The Charlotte
JEWISH
Vol. 43, No. 2
Shevat-Adar, 5781
February 2021
Super Sunday: A Federation Tradition
By liana Toch
Each year, volunteers in our
Greater Charlotte Jewish com
munity have a tradition — they
come together on behalf of our
Federation to make phone calls
to raise funds for the many es
sential services and programs
that the Federation supports.
This year, on February 14, our
Super Sunday tradition contin
ues, but will have a little twist.
Rather than coming together,
callers will contact potential do
nors from the comfort of their
own homes, connected virtual
ly by Zoom. The Zoom format
will enable volunteers to share
the excitement of making calls
virtually, together. While volun
teers will be calling from differ
ent locations, they will be calling
with the same heart and passion
for all that Federation supports.
Last year the Federation
raised a record amount on our
“Road to $5 Million” to support
the Jewish community — lo
cally, in Israel, and around the
world. These funds provided
vital assistance to our benefi
ciary agencies. This year, that
record-breaking tradition will
continue.
This year’s Super Sunday
on February 14 is being co
chaired by Rachel and Jona
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than Friedman. Both have been
active in our community for
several years. Rachel serves
as co-president of Charlotte
Jewish Preschool PTO and is
on the board of Jewish Family
Services. A Charlotte native, Ra
chel is the third generation to be
involved in the Charlotte Jewish
community. Rachel’s parents,
Claire and Paul Putterman, have
volunteered in leadership roles
for a variety of Jewish organi
zations for decades, and Rachel
fondly remembers her defining
experiences in Jewish programs
throughout her childhood and
high school years.
Jonathan serves on the board
of the Jewish Federation, as well
as on its Allocations Committee,
and is the first vice president of
the Charlotte Jewish Preschool
board.
After moving back to Char
lotte in 2015, Rachel and Jon
athan graduated from the Bern
stein Leadership Group, where
they were inspired to dive into
the great work happening around
the community and made some
amazing friends in the process.
Below are excerpts of an inter
view in which Rachel and Jon
athan tell us more about them
selves, their role in the Jewish
community and with Super Sun
Super Sunday co-chairs, Rachel and Jonathan Friedman
day, and why they give.
So, why did you want to co
chair Super Sunday, and what
is your role?
The Federation is all about
connecting our community, and
no day creates more connec
tions than Super Sunday when
volunteers make hundreds of
calls to rally support behind in
spiring Jewish causes in Char
lotte and throughout the world.
Even though many think of Su
per Sunday as being just about
fundraising, there is something
special about all of those con
versations taking place in just a
few short hours. In a year when
our shared experiences have
revolved around so much grief
and fear. Super Sunday is a time
for us to remember the amazing
things we can do when we come
together as a community.
Our role as Super Sunday
chairs is to rally a group of mo
tivated volunteers to deliver joy
and enthusiasm as they reach
out across Charlotte to solicit
pledges that will keep our com
munity’s organizations strong for
another year. All of us have our
own stories of the warmth, com
passion, and generosity shown
by our fellow Jewish Charlotte-
ans, and Super Sunday is the per
fect time to remember and share
those memories.
What will this year be dif
ferent?
Super Sunday will be entirely
(Continued on page 3)
JCC Goal Exceeded!
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By Marisa Jackson
On October 16,2020, The Leon Levine Founda
tion challenged our community to raise $ 1,000,000
by generously agreeing to match us dollar for dollar
up to $500,000. They challenged us to work togeth
er to ensure our J remains vibrant and a place for
generations of families to call their “home away
from home.” After seven months of lost revenue
and declining memberships, it was time to take ac
tion. After launching the Challenge Champaign, we
watched as our community stepped up and met the
need at this critical time. Together, as a community,
we not only met that challenge but exceeded it!
Nearly 400 families participated in the Chal
lenge Campaign. Thirty families have deepened
their support to the J by upgrading to a Distinctive
Level or moving up to a higher level of distinc
tive membership. Ninety-four families restored
their membership. And to those who have stayed
members throughout the pandemic, thank you!
This overwhelming support has sustained us and
brought us to this day.
So today, despite the challenges we faced in
2020, we will begin 2021 by celebrating our com
munity coming together to accomplish something
remarkable. By exceeding our goal, we will be
able to continue offering valuable programs like
Oasis, the Butterfly Project, and Rock Steady Box
ing. We can continue to provide scholarship pro
grams like Freedom School and Camp Soar. And
we can continue to meet our mission of enriching
lives and building relationships through quality
Jewish experiences.
We all Imow that the challenges posed by COVID
-19 are not over yet. Feel assured, when planning
for Levine JCC programs, that safety is our high
est priority. We’re here to provide programs and
services for everyone — in a healthy and safe way.
We will continue to offer our programs and services
indoors and outdoors, including Group Ex Classes,
tennis, aquatics, pilates, and massage, while also
providing a way to connect virtually through our
weekly On Demand classes, virtual person training,
and our Charlotte Jewish Film Festival (February
4 — 28). Our summer camp registration is now
open ,and our camp staff is eagerly preparing to
provide our campers with a memorable summer.
To Register:
• Programs & Services: www.charlottejcc.org/
register
• Summer Camp: www.charlottejcc.org/camp
• Charlotte Jewish Film Festival: www.charlotte-
jewishfllm.com