12 dec 2016 web

An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte

Vol. 38, No. 11

Kislev­Tevet 5777

December 2016

There Are a Few Tickets Still Available to Hear Hollywood Mensch, Joshua Malina, Speak at the 2017 Main Event Only a few days remain until The Main Event, the Federation’s highest profile event of the season … the event that kicks off our community’s 2017 Annual Cam­ paign. On Thursday, December 8, be sure to be at Temple Israel at 7:30 PM to hear Joshua Malina talk about “How to Remain a Mensch in Hollywood.”

“Scandal” and “West Wing” cast member Joshua Malina is a performer second and a Jew first.

That’s how the actor describes himself when he visits Jewish Federation and Hillel audiences around the country.

Malina, who plays United States Attorney General David Rosen on the Shonda Rhimes­cre­ ated ABC series “Scandal,” has had some tough choices to make during his career when his Jewish

Actor and mensch Joshua Malina.

identity collided with his film and television aspirations. There was the audition when he was directed to eat pizza during Passover. He didn’t and lost the part. And the time he was asked to report to work on a film set the second day

of Rosh Hashanah. He asked if his schedule could be rearranged. It was.

To meet Joshua Malina and hear his remarks, be sure to pur­ chase your tickets, which are $36 per person and include the Lecture and a Dessert Reception.

Or help underwrite the costs of the event and “Be An Honorable Mensch” by purchasing two tick­ ets for $180. Honorable Men­ schen will also receive an autographed photo, a copy of the book Be A Mensch by Moshe Kaplan, plus acknowledgement in The Main Event program, on the Federation website, and in The Charlotte Jewish News.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.jewishcharlotte.org; by phone at 704­944­6757; or in per­ son at the Federation office. Last

minute? A few tickets remain and can be purchased at the door.

The entire community will benefit from a successful Main Event and Annual Campaign. The theme of the 2017 Campaign is “It’s Always Something. That’s Why There’s Federation.” At The Main Event, you will have the op­ portunity to make your annual pledge to the 2017 Campaign.

Through your support of Federa­ tion, you can be virtually any­ where on the globe making a vital difference in Jewish lives at home, in Israel and in over 70 countries around the world. By supporting Federation, you can touch more Jewish lives than through any other organization on the planet.

Wherever there is a Jewish com­ munity, Federation is at work.

And so are you. Please visit our

website www.jewishcharlotte.org to learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte.

The mission of the Jewish Fed­ eration of Greater Charlotte is to raise and distribute funds to sup­ port and enrich the lives of Jews locally, nationally, in Israel and worldwide. Through education, planning and community build­ ing, the Federation’s mission en­ sures that Jewish values, goals, traditions and connections are pre­ served for current and future gen­ erations. Y

The Countdown Is On ­ LJCC Capital Campaign Ends December 31 close to achieving our $5.95 mil­ lion dollar goal, we are not quite there and, as we move into the final month of the campaign, there is still time for the entire commu­ nity to participate.

Your pledges are already hard at work. For example, we recently completed renovations of our Family Locker rooms and, as you read this, the new pool is being constructed. These exciting reno­ vations and additions will enhance everyone’s experience and give new generations the opportunity

5007 Providence Road, Suite #112 Charlotte, NC 28226 Change Service Requested

JBuild is drawing to a close, however, there is still time to make a difference and help to build our community’s future by joining the hundreds of families who have chosen to support the JCC’s Capital Campaign.

Families who have made gen­ erous donations are having a stag­ gering impact. Thanks to everyone participating in the cam­ paign since its launch in 2014, we are realizing our dreams of an up­ dated facility for current and fu­ ture LJCC families. Although

to meet, to gather and to form last­ ing relationships. But, while we know the physical changes are needed on our 30­year­old campus – the campaign is much less about what we are building than WHY we are building it.

Every one of us has our own “if not for the J…” personal story.

Would you have met the other moms strolling their babies through the halls? Would you have met your personal trainer and made healthier, lifestyle changes?

Would your children have dressed up for the Purim carnival? Or gone to summer day camp? Would you have easily met new friends when you moved to town?

Roni Fishkin, JBuild Campaign Chair, recently shared her passion for the Campaign and her own personal J Story. “My children grew up at the LJCC … and many of their friends today are still the ones they made in Hoopsters, micro soccer, or just hanging out at the pool. I want that same op­ portunity for the next generation.

I feel strongly about this campaign because just as past generations created a place to shape my J story … I want to ensure there are fu­ ture stories to be told.”

At the Levine JCC, we are blessed with the opportunity to build and nurture relationships

with the members of our commu­ nity each day. These relationships are solidified upon the foundation we build together. At its core, re­ lationships are built upon the sup­ port of our community. This support is our koach, our strength.

JBuild ensures that future genera­ tions of the Charlotte Jewish com­ munity will be able to build these relationships just as we have for the past 30 years. As LJCC Board President Jon Simon shared, “I have been involved at the Levine JCC my entire life and JBuild helps us to ensure our continued success as an organization.

Through the campaign we will be able to enhance existing program facilities as well as expand our programs through new initiatives, such as Adults, Cultural Arts, and Wellness programs to benefit the

greater Jewish community.”

Without you ­ our loyal mem­ bers and generous donors ­ none of this would be possible. The words Leon Levine spoke a decade ago still hold true today, “… the whole community needs to be involved … they have to be involved to want to be a part of it.”

We want to thank everyone that has already participated in the LJCC Capital Campaign. If you have yet to make your pledge, don’t delay; make your pledge today in support of your LJCC Capital Campaign before the Campaign ends on December 31.Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 2

Todah Rabah to Our Most Recent Donors The Charlotte Jewish News thanks our most recent donors for their generosity in helping us fulfill our mission to continue publishing the latest information about our community. Visit charlottejewishnews.org to see the most updated information.

Subscribers Lila Doliner Nadine Fox Ruth and Alan Goldberg Don and Shevi Herbstman Paula and Richard Klein Joel and Wendy Kweskin Sheri Marcus Morrie and Phyllis Rosen Edwin and Leslie Rusgo Richard and Leslie Urso

Friends Ruth S. Guadarrama Michael and Roberta McGinley Frada Mozenter Morey and Lynne Sheffer Patrons Donald H and Barbara K Bernstein Family Foundation Alan and Rosalie Blumenthal

SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING FOR DECEMBER 2016 Friday, December 2, 4:53 PM Friday, December 9, 4:53 PM Friday, December 16, 4:55 PM Friday, December 23, 4:58 PM Saturday, December 24, 1st Chanukah candle, after 5:58 PM Friday, December 30, 5:03 PM (light Chanukah candles first) Saturday, December 31, 8th Chanukah candle, after 6:03 PM

JEWISH FEDERATION NEWS

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Other American Experiences about those traditions they

By Inbal Ozeri, Community have, and most people that I Shlicha asked, didn’t even know So as you all know, I’m in how why and when it all my second year here, and last started and how these are re­ year for the first time, I saw lated to Jesus and the New all these Christian holidays as Testament. I also realized part of another religion that I that next year I will be back shouldn’t be part of because I to my life in Israel where we am Jewish and Israeli and in don’t have a majority of Israel we don’t celebrate Christians and I might not these holidays. have that opportunity ever Throughout my first year again to experience Hal­ here though I realized that I loween, Thanksgiving, or might have gotten it all see Christmas lights and wrong, and that for most peo­ hear the festive music of the ple it’s just fun and simply holiday season. represents nice American tra­ So this year at Halloween, ditions, that are actually not I carved pumpkins for the even related to religion any­ first time, I even put on a more. Even when I visited costume and went trick­or­ Christmas Town in McA­ treating with some families. denville to see the lights last It was not only a lot of fun December, I actually met but some people actually some Jews there. It’s just thought I was a kid and I got beautiful and fun. No harm in myself some candy. I want to that. I went there because my Inbal enjoying her American experiences. thank the Kosofsky family cousin came from Israel to for helping me to experience visit me and so I felt I had to show her this, this is not for me – but I’m Jewish!” Luckily they all these American holidays these so it’s okay. But after a while, I found it hilarious and so when past few months and for reassur­ thought hey, this is for me too and they passed by us again they ing me that my feelings of having screamed “Merry Christmas! But an experience like that is just plain I realized that’s okay.

There happened to be one truck she’s Jewish!” and laughed with old fun and not to be taken too seriously. that was driving a lot of people us about it.

Back to my contradictory feel­ With that being said. I’m and they were screaming “Merry Christmas” to everyone and my ings about the differences of definitely looking forward to cousin, without even hesitating American and Christian experi­ Chanukah ­ how about you?

Happy Chanukah, everyone!Y yelled back at them “Thank you, ences, I asked a lot of people

The Charlotte Jewish News 5007 Providence Road, Suite 112 Charlotte, NC 28226 Phone

CONTENTS

(voice mail after office hours)

Office 704­944­6765 FAX 704­365­4507 email: charlottejewishnews@shalomcharlotte.org An Affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte Amy Krakovitz ­ Editor Advertising Sales Reps: Jodi Valenstein, 704­609­0950 or Pam Garrison, 704­906­7034 Art Director, Erin Bronkar ebronkar@carolina.rr.com CJN Editorial Board Chair ­ Bob Davis Members: Bob Abel, Sara Abadi, David Delfiner, Ann Langman, Linda Levy, Elaine Millen The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality or kasruth of any product or service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertise­ ment does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political party or position by this newspaper, the Federation or any employees.

Published monthly except July An affliate of:

Synagogues/Cong. .............pp. 11­14, 19­23

Federation News ...............................pp. 1­4

Dining Out ............................................p. 14

Schools ..............................................pp. 5, 6

Jewish Community Center .........pp. 16, 17

Jewish Family Services..........................p. 7

Women’s News. ....................................p. 24

Community News ............................pp. 8, 9

Levine­Sklut Judaic Library...............p. 24

Youth Visions................................pp. 10, 11

Chanukah.......................................pp. 27­31

I would like to make a contribution to demonstrate my support of The Charlotte Jewish News.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 3

Lines in the Sand: Diversity of the Jewish European Experience A Salon­Style Series Exploring Major Themes of Jewish History in Europe nomic, social, and cultural history.

His books include The Origins of Middle­Class Culture a study of class formation in Halifax York­ shire, and Merchants, Markets, and Manufacture which explores the history of England’s wool tex­ tile industry. He is currently work­ ing on commercial credit in the 18th century. Dr. Smail has taught widely in British and European

Ph.D. in History from UNC Chapel Hill. His teaching interests include world and Latin American history, with a specialization in the history of modern Mexico. He is the author, co­author, and editor of nine books, most recently, Mex­ ico’s Once and Future Revolution: Social Upheaval and the Chal­ lenge of Rule since the Late Nine­ teenth Century (Duke University

SAVE THE DATE

Please join the Jewish Federa­ tion of Greater Charlotte and the College of Liberal Arts & Sci­ ences at UNC Charlotte for a salon­style series exploring some of the major themes of Jewish his­ tory in Europe (and its empires) from the early Middle Ages through the Dreyfus affair.

Five lectures by noted scholars in the UNC Charlotte Department of History will focus on the Mediterranean, England, the Spanish and Dutch empires, and France, respectively.

All lectures are from 5:30­7 PM. Location details provided at time of registration. Please RSVP to info@jewishcharlotte.org or by calling 704­944­6757.

The first lecture “‘Slay Them Not’: Jews around the Early Medieval Mediterranean” taught by Dr. Robert McEach­ nie is scheduled for January 23, 2017. Dr. Robert McEachnie is Lecturer of History at UNC­Char­ lotte. He is a historian of late an­ tiquity (300­600) with a focus on religious change, the urban envi­ ronment, and cultural history. His first book, Chromatius of Aquileia and the Making of a Christian City, will be published in 2017.

His next research project exam­ ines translation of building styles, texts, and relics from the East in the fifth century. Dr. McEachnie has taught widely in Roman and Mediterranean history in the an­ cient and early medieval periods including survey courses and more specialized offerings on the assassination of Julius Caesar, the birth of Islam, and the rise of Vikings.

