Groups Chanukah Dance; 7:30 PM, Temple Israel
Dec. 13 - “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Mezuzahs...” and
mezuzah gift making. Temple Beth El Sisterhood, 10:30 AM, Social Hall
Dec. 13 - Paul Zim Concert, 1:00 PM, Temple Beth El Social Hall; sponsored
by JCC, Temple Beth El, Temple Israel, CAJE, Jewish Family Services, Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte, Jewish Women’s International and B’nai B’rith
Men, Chavurat Tlkvah, Hadassah, ORT, The Jewish Day School and the Jewish
Preschool on Sardis, and the Charlotte Jewish Preschool.
Dec, 13 - Lubavitch 18th Anniversary Black Tie Gala, Uptown Hilton.
Dec. 15 - Jewish Day School Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Song Program,
Carolina Place Mall, 2:00 PM
Dec. 18 - Temple Beth El Chanukah Children’s Service at 5:45 PM, Chanukah
Dinner and the Nig^t of 100 Menorot, 6:30 PM, regular Shabbat services at 8:00
PM.
Dec. 20 - Lubavitch Menorah Lighting ceremony ^ Dean & Deluca’s, Phillips
Place, 5:00 PM
which injured all four limbs and
his speech. Shimon started at the
Center at age 4, in the swimming
pool. He also participates in field
achievement in 1998 was taking
part in his wheelchair, in the Tel
Aviv Marathon. Shimon is also a
good student.
Seated left to right: Shimon Skhayak (14), Gal Mizrachi (12),
Ilm Lusky (19). Standing: Coach Reuven Heller
events, tennis and recently wheel
chair racing. The intensive sports
programs at the Center have con
siderably improved his i^ysical
and psychological states. His great
Reuven Heller, the team Coach,
worked with wounded soldiers at
a rehabilitation center during his
Israeli army service. He later
became Head Coach at the Israel
I Also inside...
Federation News
... page
4
Jewish Family Services
.. . page
7
1 Temple Beth El
.. . page
8
Temple Israel
... page
9
Lubavitch of North Carolina .. .
.. page
10
1 Women’s Page
.. ..page
12
CAJE
• • P«ge
13
The Jewish Traveler
. page
14
1 Spciznwu) Jcwi>h Lihiary . .. . .
. . pi«e
19
I>jning Ou! . .
22-24
Jewish CorriiMriRifv Ct-nter .. .
.. page
28-29
Sport Center for the Disabled, and
coached the Israel National
Wheelchair Basketball team,
which won numerous Olympic
medals, and world European
championships. At the 1980
Paralympic Games, Reuven was
chosen at the best international
wheelchair basketball coach. He is
a member of the International
Wheelchair Sports Coordinating
Committee, and is a member of
the International Wheelchair
Sports Executive Committee.
Moshe Rashkes is the Director
of the Israel Sports Center for the
Disabled and former Chairman of
the Israel Disabled War Veterans’
Association. Mr. Rashkes was
wounded in the 1948 battle for
Jerusalem and received the
Citation of Valor. He is also an
author, scriptwriter, and dramatist.
Sports activities are an integral
part of the rehabilitative process
of the disabled, prolonging their
life expectancy and motivating
them to turn from a state of help
lessness toward constnictive and
meaningful lives. Israel Sports
Center for the Disabled serves as
an international pioneer in the
field of sports for ttie disabled. For
the past ten years disabled athletes
from Israel have taken part in the
Miami Orange Bowl World
Championships for Disabled
Children and Youth. Following
their arrival in Charlotte, these
three Israeli athletes will continue
on to Miami to compete in the
Miami World Championships.
Sufvport these young athletes, their
accomplishments, and the Sports
Centa* by coming out to liie JCC
on December 9! O