5007 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28226 Change Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Charlotte, NC Permit rSo. 1208 The Charlotte JEWISH Happy New Yearfrom the Jewish Federation of Greater Chariotte: Mann Cddberg, executive director, Cary Bernstein, Amalia Wirshenbrot, Maria Uebermn and Amy Wem Vol. 21 No. 8 Elul-Tishrei 5759/60 September 1999 New Community Day School Opens Doors Federation Support Makes It All Possible By Amy Krakovitz On August 25, when the stu dents arrived for the first day at the Jewish Day School, every thing appeared to be pretty much the same to them. They may not have noticed or cared that the school’s name has changed to The Charlotte Jewish Day School; they certainly had no idea that there is new governance for the school; and by no means did they realize that their school is being support ed with a conunitment from the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. But changes, though subtle, are possible at the school. And on the level of governance, changes have already occurred. “These developments are a longtime coming,” says Nancy Kipnis, president of the new board of directors of The Charlotte Jewish Day School. “We’ve been working on this since March of 1997 when the community demo graphic study wa>? conducted,” According to Sara Schreibman, who headed the Federation task force that created the community- wide study, there was an entirely separate study conducted that focused on Jewish education and Jewish day schools. “Parents of preschoolers, day^ school students, and those with cliildren up to the age of eleven were selected for a special questionnaire in addition to the regular survey,” Schreibman states. “We confirmed some of our hypotheses about the community and education: that we were grow ing in enormous leaps and bounds and that most parents would sup port a Jewish community day school if the existing Lubavitch school were the roundation of the new school.” What resulted is a school, gov erned by a new board of directors that fully represents the Jewish Mariashi Groner, director of the Charlotte Jewish Day School community of Charlotte. Lubavitch of North Carolina will continue to operate the Preschool on Sardis, but will not operate the new school. Of the 24 members of the Board of Directors, representatives come from both synagogues, the Chabad Lubavitch, and there is even one unaffiliated person. “There are 12 men and 12 women on the board,” Kipnis says. “I am really proud of this.” The board has hired Mariashi Groner to serve as director of the school. “For now the curriculum is the same as it has been in the past,” Groner says. “Our secular classes will remain academically accelerated. Our school has always been top caliber.” Her assessment is demonstrated by the fact that the students of Jewish Day School have always per formed in the 94th percentile or better on standardized tests. “And remember,” Groner continues, “we don’t have any admissions tests. We accept any Jewish stu dent to this school. Our high test scores come from children of varying abilities.” These tacts are a testimony to the excellence of the school’s teachers and academ ic program. The students will continue to learn Hebrew everyday. The Hebrew program at the Day School is intensive. Students read Torah in Hebrew; they learn to write Hebrew in cursive; they study Rashi; and they are learning Ulpan-style (the way new immi grants are taught in Israel) conver sational Hebrew from an Israeli teacher. “In Torah study, we teach basic Hebrew vocabulary and grammar,” Groner explains. “But our Israeli teacher will have these children talking like sabras.” That’s not to say that changes in curriculum may not happen. They may, but the board of directors is waiting to have the current cur riculum documented. Sandra Epstein, an educational consultant who has been involved with the project from the beginning, is working on documenting the cur riculum, at which time the board {Continued on pa^e 15) The Committed Life Inspirational Spiritual Leader Rebbetzin Jungreis Weaves Timeless Torah Wisdom and Contemporary Parables into a Dynamic Guide to Well-Being On Monday, November 15, 1999 at 7:30 PM at Gorelick Hall at the JCC, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis will share her stories and lessons for living, as one of the featured guests of Charlotte’s first Jewish Community Cultural Arts Festival. “We are so pleased to bring Rebbetzin Jungreis to Charlotte,” remarked Jodi Valenstein, JCC Chair for the Jewish Community Cultural Arts Festival. “She has spoken in over 1000 cities around the world. She is so highly regard ed and her latest book is so rele vant to so many people within the Charlotte community.” Rebbetzin Jungreis - her title is an honorific for a Rabbi’s wife - is the author of The Committed Life: Principles for Good Living from Our Timeless Past. The popular book is a guide to Torah values and a manual for their application to our daily lives. According to Rebbetzin Jungreis, “The Committed Life” may be what the public needs in today’s fast and oftentimes con fusing world. The book encour ages inuospection and will make readers look inside and ask, “Where am I? Who am I? Where is my life going?’ She teaches with Torah and stories. Her stories are about people she has met through the years - stories that touch the heart and impart a mes- Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis sage. “These are issues that con cern everyone. It’s about inviting God into your life." Praise for the book has come from all corners. John Gray, author of Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, says, “In an age where most of us have for gotten what’s tmly important The Committed Life instills a renewed passion to reconnect to the values that really matter. This book affected me deeply and I highly recommend it to people of all faiths.” “This is one of the most touching and inspiring boolcs I’ve ever read,” according to Dr. Laura Schlesinger, prominent talk-radlio host. Rebbetzin Estl^« Jungreis is a living example of the Torah’s teachings that are the backbone of her book. Born into a Rabbinical dynasty with roots in the King David era, and then deported in early childhood to the Bergen- Belsen concentration camp in Germany where most of her extended family was killed, Jungreis refused to give herself over to despair or bitterness. Instead, buoyed by her heritage and unflagging faith, she has made it her life’s work to share with oth ers her belief in hope, goodness, and the humanistic teachings of the Torah. In The Committed Life Jungreis helps others find emotional fulfill ment in a heartfelt collection of modern anecdotes and ancient parables that address such issues as divorce, addiction, child-rear ing and making the most of our time. The Committed Life is a mosaic of courage, humility, integrity, and wisdom born of the terrible tfagedies and infinite joys of her own remarkable life. “It was a commitment to reach out that impelled me to write this book,” she says, “and if just one person overcomes his fears, ban ishes anger and jealousy from his heart; if just one person learns to appreciate the preciousness of time and become a wiser parent, a more devoted child, it will have been worthwhile.” f Continued on page 16) JCC’s Israel Connection Program Opens with Segev’s “Barak to the Future” Ilan Segev, Consul of Israel in Atlanta, will be speaking in Charlotte on September 14, 7:30 PM at the JCC. “Barak to the Future” is the first of a series of programs, the Israel Connection, designed to establish a link between our community and Israel. Segev will be sharing his thoughts on Israel’s new leader Ehud Barak; where he will take the county as we head into the Twenty First Century. This pro gram is free and open to the com munity. Consul Segev was born in Israel in 1970. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Far East Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Following his service as an Officer in the Israel Defense Forces and his education, Segev joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Cadet until 1996. His first mission was as the Deputy Head of Mission in the Trade Representative Office in Doha, Qatar. Since July of 1988, Consul Segev has been stationed at the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta as the State of Israel’s second highest ranking diplomat to the southeastern United States. The Israel Connection is being introduced in response to individ uals who have participated in the Federation’s Bernstein Leadership Han Segev. consul of Israel to the Southeast US. Program and/or the JCC’s Board and Leadership Education Seminars and want to maintain or establish a connection to Israel. “Our Jewish identity, who we are in Charlotte, is connected to our knowledge and ties to Israel. Learning some Hebrew, tasting Israeli foods, keeping up with the government in Israel are just a few things that will define who we are,” says Anne Sinsheimer. Every month, there will be an opportuni ty to connect. Charlotteans, can experience “Jerusalem from the Air,” in the Speizman Galleries at the JCC during the month of September. This photographic exhibit presents {Continued on page 16) t Mmt Ar fflK) ttMt fiiilidilf Sectk»i... IK-M3 mi wishes for Also inside ... Temple Beth El .. .page 18 Youth Visions .. .page 20 Women’s Events . page 21 CAm • page 22 Lubavitch of North Carolina .. •• page 23 Teniple Israel .. page 24 Jewish Family Services . .. • pages 25 Jewisli Community Cenicf pages 26-27 Dining (>11! page pages 28-30 Sj^eiznian Jcwisti Lihiajv page Md/c1 pages X))c' JcvvinIi ^4 Campaign Reaches $21 Million Mark! See Page 5

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