The next four lectures are as follows: January 30: Dr. John Smail, “Shylock Revisited: The Shifting Realities of Persecution and Intolerance for Jews in England.” Dr. John Smail is Pro­ fessor of History and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Educa­ tion. Dr. Smail’s field is British History in the early modern period (1600­1800) with a focus on eco­

history in the medieval and early modern period including general survey courses and more special­ ized offerings on Renaissance and Reformation, Riots in England, and Shakespeare’s England.

February 6: Dr. Jürgen Buchenau, “You Can Run or You Can Hide: Jews and the Spanish Empire.” Dr. Jürgen Buchenau is Professor and Chair of the Department of History at UNC Charlotte. He received his

Press, 2013). He is now working a history of United States­Mexi­ can relations and a book on the politics and political economy of early twentieth­century Mexico.

February 20: Dr. Oscar Lansen, “Between Fort, Port, and Snoa: The Sephardim of Amsterdam and Curaçao.” Dr. Oscar Lansen is Teaching Profes­ sor of History and Director of Un­ dergraduate Studies. Dr. Lansen’s field is the contemporary social

Tributes to the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte thanks and acknowledges the following tributes made October 1–November 4.

In honor of Jennifer Golynsky’s special birthday By: Mike and Sue Littauer In honor of Inbal Ozeri By: Chavurah Tov M’Od In honor of Jake Stein’s Bar Mitzvah By: Michael and Susan Silverstein In memory of Dorothy Bachelis By: Connie Kraus and Linda Seigel

history of war and conflict with a specialization in Dutch Jewish history. He is currently finishing a manuscript on the fate of Jewish refugees and Jewish communities in the Netherlands and its Over­ seas Territories during the World Wars; as well as directing a NEH seminar on Children in War and Conflict. Dr. Lansen is on the honors faculty at UNC Charlotte where he teaches courses on the Holocaust, Nazism, and contem­ porary conflict; and directs the departments History Fellows program.

February 27: Dr. Christine Haynes, “Beyond the Dreyfus Affair: The History of Jews in

France.” Dr. Christine Haynes re­ ceived her Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago in 2001. Since 2002, she has taught modern European history at UNC­Charlotte. She has written on a variety of topics related to nineteenth­century French history, including a book on debates over the regulation of print (Lost Illu­ sions: The Politics of Publishing in Nineteenth­Century France, published by Harvard University Press in 2010). She is now com­ pleting a book manuscript on the occupation of France by the Allied powers of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars, from 1815 to 1818.Y

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If you would like to make a Tribute to the Jewish Federation, please contact the Federation office at 704­944­6761.Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 4

Jewish Cuba

By Jen and Andrew Rosen, Ben Gurion Society* Cuba mission co­chairs A few weeks ago, we were for­ tunate to take part in a unique travel adventure to Havana, Cuba with an outstanding group of Charlotteans.

We are so appreciative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte for creating a com­ pelling opportunity for our whole group to experience a special and stimulating place through a Jew­ ish lens.

To us, Jewish life means com­ munity, family, holiday celebra­ tions and now, travel. Immersive travel experiences help us grow

Julie and David Sheffer in the neighbor­ hood of Jose Fuster, the Gaudi of Latin America.

Steph and Gabe Mathless in the square of St. Francis de Assisi in Old Havana.

by enabling us to get out of our normal routines and encouraging us to open our minds. Our time in Cuba did just that and also con­ nected us to our global Jewish family.

Cuba is an intriguing place.

The people are vibrant, resource­ ful, optimistic, and warm. The streets are lined with stunning yet neglected buildings of yesteryear, ration shops, and beautiful vintage cars. Each adventure and experi­ ence included many contradic­ tions and frankly, it’s just impossible to totally make sense of the place. On this trip we learned to accept the gray.

When not indulging in Cuban culture, we spent the majority of our time learning about Jewish life in Cuba. We visited Jewish community centers, synagogues, and notable Jewish memorials in Havana. We had the opportunity to celebrate both Shabbat and Sukkot with the local Jewish com­ munity. It was surreal. At times it felt like we could have been in any shul anywhere in the world.

And then, when a tune sounded a little strange, we remembered just how different this community is, that these are people who are learning how to pray for the first time.

The President of the Jewish

The ladies enjoying a classic car in Havana.

community in Havana told us that a conversation with Fidel went something like this: Fidel: How many Jews are there in Cuba?

President: About 1,100, Mr. President.

Fidel: That’s it?

President: That’s it.

Fidel: How do you guys make so much noise?

This is a community that is re­ building itself and wants to be connected to their brothers and sisters around the world. We heard about the youth who competes in Maccabiah games or travels to Is­

A sukkah on a balcony in Cuba.

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rael with Birthright. The power of all that was enormous. And that’s what I’ve seen Federation do, whether in Israel, in the United States, or on a tiny island off the coast of Florida with an estimated Jewish population of 1,100.

The four­day trip went by too quickly, but it’s exciting to know we can continue to process and reminisce with our new traveling family. We can’t wait for our next adventure and hope just like this time, Sue and Tair will say “yes”… Morroco, Buenos Aires, Berlin, any takers?

Federation aims to provide donors with mission experiences in an effort to care for, expose, and connect Charlotteans to Jewish communities all over the world.

As you’ve just read and have most likely heard by now, Federation missions are a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect not only with worldwide Jewry, but also connect or reconnect with your own personal Jewish identity. Y *The Ben Gurion Society rec­ ognizes young philanthropists (ages 21­45), who make a mini­ mum household gift of $1,000 or more to Federation’s Annual Campaign.

Why Cuba?

An island the size of Pennsylvania, with 11 million people, Cubans have an average salary of $30 a month with food rations.

Organized Jewish life and the first synagogue were developed in 1906; and by 1953, there were 15,000 Jewish in Cuba. After the Cuban revolution, Jews began to leave, with the number of Jews dropping to an astounding 800 by the 1980’s. In the past two decades, Cuba has experienced a rebirth of religious life – including a Jewish renaissance – aided by The American Joint Distribution committee (JDC), a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation and its partner on the ground. JDC reentered into Cuba in 1991 focusing on renewal, resurgence and revitalization, helping the community rebuild itself from the ground up.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 5

School CJDS Hosts Prizmah Governance and Fundraising Academy CJDS is proud to have been chosen to host the conference for Prizmah’s GFA academy this November. Over 70 day school educators from all over North America met on November 13­15 at Shalom Park to study, learn, and network for three days.

Kosher Charlotte (CJDS Catering) catered the event, and CJDS, along with assisting with the lo­ gistics, proudly shared the school, city and campus with our guests.

Prizmah is the center for Jew­ ish Day Schools. Prizmah’s Governance and Fundraising Academy (GFA) is designed to in­ crease a school’s financial sustain­ ability by strengthening its governance and fundraising pro­ gram. The GFA accomplishes sev­ eral vitally important overarching goals. It… 1. Generates alignment among our professional and lay leaders around a governance system that embraces fundraising responsibil­ ity to the fullest extent.

2. Provides training that en­ riches our development team’s ability to create a comprehensive plan, defines the professional and lay leadership roles needed to im­ plement that plan, and increase the capacity of team members.

3. Develops strategies and builds skills in essential areas, including annual campaign planning, donor rating, and as­ signment, Moves Management planning and execution, and

donor cultivation techniques.

In addition, CJDS, being a small school in a relatively small community, will be eligible for up to $100,000 in matching grant funds through an anonymous Jewish day school supporter for the achievement of specified fundraising milestones.

GFA is designed to increase a school’s financial sustainability by strengthening its governance and fundraising program. A school with a strong culture of philan­ thropy combines best practices in governance, professional leader­ ship, and fundraising. As an 18­ month curriculum constructed around a summit, interactive we­ binars, and seven days of individ­ ualized expert coaching, the GFA offers the essential support a school needs to achieve transfor­ mative change in fundraising ca­ pacity. GFA will help transform our development professionals and lay leaders into a high­perfor­ mance team. This GFA model, which has been implemented under the name Leadership and Fundraising Academy (LFA) in more than 50 schools in five com­ munities, is a proven vehicle for driving our school toward fiscal sustainability. This program was initiated by PEJE, the authority in Jewish day school governance and sustainability with 18 years of ex­ perience, and is being handed over to the new Jewish day school au­ thority, Prizmah.

Jewish educators from all over the US attended the Prizmah Governance and Fundraising Academy at Shalom Park, hosted by CJDS

Larry Horowitz, CLU, ChFC

L2 Financial The Governance and Fundrais­ ing Academy program recognizes that strong governance is one of the most critical foundational ele­ ments that a school needs in order to achieve long­term financial sustainability. When a school’s Board, Development Committee, and professional development team work together, almost any­ thing is possible. Their proprietary Development Self­Assessment Tool (DSAT) is just one proven tool used in this milestone­driven, 18­month program that builds on PEJE’s 18 years of working with JDS. Prizmah is partnering with The AVI CHAI Foundation and an anonymous Jewish day school supporter to offer a select number of small day schools in smaller communities an exceptional op­ portunity: While the total 18­ month program cost is $40,000, thanks to funding from The AVI CHAI Foundation and an anony­ mous Jewish day school sup­ porter—which are committed to supporting small schools and small communities—the total cost to participating schools is $5,000. A small school in a small community is defined as having 200 or fewer students in a com­ munity with a Jewish population of approximately 50,000 or fewer.Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 6

The True Meaning of Chanukah

By Brooke Amo, director, Char­ lotte Jewish Preschool I will never forget where I was, what I was wearing, or who I was with when I found out the story of Chanukah that I had known my whole life may not be true. Like many young Jewish children, I was told the basics: Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, we use a Chanukiyah to light eight candles, and each candle represents the eight nights that oil lasted even though it had only been enough for one day. Thus, a miracle had happened. We honored the Mac­ cabees who fought the Greeks for their right to practice Judaism. We lit candles, we played the dreidel game, we ate gelt after dinner, and we had delicious fried foods. It wasn’t until I became more inter­ ested and invested in my faith that I came across some conflicting stories about Chanukah.

As I do more digging, it is still unclear to me if the story is much more complex, or it was glorified to keep the spirit of the Jewish people up in a time of oppression.

Whatever story you know or be­

lieve to be true, Chanukah is not one of the chagim mentioned in the Torah. It is not a holiday that keeps us from work or from eating certain foods, nor does it require observance in a temple. But, it has great historical significance, car­ ries important Judaic themes, and has evolved into a popular holiday that Jewish families have put their own twist on. For many, it has be­ come a holiday of family tradi­ tions where we come together, fry our latkes and sufganiyot, eat to­ gether, exchange presents, light the candles and, most importantly, spend time together to celebrate.

We celebrate and learn with our CJP family as well. During the first week of Chanukah, we invite our families to Latkes, Lights, and Love, a family program in which each child gets to have a special friend come to school to share latkes, create a keepsake, and play fun Chanukah games. In addition, every day of Chanukah, we say the brachot as a school and come together to light the candles. Indi­ vidual classes tailor their instruc­ tion to learning about Chanukah

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and what it means to us. For Ju­ daica class, students take a field trip over to Temple Beth El to ex­ perience with Morah Becca the destruction and rededication of the Temple to God by the Jewish peo­ ple.

The Chanukah story we tell, the personal touches we add, the tra­ ditions we bring to our children ­ these are all such a big responsi­ bility. As a school we not only ac­ knowledge Chanukah as the Festival of Lights, but we also ac­ knowledge our own inner light and the light our children have the ability to make. CJP students are charged with different ways to be­ come a light in God’s eyes, and for themselves. We remind our students that our inner light shines when we do mitzvot or act like a menschen. When we make good choices and help other people, our inner light shines and we inspire that light in other people. Our stu­ dents share their light through their participation of various tzedakah projects around Chanukah. For example, our stu­ dents help their parents pick out gifts for clients at Jewish Family Services (JFS) so that others can have a happy holiday season. Our

Celebrating Chanukah at CJP.

teachers expertly plan and execute lessons that model the spirit of giving during Chanukah, while emphasizing that light isn’t just something we see, but also some­ thing that connects to our Jewish heritage and God. This Chanukah, as you take in the brilliant light of the Chanukiyah each night as it shines brighter and brighter, consider the light that we each have inside of

ourselves. How can we nurture and grow that light? And once we have illuminated our own inner light, how can we inspire that light in other people? While the sup­ posed ancient miracle was one of a light that lasted for eight days, our modern miracle is one that we can put our own twist on – doing good, inspiring good, and spread­ ing the light together. Y

Thank You to Jewish Preschool on Sardis Annual Fund Donors The Jewish Preschool on Sardis proudly acknowledges the donors of our Annual Fund to date*.

