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CHARLOTTE, NC
The Charlotte
JEWISH
Vol. 23, No. 6
Sivan-Tammuz-Av 5761
June-July 2001
SUPER SUNDAY
IS A RINGING
SUCCESS!
Turn to page 5 to read
the whole story!
In the Be2inning...There was Camp
Mindy!
Grand Opening Celebration June 3; Limited Spaces Still
Available in this State-of-the-Art Summer Camp
The first step in the evolution of
the “new” Shalom Park is about to
become a reality. On June 3rd the
community will come together to
celebrate the Grand Opening of
the Mindy Ellen Levine Day
Camp (10:00 AM-12 noon at
the camp grounds).
The new multi-unit facili
ty makes an impressive sight
from its perch across the
soccer field from the JCC
building. But even more
impressive is the view from
close up, when each of the
buildings is investigated and
its purpose and function
revealed.
By far the most imposing
structure on the Camp
Mindy campus is the cov
ered sports complex. While
standing inside the massive bas
ketball court, one can almost hear
the happy laughter of children as
their sneakers squeal and the bas
ketball thumps on the concrete.
But that’s not the only sound your
imagination detects; due to an
ingenious new product,
“Border Patrol,” this outdoor
arena can be transformed into a
completely enclosed roller
hockey rink. Volleyball can
also be set up here, as well as
other sports.
The top level of the sports
complex is where all campers
will start their day. There are
more than 350 cubbies so that
each camper can have his or
her own personal storage
space. In addition to campers’
cubbies, the counselors will
have lockers for their personal
belongings. The upper level of the
sports complex also houses locker
rooms where campers will get
ready for swimming. This is the
first time that campers will not be
sharing rest rooms and locker
space with the regular JCC pool
patrons.
Four Special Activity Centers
“The activity centers will make
coordinating camp activities a
pleasure for both staff and kids,”
says Anna Gunsher, back for her
The sports complex is the central building on the
Camp Mindy campus.
fifth year as Director of the K-5
unit. “We have four state-of-the-
art buildings, each comprised of
two separate activity areas, that
allow for a variety of engaging
programs.”
Four Activity Centers such as this one will
house the campers for specific programs.
The Nature Center will be a
place where the kids can partici
pate in gardening, rocketry, study
ing bugs, learning from telescopes
and more. Nick LaFave, better
known to our experienced
campers as Nature Nick, will be
returning for his 3rd summer at the
JCC and is looking forward to tak
ing advantage of the programmat
ic opportunities the new Nature
Activity Center will offer.
The Arts and Crafts Activity
Center is where campers will cre
ate age-appropriate camp
crafts. Highlights of the pro
gram include painting,
mixed medium, three-
dimensional art, wearable
art, watercolors, painting on
silk, collage, as well as tradi
tional camp crafts.
The third activity center
is specifically designed as a
“teaching kitchen.” “It’s
amazing how much kids
enjoy cooking their own cre
ations,” says Gunsher,
“whether they decide to eat
them or not!” Gunsher
added, “Connee Lisnek is
returning for another summer as
our cooking instructor. This year,
she’ll actually have the facilities
to allow our kids to really interact
with her program. I’m sure this
will be a favorite area for many of
our campers.”
State of the Art Computer and
Photography Center
“We've put significant
thought and resource into cre
ating a Technology Activity
Center that will be ideal for our
camp,” says professional pho
tographer Andrea Mellen.
Andrea will be conducting a
digital photography program
for all seven weeks of Camp
Mindy. Kids will learn about
how 35 mm cameras function,
work with digital cameras,
learn picture composition,
become skilled at documenting
life around them, display their
work, dabble in underwater pho
tography, assemble an exhibit and
maybe even a take a field trip to
the Light Factory.
The same activity center will
house the Computer Activity
(Continued on page 15)
The Jewish Federation of Greater
Charlotte Women’s Division Shalom Y’all
Newcomers Committee Hosts
Newcomer Family
Pool Party
Sunday, June 24
11:30 AM
at the home of Liz & Brad Winer
5411 Mirabell Road
For more information, please call Mamie Moskowitz
in the Federation office at 704-944-6764.
Of GbEATER Qiarlotte
Welcome Rabbi Yosef
Edelstein, B’nai Shalom’s
First Rabbi
Congregation B’nai Shalom,
a modem orthodox congregation
in Charlotte since mid-1999,
along with the Charlotte Torah
Center, a Jewish learning initia
tive, is pleased and honored to
announce that it has hired its
first rabbi: Rabbi Yosef
Edelstein, presently of
Savannah, Georgia.
Rabbi Yosef Edelstein was
bom in New Jersey, and raised in
West Hartford, CT. He attended
private school, and later graduated
from Harvard College cum laude,
majoring in English Language and
Literature. After teaching high
school English for three years in
New Orleans and New York City,
he embarked on a period of inten
sive Talmudic study for several
years in Israel and New York. His
Ivy and Rabbi Yosef Edelstein
rabbinical ordination is from the
Alexander Heiden Torah Center
(Machon Shlomo) in Jemsalem.
Since returning to America, he
began teaching Hebrew studies at
the elementary and high school
levels. After moving to Savannah,
he founded the Savannah Torah
Education Project (STEP), an
(Continued on page 23)
Inside this issue .. .
What a Difference Nine Months Makes
By Ken Stein
Visits to Israel
Two Charlotteans Give Their Impressions of Eretz Yisrael
Tisha B’Av
Basic Laws, Feeling the Loss, and more
Federation Pages
pages
4-7
Speizman Jewish Library
page
9
Temple Beth El
page
10
Charlotte Jewish Preschool ....
page
II
Temple Israel
page
12
CAJE
page
13
Charlotte Jewish Day School . .
page
14
Women’s Events
page
15
Jewish Family Services
page
16
Jewish Traveler
page
18
....pp. 28-31
Lubavitch of North Carolina . . .
page
19
Jewish Community Center ....
... .pages
20-21
Mazel Tov
page
24-25
Dining Out page
pages
26-27
Connecting Families
Sustaining Tradition
Campaign Surpasses
$25 Million Mark!
See Page 17
MAKE YOUR
PLEDGE TODAY!