5007 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
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Permit No. 1208
The Charlotte
JEWISH
Vol. 21 No. 10
Cheshvan-Kislev 5760
November 1999
Jewish Community Cultural Arts Festival Features Something for
Everybody (Even You!)
Who would have dreamt that a
community the size of Charlotte,
NC would have the chutzpah to
pull off a huge one-month-plus
total Jewish community cultural
arts festival? Well, we did! And
it’s here! With over 50 events
(most are free, some require tick
ets) ranging from nationally-
acclaimed authors, award-winning
films, lectures by respected pro
fessors and clergy, a former mem
ber of the anti-Semitic and racist
group “The Order” to speak on
“Hate Has No Place,” five sought-
after gallery exhibits, the first
Charlotte Jewish Food Festival,
interactive workshops, a Family
Fun Day and so much more.
“It is an opportunity to learn, to
taste, to discover, to identify and
to explore Jewish culture and her
itage,” according to Jodi
Valenstein, JCCAF Chairperson.
Alan Feldman, JCC Executive
Director added, “Our goal is to
make Jewish learning readily
accessible and exceedingly excit
ing during the month of the
Festival. The programs span the
broad landscape of Jewish
thought, culture and history and
offer diverse points of entry to
exploring the ‘Jewish experience.’
All events are open to the public
and we hope people from through
out the Charlotte community will
join us. Everyone is welcome!”
Participating sponsors of the
Festival are: B’nai Brith Youth
Organization (BBYO), Charlotte
Jewish Day School, Charlotte
Jewish Preschool, Consolidated
High School, Charlotte Chapter of
Hadassah, Jewish Federation of
Greater Charlotte, Jewish
Community Center, Jewish
Preschool on Sardis, Lubavitch of
North Carolina, Temple Beth El,
Doug Cotier will be appearing in
concert at Temple Israel on
Saturday night December 4 at
6:15 PM.
Temple Israel, Women’s American
ORT and the Yiddish Institute.
“The response from our com
munity organizations exemplifies
the commitment we all feel
towards building a strong and
vibrant community for our chil
dren,” says Rabbi Murray Ezring
of Temple Israel. “Being Jewish
means having arts, literature and
culture flowing through your
body,” says Rabbi James Bennett
of Temple Beth El. “The idea that
we as a community can and will
invite each other and our non-
Jewish friends and neighbors is a
wonderful step forward for all of
us here in Charlotte. ... We look
forward to this marvelous series of
programs growing each year... this
is just the beginning.”
Book and Author Events
A sampling of the Festival’s
book and author highlights during
the month include:
• Edward Cohen, (7:30 PM,
11/21, JCC) whose recently
released novel The Peddler’s
Grandson - Growing Up Jewish in
Mississippi was acclaimed by
USA Today as “a memoir of
remarkable universality.”
• Marcus Rosenbaum, (7:30 PM,
11/17, JCC), author of The Heart
of a Wife - Diary of a Southern
Jewish Wonuin, who discovered
his grandmother’s diary covering
almost 40 years of her life (1909-
1946) while cleaning out the attic
of his parents’ home.
• Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis,
(7:00 PM. 11/15, JCC). author of
The Committed Life - Principles
i \1 (
“/ Never Saw Another Butterfly..., ’’ an
art exhibit featuring the works of the
children of the Terezin concentration
camp, will be at the JCC from
November 1-14.
for Good Living from Out
Timeless Past and an international
lecturer who draws huge crowds
from diverse Jewish and non-
Jewish backgrounds, speaks about
reconnecting with the teachings of
the past in order to live a better life
today.
• Dr. David Ariel, (8:00 PM,
11/19, Temple Beth El) author of
Spiritual Judaism, who writes and
speaks about restoring the heart
Continued on page 17
Israel is IN Epcot
By Lloyd Scher
Israel is definitely in Epcot at
Walt Disney World in Orlando,
Florida. Israeli art, pictures, food,
clothes, flags, sodas and people
make up the New Millennium
Village Showcase. The new
Millennium Village is truly a
showcase in itself located between
Canada and the United Kingdom.
Israeli Ambassador H. E.
Zalman Shoval cut the ribbon to
the 705 square meter facility on
Wednesday, September 28, 1999.