“Charity is a magnet with more power to attract the divine influ­ ence than any other precept.” ~ Shneor Zalman

Elchanan and Ruth Abramowitz Pat and Amy Augustine Brian and Marissa Bailey The Donald and Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation Irving and Lillian Bienstock

Gary and Randy DeFilipp Jason and Rebecca Dranove Michael and Elaine Ephraim Barbara Ephraim Gooze Andrew and Amber Fink Leonard and Sally Gehl Chuck and Dale Glick Dedee Ephraim Goldsmith Limor Goldsmith Maya Goldsmith Avroham and Devorah Leah Gordon Todd and Stacy Gorelick Jeffrey and Sharon Gross Andrew and Jill Halverstam

Austin and Marissa Karp Jaime and Elise Kosofsky Jonathan and Sara Kulbersh Eric and Judy Laxer Daniel and Leigh Levine Howard and Julie Levine Semen and Natalia Mayzlin David and Christine Meyers Anne Douglas Miller Paul and Susan Minasian Sam and Jill Mischner Edwin and Jill Newman Allan and Marcelle Oxman Matthew and Becky Pollack Larry and Dale Polsky Austin and Roberta Rodgers Peter and Monica Rose Edwin and Leslie Rusgo Jason and Jennifer Schwartz Larry Schwartz Paul and Stephanie Simon Ken Small and Mindy Wexler John Stone Bowen and Beverly Wakefield Dael and Brenda Waxman *names of donors listed as of 11/7/16

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 7

Jewish Family Services 13th Annual Senior Chanukah Party Charlotte is home to many sen­ iors. These seniors have lived eighty, or even ninety or more years. Of those years, most have lived in two, maybe three, cities.

Almost all of them have lost a spouse, and they are losing their old (and new) friends year by year. Most of them moved to Charlotte in the past ten to twenty years to live near grown children, grandchildren, or even great­ grandchildren. Their families are busy, and they understand that, but one day becomes the next … and slowly they find that their time is not nearly as filled. Most of them don’t drive anymore. Most of them aren’t members of a temple anymore, and – like the rest of us here in Charlotte — most of the people who live around them aren’t Jewish. Each Sunday their living facility might have a church service, and every April and De­ cember the common areas are decorated with Easter and Christ­ mas decorations. They miss home (maybe it’s New York, maybe it’s Miami), they miss their friends, they miss their spouses. They miss their good old days.

Bea Gibbs — may her memory be a blessing — volunteered with

Viva Klezmer!

Jewish Family Services and saw all of this. She realized that the seniors in our community didn’t have a connection to Judaism or other Jewish people. Through her vision and passion, JFS brought programming and services to over 100 seniors who were homebound or living in senior communities.

The annual Senior Chanukah Party was her brain child. It was designed to give seniors through­ out the community (including sen­ iors involved in the LJCC’s Oasis

Donations to Jewish Family Services in October Jewish Family Services re­ ceived the following donations for Tribute Cards in October. Thank you for allowing JFS to honor your friends and loved ones.

IN MEMORY OF Ellen Dubin to Adina and Max Barkinskiy and family and Joyce Hinkes, from Gail Hyman, Mr. and Mrs. Nat Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Evan Jacobson, Kim Slavin­ ski, Dr. Nancy Roffman Jean Finkelstein to Walter Finkelstein, from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bernhardt, Mr. and Mrs. Nat Roberts Kitty Horer to Amy Andrews, from Jon and Stephanie Simon Your beloved sister to Marcia Stern, from Harriet Meetz and Laura Reich, Mr. & Mrs. Allan Oxman Philip Wolff to Andrew Kaplan, from Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Simon Rose Luski to The Luski Fam­ ily, from Mrs. Ethel Gordon and Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Hennes Violet Winton to Nadine Fox, from Ms. Marla Brodsky Vivian Woods to Barbara Hib­ bard and Elaine Machtiger, from Mr. and Mrs. Barnet Weinstock Your father to Jeffery Ditesheim, from Mr. and Mrs. Ed­ ward Pizer Your father to Matt Springer, from Mr. and Mrs. Sam Polk

Your son, Ian Stutts, to Jackie Stutts, from Swooz Brazzell Henry Vogelhut to Mark Vogel­ hut and Adele Bedrick, from Mr. & Mrs. Allan Oxman Marc Birnbaum to Marty Birn­ baum, from Mr. & Mrs. Ed New­ man So sorry for your loss Carole Ostrow, from Mr. and Mrs. Sam Polk HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Hannah Kaunitz from Irv & Deedee Cygler Harriet Perlin from Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rothman, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mendel, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Polk Jennifer Golynsky from Mr. and Mrs. Rich Rosenthal, Dr. and Mrs. Harlow Cohen, Debbie Freedman, Jan and Ron Weiner, Marissa Brooks Mary Wojnowich from Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Hennes, Dale and Larry Polsky, Elise Menaker Paula Gilbert from Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Hennes MAZEL TOV ON Your marriage to Jeffrey Ep­ stein from Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bierer HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Mark Rothman from Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mendel

program, seniors in various inde­ pendent and dependent living communities, and seniors living in their own homes) an opportunity to see one another and celebrate

together.

This year marks the 13th an­ niversary of the Senior Chanukah Party. This year’s party is made possible by generous sponsorships from Norman Steinberger, as well BlueDot Cares, Oasis, Temple Is­ rael, Waltonwood Cotswold, Wise Transitions, and 65 Senior Street, with music donated by the Viva Klezmer! band. It is an amazing event, with passionate volunteers who are a huge part of the fun.

This year, volunteers from the Mecklenburg Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, JFS’s Board, and our community at large will be there helping to put on the Chanukah party for our commu­ nity seniors and witnessing the magic of giving our elderly com­ munity the opportunity to cele­ brate together. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact: Sheryl Gerrard at sheryl.gerrard@jfscharlotte.org.

Speaking of Sheryl, this is the

perfect opportunity to introduce her as JFS’s new Senior Outreach Specialist. Sheryl is originally from New Jersey, but has been in the Charlotte community for over twenty­one years. She began her career in psychology, ranging from a focus on child and adoles­ cent psychology to practicing forensic psychology at a hospital.

She stayed home with her son for seventeen years, while volunteer­ ing throughout the community at organizations like the Charlotte Jewish Preschool, the Charlotte Jewish Day School, and Discov­ ery Place. Sheryl came to work at Jewish Family Services in 2014, and her work here inspired her to go back to school to get a Post Master certificate in Gerontology.

She loves working with our com­ munity’s seniors and “feels like it’s an honor to hold their stories.”

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Sheryl.Y

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Thank you Family to Family Donors. It is not too late to make your gift to our campaign: www.jfscharlotte.org. Donations like yours make our Senior Outreach program possible, as well as improving the lives of people facing financial instability, emotional and men­ tal health issues, and the numerous other challenges that we all en­ counter throughout our lives.

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 8

Community News

Jewish Community Refugee Initiative Helps Supports Local Refugee Resettlement

By Carrie Rabinowitz Thakur Mishra was seven years old in 1991 when a dozen armed government forces stormed into his house. They arrested his father, a farmer, tortured and imprisoned him, accusing him, and many other Nepalese men, of being a terrorist. Despite having lived in Bhutan for four generations, the entire Mishra family was forced leave Bhutan within three days.

“Anyone who was ethnically Nepali was targeted because we have a different culture,” he re­ cently explained to an audience at

the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice at Queens University. “The ruling elite are Buddhist and we are Hin­ dus.”

After walking for several days and spending one day on a truck, the Mishra family reached the Beldangi refugee camp in Nepal where they took shelter in a ram­ shackle, tent­like dwelling.

“Imagine living in 200 square feet with 10 people,” he said.

“There was no electricity. There was no indoor plumbing. No sense of privacy. No security. No

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access to decent medical treat­ ment. No access to healthy food.”

That was his home for 20 years.

His story is extreme. It is also typical.

Although now a Charlotte resi­ dent and a proud United States cit­ izen, until 2014 Mishra was one of 70 million people claiming refugee status worldwide, the greatest number of displaced peo­ ple since World War II. This year alone, Charlotte will become home to 700 of the state’s allotted 2,700 refugees, who can’t return home because they fear for their lives. Refugees register with the United Nations for resettle­ ment before undergoing a screen­ ing process that can take up to four years. Once approved, they are randomly resettled through nine major national agencies.

With the help of federal and state governments, local agencies such as Carolina Refugee Reset­ tlement Agency provide an apart­ ment and a few weeks’ worth of food, make doctor appointments, enroll their children in school, and help them find a job. After about three months, they are expected to be self­sufficient.

Even with government fund­ ing, resettlement efforts are lim­ ited without volunteers and donors. For this reason, Penny

Lipsitz, an instructor in the CPCC refugee education program, and David Cohen, an ardent supporter for refugee advocacy, started the Jewish Community Refugee Ini­ tiative (JCRI) as a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte.

“Although today’s refugees are not Jewish, it has always been a basic tenet of Judaism to help peo­ ple in need,” said Lipsitz, JCRI chair. “We help refugees not be­ cause they are Jewish, but because we are Jewish.”

The JCRI supports local refugee resettlement in Charlotte by mobilizing the Jewish commu­ nity through donation drives, volunteering, advocacy, and col­ laborative programs.

Bonnie Tangelo, JCRI volun­ teer coordinator, connects volun­ teers to opportunities. This fall, JCRI organized school supply and winter coat drives and provided a voting party for new citizens. Tan­ gelo is now coordinating a knit­ ting group and Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects for coming­of­ age teens.

Volunteers are always needed, Tangelo explained, whether it’s for a one­time event or a long­ term project. For those wanting a more personal connection, the Fruitful Friend Program pairs refugees with an American friend

– someone with whom they can practice their English, ask ques­ tions about the culture and under­ stand how this country works.

“Ultimately, they want to be inde­ pendent and successful in their new country,” Lipsitz said of the refugees.

Mishra has proven that. He re­ cently earned a second bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte, owns a home, has started a family, and works as the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency‘s Health Promotions Manager.

Talking about his past helps him heal. It also conveys a mes­ sage.

“I share my story because I want people to understand that they have this humanitarian obli­ gation to help refugees or others fleeing their homes in search of safety and security. These are peo­ ple who have suffered disturbing human injustices. They are on a tough journey to find new hopes and dreams and homes. Irrespec­ tive of their country of origin, all refugees share one thing in com­ mon ­ they are human beings who don’t have a place to call home.”

To volunteer or help people make a new life in Charlotte, please contact the JCRI at volunteer@charlottejcri.org. For more information, visit Charlotte­ JCRI.org. Y

Pre­Plan and Become a Member At the Hebrew Cemetery we understand how challenging it can be to say goodbye to an important person in your life. We want you to know that we’re here to calmly

and patiently walk you through all the steps that need to be taken and all the decisions that need to be made in the hours and days before and following a death.

Losing a close friend or family member can be overwhelming.

It’s not uncommon to have a seemingly endless barrage of thoughts, questions, and emotions swirling around all at once. And then there’s the grief, which tends to come in waves. The result?

Feelings of confusion, exhaustion, and mental paralysis. To help re­ lieve those feelings, we suggest making burial arrangements as soon as one can to bring peace of mind to family and friends. This means that you are making your cemetery and funeral arrange­ ments prior to your death. This al­ lows your wishes to be known, thus eliminates an incredible bur­ den on your loved ones during the very stressful and painful hours after a death. Pre­planning is a concrete sign of your love for sur­ viving family members. Your ad­ vance planning will give your family the guidance they need to feel comfortable that they are car­ rying out the decisions you made.

Pre­planning may also prevent

disagreement among survivors at an emotionally charged time. By purchasing in advance, you are locking in today’s pricing and will not experience a price shocker at the time of need.

In many instances, a funeral marks the beginning of a long­ term connection with the ceme­ tery. Building a strong, trusting relationship with the families is the backbone of our organization.

This is also why being a member of the Hebrew Cemetery is impor­ tant. An annual commitment of $72 entitles the member of sav­ ings of up to 30%. In addition the membership helps to support the cemetery since these holy grounds are not attached to any of the local temples. Another way to support the cemetery and to ensure that the grounds will look tomorrow as manicured as they do today is by leaving a gift through the Char­ lotte Jewish Legacy initiative (CJL).

For more information about membership, pre­planning, or a legacy gift contact director Sandra Goldman at 704­576­1859 or email her at director@hebrew­ cemetery.org.Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 9

The Game of Life in Ten Short Stories Local Charlotte Author Explores the Human Condition in New Anthology Noted philosopher Kierkegaard said, “Life must be lived forwards, but can only be understood back­ wards.” Exploring the human con­ dition has long intrigued everyone from philosophers to authors – particularly when reflecting back on past experiences. In “Short, Short Tales,” author David Pliner uses ten short stories to delve into the array of human emotions and experiences that accompany everyday life.

A mix of fiction and non­fic­ tion, “Short, Short Tales” features a wide variety of characters, in­ cluding: a corrupt bookkeeper, an inquisitive dog named Duke, a bereft business owner, a young man at his Bar Mitzvah, and more.

All the characters in “Short, Short Tales” were based on people Pliner met throughout the course

of his life.

“Every story is inspired by a personal experience,” said Pliner.

“I’ve encountered and observed so many people and emotions throughout my life, so my stories

Legacy Story Ross Levin Ross C. Levin is among the 350 individuals and families in our community who have cre­ ated 721 unique legacy gifts to support its future. Please take the time to read his story and thank him for his generosity. It is our hope that you will be in­ spired and encouraged to join Ross and others who have cre­ ated legacy gifts to help sus­ tain our Jewish community.

By Ross C. Levin Growing up Jewish in Char­ lotte during the 60s and 70s, I was fortunate to have been a part of Jewish life that was not just a community, but more like an ex­ tended family. At the time, there certainly was no Shalom Park, and for a while there was no Jew­ ish Community Center. Temple Beth El was located on Provi­ dence Road near Queens and Temple Israel was on Morehead near McDowell Street. While the two congregations were separated from one another by a greater dis­ tance than they are today, they were part of a smaller community, so religious and social events drew those of one to the other. Es­ pecially memorable was my gen­ eration’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah

celebrations that typically in­ cluded a post­service Oneg and an evening dinner dance with a mix of locals and out of towners. The memories of these celebrations and tradition, honoring the transi­ tion to adulthood, remain impor­ tant to me.

The Amity Club (which would evolve into the community’s first JCC) was located in the Cotswold area and was a wonderful gather­

are inspired by themes like cor­ ruption, nostalgia, love, friend­ ship, and laughter – things every person could experience.”

After an extensive career work­ ing with people in the real estate industry, Pliner sought to share some of his life’s most interesting experiences, which led to the cre­ ation of “Short, Short Tales.” He is now currently working on his first full­length novel, which he anticipates will be a sequel to one of the stories in the anthology.

“The stories may be short, but they were written to make you think,” said Pliner.

The book can purchased di­ rectly from Pliner for 1/3 the price of a direct purchase. He can be contacted at dpliner@ carolina.rr.com or 704­234­ 0050.Y ing place for both the young and old. I loved the Amity Club and fondly remember the many sports such as swimming, tennis, and softball and playing with friends in the pool. I enjoyed many din­ ners there with my immediate and extended Jewish family. It was such a warm and welcoming envi­ ronment. As a result, I never real­ ized we were there because Jews were not accepted at other clubs.

Perhaps this was a good thing.

This community “mishpacha” created one large family that pro­ vided us with close friends, great educational opportunities, and continued acts of generosity and charity for the health and growth of the Jewish community. We had inspiring examples of how to live as Jews. These role models were my parents, Donna and Norman, as well as Aunt Max and Uncle Al, Aunt Renee and Uncle Shel­ ton, Aunt Marion and Uncle David, Aunt Paula and Uncle Nor­ man, Aunt Vera and Uncle Jack, Aunt Connie and Uncle Paul, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Jerry, Aunt Peggy and Uncle Buddy, Aunt Charlene and Uncle Mike, Aunt Alene and Uncle Sammy, and so many, many more. It is this sense of Jewish family and com­ munity that defines my Jewish life. For that reason, I have estab­ lished my Jewish Legacy with thanks in their honor. Y

Community Mourns the Loss of Hilbert Fuerstman Like the character Edward Bloom from the movie Big Fish, Hilbert Fuerstman had a lot of sto­ ries to tell. “You couldn’t believe them, but they were true,” says Kevin Levine, executive director of the Foundation of Shalom Park, who worked alongside Fuerstman in his (Levine’s) capacity as president of the Hebrew Cemetery Association. “Well,” Levine demures, “at least part of it was true.”

Fuerstman indeed had a wealth of experiences. He was a co­ founder and one of the original members of Temple Beth El. In his capacity as a Jewish scholar and teacher, he collected thou­ sands of book which he donated to the Levine­Sklut Judaic Library.

This great scholarship was evident in the stories he told. “He had in­ sights the he shared frequently, both solicited and unsolicited,” laughs Levine.

Fuerstman was a prolific tennis player and created a group to play

in Dilworth at a time when Jews were not allowed to join country clubs. This group grew over many years and eventually a plaque was dedicated to the Hilbert Fuerst­ man/Dilworth Tennis Courts at Latta Park.

Fuerstman, though, is best known to most of the community as the director of the Hebrew Cemetery. Any visitor there could expect a detailed tour of the fa­ mous and interesting graves. From the Civil War veterans, to the “peach pit” sculpture, to the rest­ ing place of Harry Golden, Fuer­ stman knew the cemetery well.

“Dad was a cornerstone of our Jewish community,” says his son, Leland. “He was a leader of men.”

“Sometimes his lessons come back to me unbidden,” Levine says. “The deeper meaning of some of his stories relate to the many things that often happen to me. It was an honor to learn from his vast experience in life.” Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 10

Youth Visions What BBYO Means to Me My name is Gabby Catenazzo, I am a junior at Providence High School and I am the president of Chai Chaverim, one of the girl BBYO chapters here in Charlotte.

I have grown up surrounded by the Charlotte Jewish Community so when I joined BBYO as a freshman I had a few Jewish friends my age but I didn’t know a thing about the special family I was about to be welcomed into.

Having a group of Jewish friends I get to see every week separate from the people at my school is unique and such a pleasure during the stressful school year. In BBYO I not only get to de­stress and have fun but do so while learning so much about myself, others, and what Judaism means to me. BBYO has shown me the importance of taking part in the Jewish community and how being part of a strong Jewish youth

movement is crucial to the future of our people.

At the first BBYO program with my chapter I looked at the president and thought to myself how smart and confident she was.

I thought it would be so amazing if that could be me one day, but at the time I thought it never could be. But two short years later I de­ cided to run for president of Chai Chaverim and now I have so much more confidence in my leadership ability because of the opportunities BBYO has provided me and the amazing leaders and friends I have gotten to look up to.

BBYO has taught me lifelong skills that will take me far in what­ ever I choose to do with my life. I have become a more genuine, open minded, and caring person because of this organization. I have also learned so much about who I am and what I stand for.

BBYO is an amazing movement that fosters individuality while si­ multaneously bringing people closer together.

From the New Member Con­ vention to attending the Chapter Leadership Training Conference this summer and every Tuesday night program in between I could not thank BBYO enough for all the lifelong friendships, values, and experiences it has given me. Y

BBG’ers learn to bake challah with Sophie Molinari.

Left to right: Lila Cohen, Joanna Moody, Allison­ Leigh Rosenfeld, Alex Ketover

Left to right – Sklyer Selkin, Mylie Slomka, and Isabella Turtletaub

Hebrew High’s Better 2Gether Hosts Guests from Black Ink Monks Better 2Gether is a Hebrew High class that joins two genera­ tions together to explore their Jewish heritage, thanks to a gen­ erous grant from a prominent na­ tional organization. This session the group is focused on expressing identity through art, both spoken word and visual art.

To help the group of adults and teens, they have been listening to spoken word poetry, rap, and po­ etry slams that express identity or a Jewish value or ideal. The goal is for several smaller groups, made up of both adults and teens, to create a spoken word poem

about Jewish identity that will eventually be performed for all of Hebrew High.

In November, the Black Ink Monks from Johnson C. Smith University, were guests at a class of both Better 2Gether and the Through the Jewish Lens art class.

Dasha, Diashanna, and TJ intro­ duced the class to different ways of expressing their emotions through their five senses and using classic figures of speech.

The writing prompt was about family and everyone set about writing some lines.

When the writing portion was

finished, the Black Ink Monks en­ tertained the class with perform­ ances of their own slam poems.

The class is now armed and ready to create and present their own poems.

The visual art aspect of the class will be realized with a field trip to the Mint Museum to see the current exhibit of Women in Ab­ stract Expressionism. A dispropor­ tionate number of the women artists in this genre were Jewish and we hope to be able analyze their products and see where the common themes arise. Y

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Harriet Weinstock and Lauren Mond work on their poem.

Diashanna talks about descriptive use of language in creating poetry.

For more information and a job description, see www.jewishcharlotte.org.

Send cover letter and resume to tair.giudice@jewishcharlotte.org.

Samantha Baum, Aaron Hart, and Janice Bernstein.

TJ performs his poem.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 11

The Recipe of Friendship We all love to cook. Though there is nothing more fun than cooking with friends.

The Friendship Circle recently launched its monthly cooking cir­ cle. We all got to make our very own challah. We each got our own Friendship Circle themed recipe card. While the dough was rising we had our very own Trash 2 Treasure project with ZABS Place to make little apple shaped honey dishes out of empty used glass bottles.

Friendship Circle is a project of Chabad of Charlotte and a benefi­ ciary the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. To learn more visit www.FriendshipCircleNC. org or call 704­366­5983. Y

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SouthPark Menorah Lighting on Tuesday, December 27 Chanukah 2016 begins on Sat­ urday night December 24, with the kindling of the first candle.

Chabad of Charlotte will be host­ ing their annual community Menorah lighting at SouthPark Mall on Tuesday December 27, at 5 PM. There will be lots of Chanukah entertainment and chil­ dren’s activities as well as prelude to the lighting ceremony.

The Menorah lighting cere­ mony will take place at Circle Court (between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus) where a huge Menorah will be kindled at 6 PM. Chanukah treats including dough­ nuts and chocolate Chanukah gelt will be serve after the ceremony.

Chanukah stands out as the only holiday where the sages in­ structed us to share the light with the outside world. Originally peo­ ple would light their Menorahs at the entrance to their home or by the doorway closest to the street.

In later year, people would light their Menorah by the window so passers­by could see the flicker­ ing flame. The idea was to share the miracle of the lights and bring the message of Chanukah to the masses.

In our time, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, revived the idea of public Menorah lightings and it has caught on, first in the United States, and eventually it spread to the rest of the world. From

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Moscow to Melbourne, Honk Kong to Anchorage, you will find giant Menorah lighting up the sky with the bright lights of Chanukah.

This event is open to the entire community and we encourage everyone to bring their children and all family members to be part of this expression of great Jewish pride as we celebrate the begin­ ning of the Chanukah holiday.

For more detailed information, please visit our website at www.chabadnc.org or contact our office at 704­366­3984. Y

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The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 12

Havurat Tikvah Slates Chanukah Party Winter Shabbaton to Bring Warmth and Fun on and Services Havurat Tikvah will have a member participation and leader­ December 2 at Ohr community Shabbat service on ship for our religious services, December 10 at 10 AM, at Avon­ spiritual growth and governance.