Executives from Disney and
Jewish leaders from all
across the world were on
hand to visit New
Millennium Village.
Ambassador Shoval
praised the Disney officials
for not caving in to threats
by Arab leaders who filed
complaints about the nam
ing of Jerusalem as the cap
ital of Israel. Shoval went
on to say, “It is important
that Jerusalem be open for
all religions because it is the
cradle of civilization.” In his
speech held before a crowd
at the American Pavilion in
the Epcot World Showcase
he spoke of peace and the
hope that Disney would
build a facility in Israel.
A crowd ^ 1,000 people was on
hand for the opening festivities
and was treated to an evening of
Israeli food, singing and dancing.
We began the evening with
Epcot closing early to set up for
the dignitaries. We were all given
special Israeli and American Flag
pins and boarded onto buses
which carried us to the American
Pavilion. At the Pavilion we were
treated to food and drinks from
Israel and waited for the arrival of
the Ambassador. Many of the
Continued on page 35
A world of smiling faces. Cultural represen
tatives from around the world gather at
Millenium Wlage in the heart of Epcot.
The New
Millenniiini
ViUage
Since we were unable to see
the entire village the night
before, I was able — thanks to
the people of Disney — to have
the opportunity to be present at
the opening event for tiie media.
The theme of the village is “A
world without borders.” Fifty
nations never seen at the Epcot
World Showcase are located in
the New Millennium Village.
When I walked through the vil
lage it made me realize how
important the Israeli exhibit
really is in the Epcot World
Showcase.
I entered the Nlilienniuni
Village into a presentation from
residents of various countries
telling what gifts they bring to
the world’s village — hope, his
tory, culture, the love of art, and
peace are the messages from
most.
Once through the gates, I
entered a “World of No
Borders.” The 65,0(X) square
foot pavilion has the sights and
sounds of an experience of
global destinations. George
Kalogridis, vice-president of
Epcot says, “Hie Millennium
Village is designed as a way to
exp^iem^B an amy of
world cultures and entertkfninent
witfiout being hindered by bor
ders or limits.” He went on to
say that, “each exfaibU tells a
story, maybe even unlocks a
mysWy «r two.”
In Scotland, you can putt your
way around the world of golf;
Brazil offers a glimpse of the
Rain Forest; the Easter Islands
are called the Moai of Peace.
One can go from Chile to Saudi
Ar^ia, which offers a magical
carpet ride through the kingdom
of its tradition and history.
Lebanon, Peru, Thailand. Greei.'e,
Egypt, Korea and Veiiezuela cre
ate crafts and hand made items
right before your eyes.
There is a food court that will
idtowv one to taste the food of
coiUinents. North America,
America. MiddJe East,
'04 the Far East are all
tKanting.
k Hrak tiffough the village
i iipDt an IsfMfi army officer who
had just cffigafSiiied t^r tour of
duty before to work for
the next nine moniis in the vil
lage. 1 talked with an Saudi
Arabian student who made one
of the most memorable com
ments, “Hm it is a time to learn
and work together. We have no
borders. It is our goal and that of
Disney that we leam from each
other.”
After seeing the village as a
whole, I now realize how impor
tant it was that Israel is a part of
the Disney New Millennium
Village.
That leaves one last question
— where is the soda of Israel?
That my friend is located in the
new Coca Cola Cool Zone which
comes complete with snow mak
ing in Florida. One can sample
soda from Brazil, Israel,
Germany and other countries.
By the way you can even pur
chase a hat, a sweatshirt, or a
tee shirt with Coca Cola in
Hebrew. «
Inside tfus issue...
Israel is IN Epcot
By County Commissiontr Uoyd Scher
Jewish Cultural Arts Festiral
Rtad AU About the Exciting Mortth-Ijmg Event
Specud PuU Out Calendar...
Special Chanukah Holiday Section
p. 1
pi
pp. 19-22
pp. 26-33
Also inside.. .
Federation Pages
. pages
4-5
Temple Israel
page
6
Jewish Family Services
page
8
CAJE
page
10
Spcizman Jewish Librar>
page
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Lubavitch of North C./olina
page
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Temple Beth i;i
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Mazcl Tov
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CoraMcUnt
Campaign Surpasses
$23 Million Mark!
See Page 15
MAKE YOUR
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