HaTorah Havurat Tikvah is an affiliate dale Presbyterian Church, Aitken Classroom, 2821 Park Rd. Kid­ of the Jewish Reconstructionist As the cool weather arrives and we settle in for winter a good place to be warmed is at Ohr Ha­ Torah in Charlotte.

A winter Shabbaton will take place on Friday, December 2, at Ohr HaTorah. The Shabbaton event will bring together Jewish families in Charlotte who appre­ ciate the delight of an enjoyable and meaningful Shabbat experi­ ence together. The Shabbaton will feature a delicious gourmet Shab­ bat dinner along with fun and games for the children and excit­ ing Shabbat entertainment for the adults.

The Shabbaton event will begin at 5 PM with a Shabbat can­ dle lighting ceremony followed by a lively Kabbalat Shabbat serv­ ice. (Please arrive early as Shab­ bat candle lighting time on Friday, December 2, is at 4:53 PM). The family Shabbat dinner will follow

the service. A full wine bar featur­ ing excellent Israeli wines will be available for the adults and great story telling for the children.

The Ohr HaTorah Shabbatons have gained a fine reputation of a providing a extraordinary Shabbat program which is geared to excite the senses and awaken the soul to the inner joy of Judaism. Fee for Shabbaton is $20 per person or $54 per family. This event is open to the entire community.

For more information on the Shabbaton or all of our programs please visit our website at www.chabadnc.org.Y

What’s going on?

See on the community calendar!

Go to jewishcharlotte.org/community­calendar

dush will follow. The community is welcome to attend.

The congregation will cele­ brate the Season of Lights with its Chanukah Party on December 24, 4 PM, at the Strawberry Hill Apartments’ Clubhouse, 5105 Strawberry Hill Dr. Enjoy a vari­ ety of latkes, along with apple­ sauce and sour cream, while playing games. At sundown fam­ ily and friends will gather around for the annual Havurat Tikvah menorah lighting. Visitors are welcome. Email hlipman@car­ olina.rr.com with how many will attend and to learn more.

According to congregational halachah, resources used to pre­ pare food must be made from kosher, veggie, parve, and/or dairy products.

Havurat Tikvah is a warm, sup­ portive and nurturing Jewish Re­ constructionist congregation with Shabbat services and a full spec­ trum of holiday observances, as well as religious educational op­ tions for both adults and children.

We are a diverse group of fami­ lies, singles, and Jewish and inter­ faith couples who participate in projects that promote social jus­ tice.

We value and depend upon

Communities, In Association with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

For more information on up­ coming services, programs, membership, or other queries, call 980­225­5330, write to Havurat Tikvah, P.O. Box 12684, Charlotte, NC 28220, email membership@havurattikvah.org or visit havurattikvah.org. Havurat Tikvah is also on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/havurattik­ vah/.Y

Chanukah with Havurat Tikvah.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 13

Have a Happy Chanukah. And share what it means to you. #ChanukahPublix

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 14

Make It Offical: Provide For Yourself A Rabbi “In the days of the Talmud, our tradition set forth this guidance for the generations to come: Asei l’cha rav, “Provide for yourself a Rabbi – a teacher.”

When we, at Temple Beth El, set out to find a Rabbi to lead us forward in 2016 and beyond, we knew we were looking for some­ one special. And we knew the best

and brightest would apply.

They did.

We searched for someone who believed in social justice and Tikkun Olam, in lifelong learning and the study of Torah. We wanted someone who would build rela­ tionships and be a collaborator and communicator. We needed someone who would continue to

build a dynamic Reform Jewish community; make people feel welcome and appreciated; deliver worship, educational, and pro­ grammatic experiences that are in­ spiring and engaging; and make every life cycle event special, comfortable, and meaningful to each congregant and congregant family involved.

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704­541­5099 fax: 704­541­5989

To advertise in the Dining Out, Catering & Hospitality section of The Charlotte Jewish News, contact one of our sales representatives: Jodi Valenstein, 704-609-0950 Pam Garrison, 704-906-7034

“A SouthPark Tradition of Excellence” SouthPark at Phillips Place

Where Families Come Together w Featuring 124 beautifully decorated guest rooms and suites conveniently located in Phillips Place w Complimentary amenities include: Hot breakfast, internet access, transportation to Shalom Park w Hospitality Suite w Great Room: Special rates available for Friday night dinner Photo courtesy of ArtShots Photography

For more information, contact: Erin.Dennis@hilton.com Hampton Inn & Suites SouthPark at Phillips Place, Charlotte, NC 28210 704­319­5700 www.hamptonsouthpark.com

High Standards But we did it. We found Rabbi Asher Knight. And the weekend of December 9 we will celebrate Rabbi Knight and our Temple Beth El community as we offi­ cially install him as our Rabbi.

Congregants Dale Polsky and Moira Quinn Klein are chairing the Installation Weekend activi­ ties, with a robust committee rep­ resenting our synagogue family.

It’s a congregational Shabbat weekend, so we’re doing all the things you would expect … but bigger and with more panache.

We are welcoming a list of special guests who will honor us with their presence and participation, so we have a chance to share our warmest welcome.

Ana Bonnheim, and children Micah and Jonas have become in­ tegral members of our community already. We can’t imagine our Temple family without Rabbi Knight and his family now. It’s time for us to make it all official.

The last time we installed a Rabbi was more than a decade ago when we installed Rabbi Schindler. And, nearly a decade before that, we installed Rabbi Bennett. We don’t do this often.

So let’s take advantage of this milestone to remember our rich history, celebrate who we are today, and look forward to who we will be in the future­ in the Re­ form movement, in the City of Charlotte and in the hearts of our congregants.

Please join us for the celebra­ tion!

Rabbi Knight teaches our future board members.

Rabbi Knight’s mentor and his own Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu­El in Dallas, Rabbi David Stern, will join us for the weekend with his wife, Rabbi Nancy Kas­ ten. Rabbi Stern, President­Elect of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, will install Rabbi Knight at the Friday evening service. We are inviting our partners, colleagues, and friends from Shalom Park and from around the City. It will be a very special occasion—one that will make us all proud.

“You shall teach them dili­ gently to your children.” The fu­ ture of Judaism rests with us and with our children.

Rabbi Knight wants this instal­ lation weekend to celebrate all Temple Beth El is. We have a rich and collaborative past. We see it through our commitment to build Charlotte’s Jewish community through the development of Shalom Park. We see it every day in the synagogue we have built, in the families who belong, and the teens and children who remain en­ gaged. We see it in the partner­ ships we have within Shalom Park and in the Charlotte community.

We see it through our commitment to meaningful learning, a dynamic religious school, inspiring prayer, and impactful social justice.

“We are young and old. We are new to the congregation and we are long­standing members. We pray together and we play to­ gether. We dance at each other’s simchas and console each other at our times of grief. We are a ke­ hillah, a community.”

Temple Beth El is a Remarkable Community Rabbi Knight, his wife Rabbi

Installation Committee: Dale Polsky, co­chair Moira Quinn Klein, co­chair Bob Abroms, Susan Abroms, Phyllis Berlin, Jeff Bierer, Rabbi Ana Bonnheim, Sera Callif, Lynne Cojac, Melissa Duller, Nancy Glass, Judy Jacobson, Jamie Krusch, David Krusch, Janet Lefkowitz, Ross Levin, Liz Naman, Carol Sandler, Howard Seidler, Allen Sherman, Bob Wolf We hope you will join us.

Friday, December 9 6 PM Preneg 7 PM Shabbat Worship and Installation of Rabbi Asher Knight 8:30 PM Oneg Saturday, December 10 9 AM Torah Study with Rabbi David Stern and Rabbi Asher Knight 11 AM Congregational Shabbat Service Sunday, December 11 10­11 AM Meet and Greet with the Clergy of Temple Beth El Please visit www.templebethel.org/calendar for details.

12:30 PM Celebratory Lunch Y

Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 15

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 18

2017 P2G TEEN LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE In collaboration with the Jewish Federation, Temple Beth, Temple Israel and Consolidated High School of Jewish Studies

Part I - Hadera (June 27 - July 12) Journey to Israel with teens from across the Southeast and spend two weeks with students from Hadera. Travel the country, engage in tikkun olam projects and learn about Israel’s politics, culture and society. Enjoy Israeli hospitality and teen life.

Part II - Charlotte (July 17 - 31) Welcome Hadera teens and introduce them to the American way of life. Together they will explore Charlotte’s Jewish community and all the Queen city has to offer to learn about our cultural differences, tzedakah and leadership.

COST: $3,200, includes a $500 subsidy from the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte $100 discount if you register before December 30, 2016

Participants are still eligible for Taglit Birthright Israel Experiences

For more information, please contact Tal Stein in the Federation office at 704.944.6751 or tal.stein@jewishcharlotte.org

TESTIMONIALS “Going on this teen trip was definitely a life-changing experience. I met so many amazing people and now have the greatest lifelong friendships. I definitely recommend this trip to any Jewish teen because it was amazing!” - Ellen Garfinkle “I loved learning about Israeli daily life, culture and of course the food! Also, I made so many friends from Israel and from cities across the Southeast U.S” - Chad Purcell “I have come back from this Israel trip with so many fond memories. I will never forget this experience; I fully enjoyed every day of it!” - Limor Goldsmith

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 19

Menorah Lighting and Carnival in Downtown Waxhaw

A Weekend with Joe Buchanan

By Andrea Kaplan Temple Kol Tikvah in David­ son had the privilege of spending a weekend listening to the inspir­ ing music of Joe Buchanan last month. Joe is a touring Jewish Americana artist from Texas. He has been heard in communities around the US, at the URJ Bien­ nial and at NewCAJE. His debut album, Unbroken, was produced

by Jewish Blues pioneer Saul Kaye. Joe’s music combines ele­ ment of country, folk and rock and tells personal stories of both strug­ gle and triumph. His love of Ju­ daism is evident in the passion he brings to each performance. Joe shared his personal story of con­ version to Judaism and how that has shaped his music that he shared with the congregation. On Friday evening, he helped lead a song­filled Shabbat service. The next evening, Joe inspired a crowd of families for an outdoor community concert and musical Havdalah service. It was a beauti­ ful sight to watch the young and young at heart join together as one for the evening. During Havdalah, everyone joined together singing the words, “It’s a big world, big world, big world outside this light.

We’re a small town, small town, small town here tonight.” As the community sat in lawn chairs, en­ joying a beautiful evening with new and old friends, it truly was a small town community feel. On Sunday, Joe joined the religious school students for some Jewish rock. What a treat for all of the students. The children spent time with Joe in small groups and he tailored his songs to the different age groups. It was a perfect week­ end of love, inspiration, and com­ munity through music. This event was a proud presentation of the Goldring/ Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life and the Jew­ ish Council of Lake Norman.

Don’t miss out on some great events coming up at Temple Kol Tikvah. A special Sisterhood Shabbat service will be held on December 9 at 7 PM. On Sunday December 18 at 11 AM, there will be a community Chanukah event

Glow in the Dark Menorah at StoneCrest Join us for an unbelievable ex­ perience and help us light a giant glow­in­the­dark Menorah at StoneCrest. Bring your family and friends for an amazing Chanukah night including games, activities, crafts, hot drinks, donuts and latkes.

Monday, December 26, 5:30 PM The Fountains Plaza at StoneCrest Shopping Center This event is free of charge.

Visit www.JewishBallantyne. com for more details.Y

Join us for the second annual Menorah lighting in Waxhaw, Wednesday, December 28, 4:30 PM Carnival and Activities; 5:30 PM Menorah light­ ing.

Check our website for details ­ www.Jewish­ Ballantyne.com.

Joe Buchanan (right) entertains Temple Kol Tikvah

sponsored by the Jewish Council of Lake Norman. The event will be held at the Heritage House on 494 E Plaza Dr. in Mooresville.

Everyone is welcome.

There will be a DJ and games for the children as well as an organized drei­ del game for adults. Please join us for a great commu­

Stephen Maher, mayor of Waxhaw, and Rabbi Yis­ rael Levin at last year’s menorah lighting.

nity event. More information can be found at www.templekoltik­ vah.org or www.jewishcoun­ ciloflakenorman.org.Y

www.CGIBallantyne.com

Don’t forget to register for Winter Camp!

December 26­30 Choose your days or the entire week.

and Program g m Registration Registra g ation GOI GOING NG ON NOW!

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 20

Join Temple Kol Ami for Shabbaton, Chanukah Celebration in December Temple Kol Ami of Fort Mill, SC is pleased to invite you to join us for our third Shabbaton of the year on December 2­4. We are thrilled to have Rabbi Ana

Bonnheim to lead us in a weekend of prayer, study, and cultural en­ richment. Rabbi Bonnheim has previously served as Associate Rabbi of Greene Family Camps in

Dallas, TX as well as Rabbi at Temple Beth Emeth in Sherman, TX. She is a graduate of Dart­ mouth College and received her rabbinical ordination from He­ brew Union College­ Cincinnati.

She has recently moved to the Carolinas with her husband, Rabbi Asher Knight of Temple Beth El, and their two young sons.

Rabbi Bonnheim brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for Jewish education and spirituality to the Greater York County/South Charlotte area. The Shabbaton will consist of Friday night Shab­ bat service on December 2, Torah study and Havdalah bonfire/ s’mores on December 3, and Re­ ligious School education on December 4. For more details of all scheduled events, please check our website www.tem­ plekolamisc.org or e­mail us at yorksynagogue@gmail.com. The Shabbaton is free and open to the Jewish community thanks to a generous grant of the Impact and Innovation Fund of the Jewish

Federation of Greater Charlotte.

The public is also invited to celebrate Chanukah with Tem­ ple Kol Ami on the evening of December 16. We will have a special Chanukah Shabbat serv­ ice followed by our annual Chanukah Extravaganza com­ plete with crafts, food, and music. This family­friendly event is free and open to all who would like to participate.

For more information, please refer to our website.

It has been a wonderful year at Temple Kol Ami. Our congrega­ tion has grown exponentially as has our Religious School of over 40 students. We have prayed and played together in 2016, and can look back with fondness at our Purim Carnival, Passover Seder, Annual Picnic, Shabbatons, B’not Mitzvah, Super Bowl and Disney Shabbats, Chanukah Extrava­ ganza, and High Holidays. We can’t wait to make many more fantastic memories together in 2017. We would love for you to

Rabbi Ana Bonnheim

join us at any of our events in De­ cember and going forward into the coming year. We wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year. Y

JFS Donors for October (Continued from page 7)

WISHING A FULL AND SPEEDY RECOVERY TO Mark Rothman on your contin­ ued recovery, from Mr. and Mrs. Sam Polk Minna Aronoff from Mr. Monty Bennett IN HONOR OF Scott D. Goodman from Laura Reich IN APPRECIATION OF Jeff & Marcia Gleiberman for your hospitality to us and Mike in your Sukkah, from Sheila and Larry Margolis Sue Victor for your acts of kindness, from Sheila and Larry Margolis Thank you to the following people who contributed their time to Jewish Family Services in Oc­ tober.

Volunteers: Rick Abrams, Leigh Altman and family, Chaim Burke, Jennifer Collman, Andrea Cronson, Shannon Crystal, Sheryl Effren, Mel and Caren Frank, Robert Friedman, Jennifer Golyn­ sky, Scott Gorelick, Gail Halver­ son, Bob Jacobson, Brad Kirchenbaum, Eric Lerner, Gary Lerner, Matt Luftglass, David Miller, Frada Mozenter, Allan Oxman, Barbara Rein, Louis Sinkoe, Harry Sparks, Sara Stinemetz, Jeff and Stacy Strauch, Liz Wahls, Amalia Warshenbrot, Mike Weinberg, Jan Weiner, Mary Wennen, Dori Whitman, Lisa Wielunski, and Nancy Wielunski.

Hadassah Cooks: Barbara Abrams, Phyllis Berlin, Cathy Bogus, Gladys Cherny, Roz Cooper, Gail Green, Sandy Hoagland, Judy Kaufmann, Penny Krieger, Lois Mazer, Phyllis Ro­ maine, Elissa Vining Food Pantry Donations: Larry & Dale Polsky, Frada Mozenter, and CJDS Food Drives: Temple Israel congregants, Temple Beth El LIB­ ERTY group, JPS Mitzvah Munchkins, CJP Mitzvah Munchkins, and the JCC sports teams. Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 21

Saving the Date Isn’t Just for Weddings Anymore Temple Solel had a spe­ cial “date” with our new Torah. Simchat Torah was very special this year be­ cause Temple Solel transi­ tioned the borrowed Torah by reading the last parsha, and then read the first par­ sha in Genesis from the newly transitioned Torah.

Soon, the borrowed Torah will be returned to the In­ stitute for Southern Jewish Learning (ISJL). On Octo­ ber 28, there were visiting students from Winthrop University’s Religion Class who had excellent ques­ tions about Judaism. They had an experience standing next to the Torah as it was read during the service and enjoyed the informal service.

Like the excitement of a newly engaged couple announcing their wedding, there are dates congre­ gations like Temple Solel have coming up in the future, to tell the Jewish community about to keep the spice in relationships.

With secular holidays coming up, there are creative ways to cel­ ebrate and keep relationships strong in the community. On Thanksgiving, instead of keeping all the leftovers to themselves, the congregation plans to meet to­ gether at St. Philip Neri on No­ vember 25 at 6 PM to bring in creative re­meals of their family favorites to share as members and friends. It is another opportunity

Reading the Torah at Temple Solel.

to be grateful for all we have.

Early in the month on Decem­ ber 10, the Charlotte Jewish Fed­ eration’s Community Schlicha and Israel Emissary, Inbal Ozeri, has graciously agreed to do a pro­ gram at 7 PM at Shelley Pawlyk’s home to tell us about Israel and her family. Temple Solel is excited about engaging Inbal in the future to teach dance. There are youth who have introduced dance as a form of worship expression dur­ ing a service they held earlier in the year. Learning more Hebrew dance styles is something the con­ gregation is open to learning and understanding more about our cul­ ture.

Each December Temple Solel has a special Chanukah service, which is especially important to

families and children who light the Menorah kindling the Festival of Lights in everyone’s hearts. This year, please join the Temple on De­ cember 23 at 7 PM. The Feitelberg family collects menorahs as pieces of art that adorn custom shelves created in their home to display rituals of their faith throughout the year.

They were interviewed

by CN2 in Rock Hill showing their beautiful collection of menorahs.

Chanukah at Temple Solel.

The Temple Solel Board is looking forward to hosting a De­ cember lunch date with Temple Beth El’s new clergy, cantors, ex­ ecutive director, and president.

The board is actively pursuing ad­ ditional social justice opportuni­ ties working with local non­profit organizations in South Carolina.

Over the High Holy Days the con­ gregation donated a total of over 500 pounds of food for the Fort Mill Care Center. Funding was just approved to provide gift bags for elderly residents in need of practical items like gloves and scarves, to be distributed by the

Fort Mill Care Center. We hope to bring a little joy into their lives over the holidays. Already on Chanukah Harry’s wish list, is to sponsor a minimum of five gift re­ quests associated with the Dreidel Tree by Jewish Family Services.

Member Herb Feitelberg eagerly volunteered to get the gift assign­ ments.

When it comes time to kick off the calendar year, don’t miss out on the annual Chili Cook off Jan­ uary 14 at 7 PM. Where there is food, there is likely to be Jewish people. Our warm community in South Carolina welcomes your visit, or better yet, to stay longer as a member.

Any questions, reach out to Roy and Wendy Weinberger (803­ 548­5415 or 803­554­4029).Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 22

Jewish Jewish C ommunity Community Relations R elations C ouncil Council

2016-2017 20 16 6-2017 JCRC SPEAKE SSPEAKER R SERIE SERIES ES Jan January nuary 26, February February 28, 28 8, March March 23 and May May 22 2 7:00 0p pm | Sam mL Lerner erner C Center enter ffor or Cultur C Cultural al Ar Arts rts YOTAM Y OTAM AM GOREN January 26: Isr Israel raael and the t U U.N. .N. . - Chall Challenges lenges and Opp Opportunities portunities Yotam Y otam o Goren Goren n is an Israeli Israeli diplomat diploma at currently currently pur pursuing suing gr graduate aduate sstudies tudies aatt the Harv Harvard ard Kennedy K ennedy Sch School. hool Yotam hool.

Yo otam joined the th he Israeli Israeli foreign foreign ministry miniistry in 20 2010, 10, serving in the North America Division Div vision in Jerusalem followed followed b y service service in the t embassy embassy in Amm man and the by Amman Permanent P ermanent Mis M Mission sion of Isr Israel ael tto o th the he U U.N. .N.

RALPH H NURNBERGER NURNBERGER February F ebruary y 28: T The he Elect h Election tion is O Over: veer: Now No ow W What? h hat?

Wha Whatt can our ccommunity xpect fr from om Am America’s erica’s ne next xt Pr President esiident ommunity eexpect and new new administration? a adminis tration?

Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, Dr. Nu urnberger, a professor professor of International International Relations Relations at at Geor Georgetown getown University, Univ ersity, iss a widely ac acclaimed claimed speak speaker er who brings humor humor,, curr current ent politi political cal insights insigh ts and his historical torical back background groun nd to to his presentations presentation ns and analy analysis sis of po political litical and international in ternational is issues sues including Am American merican politics and th the he Middle Eas East. t.

MICAH H HALPERN March Mar ch 23: 2 Regional Turmoil Turmoil Challenge: Challeng ge: Influence Influence of of ISIS on Palestinian Israeli Paalestiniaan Israeli Isrraaeli Conflict Conflictt and Isr raeli a Arab Arrab a Minority Micah Halpern, Halpern, a syndicated syndicated ccolumnist, olumnist, is also a w well-known ell-known social and political po olitical ccommentator, ommentator, educa tor, and his torian. An e xpert on tterrorism, errorism, Halpern ha as been educator, historian. expert has in invited vited for for consultations consultations in the W White hite House with tterror errror analy analysts sts and has addressed addressed sponsored by cconferences onferences sponsor ed b y the JJustice ustice Department.

Department.

TBA:

Federation F ederation An Annual nual Meeting, Ma May y 22 2 20 17 JCRC Ann nual F all L ectu ure 2017 Annual Fall Lecture

Allll e A events vents ar are re fr free re ee and op open pen tto o the community. comm munitty.

For F or more more information, in nformation, plea please ase ccontact ontact T Tal a al S Stein, tein, Dir Director ector of o C Community ommunity R Relations elations & Israel Israel Affairs, Affairs, 704.944.6751 704.944.6751 orr tal.s tal.stein@jewishcharlotte.org. tein@jewishcharlotte.org.

WWW.JEWISHCHARLOTTE.ORG W WW..JEW WISHCH HARLOTTE.ORG O

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 23

Rabbi Schindler Leads Interfaith Service for More Than 100 at Congregation Emanuel in Statesville Much of life is spent building: careers, families, homes … even societies.

But just as God took six days to create the earth and rested on the seventh, all of us need to allow and celebrate time for reflection and renewal.

Rabbi Judith Schindler, associ­ ate professor of Jewish Studies, Director of the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Jus­ tice at Queens University and Rabbi Emerita of Temple Beth El in Charlotte, spoke on peace and contemplation during the Shabbat service. Attendees included mem­ bers of Grace Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church and the service was rounded out with mu­ sical accompaniment by Mitch Siegel as Cantor and Helen Rifas on harp, both long­standing mem­ bers of Congregation Emanuel.

“We are so caught up in build­ ing and see ourselves as having so much to do, that stopping be­ comes a challenge,” said Schindler. “But if God needed to stop and find replenishment, how much more do we?”

Schindler’s service blended prayers, music and lessons related to both Shabbat and to the Torah portion, Noach. Schindler noted the story of Noah and the story of the Tower of Babel as metaphors for God’s expectation that hu­ mankind act in ways that foster a shelter of peace for the entire

her original poem, “Election 2016 — My Vow for the Day After,” that includes the following lines: “Not ‘we need to talk’ but we need to learn how to talk: to listen to the anxiety and to get past the schisms.

The stakes are far too high: Education, healthcare, housing, justice, violence, the aging and elderly, our youth, our future.

We need to continue to engage, to dialogue, to debate, to work, to walk, together.”

Schindler spoke about her de­ sire for restfulness and respect and these ideals yielding a continued spirit of community and democ­ racy. “As God blessed you as you entered, so may God bless you as you leave with Shabbat beauty, with Shabbat rest, with Shabbat peace — with that meaningful pause so that we can build a better world.” Y Photos courtesy of Congrega­ tion Emanuel

Rabbi Judy Schindler on the bimah at Congregation Emanuel.

community and world, not just for individuals.

“Success is achieved not when we build upward, but when we build outward,” Schindler ex­ plained. “Successful building is building in a way that touches, supports, and shelters others,” she continued as she furthered defined success with the parallels between Biblical building and the current election, the resulting political cli­ mate, and the principles of democ­ racy. “Democracy needs to be

built and supported each and every day,” she said. “Democracy requires us to live with our differ­ ences. And like any successful building project from Biblical times until today, it needs to reach outward instead of upward.”

Schindler warned the stakes are high, recalling the destruction of Germany’s democracy in 1933.

She noted the anxiety that many are feeling about the outcome and aftermath of the November 8 pres­ idential election. Schindler read

Helen Rifas and Mitch Siegel.

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 24

Levine­Sklut Judaic Library Women’s News and Resource Center Order Your 2017 Mah Jongg Card Now Through Chanukah Kits are Back Have you been challenged to tion. The kits include: picture lotte.org. If you would like to give explain Hanukkah to a classroom book, menorah, candles, dreidel each student in your child’s class Hadassah of children, many of whom are with game directions, as well as gelt and a dreidel to keep, we con­

Hadassah is making it easier than ever to order the 2017 card.

1. New: You can order your card now. No need to wait for the Mah Jongg League paperwork.

Your address, contact info, and check is all we need.

2. Same price as last year: Large Card ­ $9, Standard Card ­ $8. Remember: make your check out to Hadassah.

We process your order, but your card and newsletter come di­ rectly from the National Mah Jongg League. In return for our help, the NMJL makes a donation to Hadassah.

3. New: Two ways to order ­ Mark your order to Madeline Aron and drop off at the Shalom Park Front Desk, or mail to Made­ line Aron, 4940 Hardison Road, Charlotte 28226.

not Jewish? Don’t fear, the Levine­Sklut Judaic Library will come to your assistance. The li­ brary has created Hanukkah kits to take into any classroom situa­

lots of other information. Kits will be available on December 1.

Please call to reserve yours today at 704­944­6783 or contact Debby Block at dblock@shalomchar­

veniently offer nut­free chocolate gelt and dreidels (in packages of 25) for only $10. Y

4. New: Order now through January 15, 2017.

Questions? Call Madeline at 704­996­0342. Y

2017-18 Enrollment at our

OPEN OPE PEN HOUSE! HOUS HO O S SE! E! Friday, January 20, 2017

704-944-6776 www.charlottejewishpreschool.org CJP is a partnership of Temple Beth El, Temple Israel & LJCC

Call

Email

Online

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 26

Nine Things You Didn’t Know about Chanukah

By Julie Wiener (MyJewishLearning via JTA) ­ Chanukah, which starts at sun­ down on December 24 ­ Christ­ mas eve ­ is among the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays in the United States. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing new to learn about this eight­day festi­ val.

From the mysterious origins of gelt to an Apocryphal beheading to Marilyn Monroe, we’ve com­ piled an item for each candle (don’t forget the shammash!) on the Chanukah menorah.

1. Gelt as we know it is a rela­ tively new tradition — and no one knows who invented it.

While coins – “gelt” is Yiddish for coins, or money – have been part of Chanukah observance for centuries, chocolate gelt is consid­ erably younger. In her book “On the Chocolate Trail,” Rabbi Deb­ orah Prinz writes that “opinions differ” concerning the origins of chocolate gelt: Some credit Amer­ ica’s Loft candy company with creating it in the 1920s, while oth­

Julie Wiener

ers suggest there were European versions earlier that inspired Is­ rael’s Elite candy company. Prinz notes, as well, that chocolate gelt resembles a European Christmas tradition of exchanging gold­cov­ ered chocolate coins “commemo­ rating the miracles of St. Nicholas.”

2. The first Chanukah celebra­ tion was actually a delayed Sukkot observance.

The second book of Maccabees quotes from a letter sent circa 125 BCE from the Hasmoneans, the

Maccabees’ descendants, to the leaders of Egyptian Jewry de­ scribing the holiday as “the festi­ val of Sukkot celebrated in the month of Kislev rather than Tishrei.” Since the Jews were still in caves fighting as guerrillas in Tishrei, 164 BCE, they had been unable to honor the eight­day hol­ iday of Sukkot, which required visiting the Jerusalem Temple.

Hence it was postponed until after the recapture of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Temple. Many scholars believe it is this – not the Talmudic legend of the cruse of oil that lasted eight days – that ex­ plains why Chanukah is eight days long.

3. The books of Maccabees, which tell the story of Chanukah, were not included in the Hebrew Bible – but they are in the Catholic Bible.

There are different theories ex­ plaining why the first­century rab­ bis who canonized the scriptures omitted the Maccabees, ranging from the text’s relative newness at the time to fears of alienating the

Roman leadership then in control of Jerusalem.

4. Marilyn Monroe owned a music­playing Chanukah meno­ rah (the Marilyn Monrorah?).

When the Hollywood star con­ verted to Judaism before marrying the Jewish playwright Arthur Miller, her future mother­in­law gave her a menorah as a conver­ sion gift. The Chanukah lamp, which the menorah’s current owner says Mrs. Miller brought back from Jerusalem, has a wind­ up music box in its base that plays “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national an­ them. The Marilyn menorah is featured in the Jewish Museum in New York City’s exhibit “Becom­ ing Jewish: Warhol’s Liz and Mar­ ilyn,” but sadly you cannot wind it up.

5. The game of dreidel was in­ spired by a German game played at Christmastime that itself is an imitation of an English and Irish one.

Our Eastern European game of dreidel (including the Hebrew let­ ters nun, gimmel, hey, and shin) is

directly based on the German equivalent of the British totum game: N = Nichts = nothing; G = Ganz = all; H = Halb = half, and S = Stell ein = put in. In German, the spinning top was called a “tor­ rel,” or “trundl.”

6. Oily food (think latkes and sufganiyot) isn’t Chanukah’s only culinary tradition.

Traditionally, Chanukah has in­ cluded foods with cheese in recognition of Judith, whose lib­ eral use of the salty treat facili­ tated a victory for the Maccabees.

7. On Chanukah, we celebrate a grisly murder.

The aforementioned Judith had an ulterior motive for plying the Assyrian general Holofernes with salty cheese: making him thirsty so he would drink lots of wine and pass out, enabling her to chop off his head and bring it home with her. The beheading – particularly the fact that a woman carried it out – was said to have frightened Holofernes’ troops into fleeing the Maccabees.

8. The next “Thanks­ givukkah” (sort of), is only 55 years away.

In 2013, the convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah on November 28 inspired everything from turkey­shaped menorahs to a giant dreidel float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. While ex­ perts say a full day of Chanukah won’t coincide with the fourth Thursday in November for thou­ sands of years, the first night of Chanukah will fall in time for Thanksgiving dinner (assuming you have the meal at dinnertime rather than in the afternoon) on November 27, 2070.

9. The largest menorah in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is 32 feet high and weighs 4,000 pounds.

The Shulchan Aruch stipulates that a menorah should be no taller than about 31 feet. Incidentally, Guinness lists at least three other Chanukah­related records: most dreidels spinning simultaneously for at least 10 seconds (734), most people simultaneously lighting menorahs (834) and largest dis­ play of lit menorahs (1,000). We’d like to know the most latkes ever eaten in one sitting. Y (Julie Wiener is the managing editor of MyJewishLearning.)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 27

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 28

Beloved “Town of Chelm” Returns in World’s First Encyclopedia of Chelm Stories After enjoying decades of ac­ claim in the pages of The Jewish Press, the lovable, side­splitting tales from the legendary town of Chelm have recently been col­ lected in the world’s first encyclo­ pedia of Chelm stories. In time for this year’s Chanukah gift­giving

season, The Silly World of Chelm, has been published by Zalman Goldstein, of The Jewish Learning Group, and is being distributed worldwide by Feldheim Publish­ ers.

The treasury of Jewish wit and whimsy brims with over 150 sto­

ries straight out of the fabled town of Chelm — the place where solv­ ing life’s practical problems was never a straightforward affair, but rather a rollicking journey into the inane.

The world’s first 408­page en­ cyclopedia of Chelm stories re­ac­

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quaints readers with the unforget­ table characters that everyone’s come to know and love, including, “The Wise Sage of Chelm,” and fumbling “Shepsil.” The simple­ minded, “Mottel the Tailor,” and riotous, “Berel the Terrible.” In all, original writer and creator, Arnold Fine’s, recipe for simple and clean Jewish humor still de­ livers, and with so many stories gathered together in one book, The Silly World of Chelm, is guar­ anteed to provide hours of fun and enjoyment for the whole family.

In the new 8x10 large­format book, with a uniquely decorated padded cover, you’ll read about the “Green­Eyed Monster,” and “The Adventures of Kunkle and Munkle.” You’ll enjoy the hilari­ ous tale of “The Mayor’s Shoes,” and learn about the formation of the “Worriers of Chelm,” plus dozens and dozens of more popu­ lar tales.

“The brilliantly conceived, ec­ centric scenarios have, for decades, left readers of all ages in stitches with helpless laughter, all the while leaving them scratching their heads in wonderment,” ex­ plains Zalman Goldstein, author also of the children’s suspense title, The Sultan’s Trap and the popular Uncle Yossi’s Big Book of Stories series.

“Being able to provide good, kosher humor for everyone is a privilege that is difficult to pass up. In this regard, The Silly World of Chelm really delivers.”

For those new to the inane uni­ verse of Chelm stories, here’s a sample scenario: One day the peo­ ple of Chelm gathered to build a new shul for the growing village.

“But,” one of the elders called out.

“If we dig the foundation for the new shul, where will we put the earth that will be taken out of the ground?” They all turned to the Sage and waited for his answer.

“All we have to do is dig another hole to put the earth in!” the Sage explained quite innocently. “But,” persisted the elder, “where will we put the earth we remove from the second hole that we will be dig­ ging?” The Sage smiled warmly.

“That too, has a simple solution!

We will dig a third hole, twice as big as the first, and place the earth from the second hole in that hole!” And on and on it went.

Another: In the little village of Chelm, Moshe, the tailor, opened a new shop where he was to sell ready­made clothing. This was a new thing in Chelm, because,

whenever anyone needed cloth­ ing, they would have to go to Moshe to be fitted and measured.

It took weeks, and even months, for Moshe to finish a garment. So the opening of the ready­made clothing store was a sign of progress. After the first day, Moshe sat in his store and began to daydream: “I went to the big city and purchased the ready­ made suits. Now, if I opened an­ other store, I would do twice as much business as I did today!

“If I made twice the amount of money, I would then have enough to open two more stores! Now, if the good Lord favors me, I would then be able to open more and more stores. I would never have to sit by a sewing table again! I would simply go from store to store to collect the money.” He leaned back in his chair as he con­ tinued to daydream: “Since I would visit each store every day, and if each store did well, I would have even 100 kopecks at the end of a day! But if I had that many kopecks, I am certain thieves that visit Chelm from neighboring vil­ lages would know this, and then one night they would wait for me outside my home and rob all my hundred kopecks. ‘Gevalt! I have been robbed,’ I would scream, ‘I have been robbed!’” He didn’t re­ alize it at first, but he shouted so hard that his next door neighbor heard the scream and quickly called Shloimi, the chief of police.

Shloimi blew his whistle and all the townsfolk came running.

“Moshe, our tailor of ready­made clothes has been robbed!” every­ one shouted. Then the Old Sage of Chelm came rushing to the store.

Moshe explained what had hap­ pened.

“Indeed, Old Sage,” he cried, “I have been robbed. The thief took all the money I collected from my six stores of ready­made cloth­ ing!” The Old Sage patted Moshe on the head softly and said, “You have not been robbed because everything you told me had an ‘if’ in it. You said if you did well in the store you would get a second.

And if you did well in the second you would get a third, and if you did well you would get a fourth, and a fifth. So in order for this not to come true, if this store burned down with all the clothing inside, you would have no problem!”

Everyone agreed. Moshe took a match and set fire to his new store.

As the last ember burned itself out, Moshe breathed a sigh of re­ lief. “It is such a pleasure to have such a wise man among us. Oy, what aggravation I could have had!!”

Oh, the profundity!

The Silly World of Chelm can be ordered at www.World­ OfChelm.com. Y

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 29

Eight Ways to Celebrate Chanukah That Chocolatiers Raising the Bar When It Comes to Aren’t About the Presents up on the story before they arrive.

By Rebecca Rosenthal Chanukah Gelt 7. Watch lots of Chanukah (Kveller via JTA) ­ We love Chanukah. The message that the rabbis in the Talmud give about the holiday is that we light candles each night in order to increase the holiness in the world.

What a beautiful idea — one that can be completely lost on children.

We don’t expect them to be im­ mune to the culture in which we live, but we want to help them un­ derstand that the miracle of Chanukah is about bringing more light into the world, not filling their rooms with more stuff.

So here are some ideas for cel­ ebrating Chanukah with kids that aren’t just about the presents that have worked for our families.

1. Decorate.

The mitzvah of Chanukah is to publicize the miracle, both that the small Jewish army defeated the large Greek army and that the small jar of oil lasted for eight days. Get the message out by dec­ orating your house. Turn it into a family project by making your own decorations.

2. Do something for others.

The best way to publicize the miracle is to help others see the light in the world. Find a project that you can do as a family that helps others in your community or in the world.

3. Donate your tzedakah.

Search your house for those

Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal

coins that have been hiding in the couch all year. Find a cause that your family is passionate about and donate all that loose change.

You’d be surprised how much it can add up to. Instead of presents every night, ask your family and friends to make a donation in your child’s honor.

4. Carve out time together.

Commit to turning off your phones and being present. Sing as many silly Chanukah songs as you know, play competitive drei­ del, and eat some latkes and jelly doughnuts.

5. Read Chanukah books.

There are so many fun chil­ dren’s stories about Chanukah.

Both PJ Library and Amazon are great sources for finding books that will appeal to your child and the whole family.

6. Invite friends over.

Bonus points for inviting those friends who have never celebrated Chanukah. Make sure you brush

parody videos.

This is a personal favorite in my family, where we watch videos from groups like the Mac­ cabeats to Six13 to videos people made in their own homes (or of­ fices, like we did). Feeling brave?

Make your own.

8. Make a new family tradi­ tion.

Are there things you always wanted to do in your city? Make a Chanukah bucket list and do one each night. Or have a latke contest to see who can add the most cre­ ative ingredients to the traditional potato pancakes. Add something fun that you can do together as a family and share it with others.

And since we know that kids (and grown­ups!) still love to get presents, you can participate in a “get one, give one” plan so that each time your child is given a toy, they have to choose a gently used one to donate. Make it even more meaningful by taking your child to deliver his/her donation to a shelter or a hospital.

Happy Chanukah!Y (Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal is the director of youth and family education at Central Synagogue in New York City. This piece was written in conjunction with Erin Bouchard, the family engagement project director at Central Syna­ gogue.)

By Deborah R. Prinz New York (JTA) ­ Sharing their favorite Jewish chocolate experi­ ences recently, a group of about 60 chocolate lovers didn’t even mention Chanukah gelt.

That is, until one woman at the New Jersey get­together shared her thoughts on the subject.

“It is sucky,” she said, meaning that the chocolate is waxy, flavor­ less and should remain wrapped in its foil on the holiday table.

Francine Segan, an author and chocolate maven, echoed the feel­ ing when she told me recently that her children, who were accus­ tomed to high­quality chocolate, suggested that the Chanukah gelt they sampled be recycled or given to younger children.

Several chocolate makers, however, are bringing finer, tastier and richer dark chocolate to gelt.

Cookbook author Leah Koenig, who has done several gelt tastings, wrote in Saveur that arti­ san chocolatiers from all over the world have started creating top­ notch chocolate coins.

Segan explains that “good chocolate needs to contain 100% cocoa product, without cheap sub­ stitutes or additives, along with quality sugar and flavorings. Just as we want to be feeding our chil­ dren real food, we should be giv­ ing them real chocolate.”

Koenig also looks for a high ratio of cocoa solids to the other products. For her, that means “more flavor than sweet.”

Heather Johnston started mak­ ing her “Kosher Gelt for Grown­ Ups” just two years ago at her Chicago­based Veruca Chocolates when she and some friends be­ moaned the horrible quality of gelt. She felt called to remedy that by using a great tasting chocolate made by the California­based Guittard, which sources and se­ lects its own beans to create an ar­ tisanal, luxury chocolate.

For sophisticated palates, she offers two dark chocolate ver­ sions: with sea salt or with cocoa nibs.

Johnston also searched for the right design for her mold.

“I wanted the coins to look old, so I explored ancient coinage,” she said in a recent phone conver­ sation.

Johnston selected an ancient Maccabean coin embossed with the Jerusalem Temple menorah similar to that issued by Mat­ tathias Antigonus, a descendant of the Maccabees. Her coins are ele­ gantly airbrushed with gold or sil­ ver.

Lake Champlain Chocolates in Burlington, VT, packages its fine (Continued on page 31)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 30

Here’s a Chanukah Menu with a Healthy Flair ­ and Latkes

By Megan Wolf (JTA) ­ Chanukah is a celebra­ tion, a joyful holiday with deli­ cious food and family memories.

I remember lighting our menorah as a little girl with my bubbe.

Now, raising my daughter, I hope to create special memories with her.

Food is typically at the center of our celebrations and this Chanukah, I have created a spinach­focused menu for a deli­ cious and festive meal.

Starting with creamy white bean soup, inspired by my mother’s love for soup served in large mugs, this dish sets the tone for a deliciously healthy meal.

Warm and satisfying, this dish is topped with jewel­toned sauteed spinach and is pretty enough to serve to company. And it’s easy enough to make on a weeknight.

Most people think about tradi­ tional potato latkes on Chanukah.

My Spinach, Broccoli, and Scal­ lion Pancakes with Poached Eggs are just as delicious ­ you can serve without the eggs, if you like.

Growing up, we would enjoy

Creamy white bean soup.

sour cream and applesauce with our potato latkes. Sour cream (or Greek yogurt) would be a perfect pairing for these light, vegetable­ filled pancakes. I like mine with hot sauce.

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Toasted Pistachios, and Cranber­ ries is among my favorite recipes from my cookbook “Great Meals with Greens and Grains,” with its interesting textures, bold flavors,

and a bright and balanced dress­ ing. It could not be easier to make and is sure to be a hit on your hol­ iday table.

Here are the recipes for these winning dishes.

Creamy White Bean Soup with Sauteed Spinach Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 head garlic, top quarter sliced

off and discarded 1/4 c. olive oil, divided, plus more for garnish 1 T. butter 1 med. Vidalia onion, sliced 2­1/2 c. low­sodium vegetable stock, divided 1 dried bay leaf 2 cans (15 oz. each) white beans, rinsed and drained, divided 1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese Salt to taste 5 oz. baby spinach Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the garlic on a piece of alu­ minum foil and drizzle with 1 T. of the olive oil. Wrap into a pouch and roast for 30 to 40 min., or till the garlic is soft and golden brown. In a large stockpot, heat 2 T. of the olive oil and the butter over med. heat. Add the onion and cook till soft, stirring occasion­ ally, about 5 min. Add 2­1/4 c. of the vegetable stock, the bay leaf and 1 can of the white beans to the onions. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 20 min.

Once the garlic is roasted, add it

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to the soup by popping each clove out of its protective paper. In batches, transfer to a blender or food processor and puree till smooth, then pour the soup back into the stockpot. Add the remain­ ing can of white beans, remaining 1/4 c. vegetable stock and the Parmesan to the pureed mixture and heat through, about 10 min.

Season to taste with salt. In a saute pan, heat the remaining 1 T. olive oil, then add the spinach. Cook till completely wilted, about 4 min.

To serve, pour equal amounts of the soup into each of 4 bowls and top with the sauteed spinach and an extra drizzle of olive oil.

Tips: Make sure you are constantly scraping the bottom of the stock­ pot — that’s where so much fla­ vor lives. Use the best olive oil you can find; it really makes such a difference, especially when used as a garnish.

Spinach, Broccoli, and Scallion Pancakes with Poached Eggs Serves 4 Ingredients: For the pancakes: 1­1/2 c. chopped broccoli 4 c. packed baby spinach 3 T. olive oil, divided 3 eggs 1/2 t. baking soda 1/4 c. all­purpose flour 1/2 c. panko breadcrumbs 1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese 4 scallions, thinly sliced, divided For the eggs: 4 c. water 4 lg. eggs 1 T. white vinegar Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven to heat.

To make the pancakes: Steam the broccoli till tender but still crisp, about 3­5 min. While the broccoli cooks, saute the spinach in 1 T. of the olive oil in a skillet till wilted, about 3 min., then re­ move from the heat and roughly chop. In a lg. bowl, beat the eggs, and then add the baking soda, flour, panko, and Parmesan cheese; stir to combine. Add the broccoli, spinach, and half the scallions. Mix to combine. Re­ move the hot baking sheet from the oven and grease with the re­ maining 2 T. olive oil. With an ice cream scoop, place pancakes evenly on the baking sheet. Gen­ tly press the top of each pancake to flatten. Bake for 10 min., then flip and bake for another 2 min., or till the centers of the pancakes are cooked through.

To make the poached eggs (start with about 8 min. remaining on the pancakes): Boil the water in a large high­rimmed skillet.

Once the water comes to a boil, crack each egg into its own ramekin. Add the white vinegar to the boiling water, reduce the heat to med.­low and drop each egg into the hot water. Cover the skil­ let and let the eggs cook for 3 min.

Remove the pancakes from the oven and serve 2 or 3 to a plate depending on their size. Top each plate with a poached egg and a sprinkle of the remaining scal­ lions. Serve immediately.

(Continued on page 31)

The Charlotte Jewish News ­ December 2016 ­ Page 31

Chocaltiers and Chanukah Gelt

Healthy Chanukah Menu

(Continued from page 29)

(Continued from page 30)

milk chocolate coins in festive Chanukah boxes. Rich and entic­ ing squares of chocolate­covered toffee and almonds or almonds with sea salt nestle in its “Be Kind, Be Fair, Be Conscious, Be Well” A Gift of Goodness box.

They are fair trade, organic and kosher.

Divine Chocolate’s online store offers dark chocolate and milk chocolate coins produced through the farmer cooperative Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana. The phrase “Freedom and Justice” encircles the foil­embossed cocoa tree.

A collaboration among Fair Trade Judaica, T’ruah and Divine offers easy ordering and supports the two nonprofits.

“The gelt we eat on Chanukah is a reminder of the freedom our people won many years ago,” Ilana Schatz wrote at the Fair Trade Judaica website. “Young children are trafficked and forced into working on cocoa farms with no pay and in unsafe conditions in the Ivory Coast.”

Fair trade standards prohibit the use of child and slave labor, a problem particularly in West Africa.

Several resources offer discus­ sion prompts for Chanukah experiences. Lesson plans for adults and children (download­ able for free at Jews­onthechoco­ latetrail.org) assist educators in framing the issues of good Chanukah gelt through conversa­ tions about Jewish values. Hazon and partners have developed brief learning materials, titled “Spin­ ning the Dreidel for Chocolate Gelt,” to encourage purchases of

fair trade and kosher chocolate gelt.

Selecting fair trade chocolate meshes with Chanukah’s spiritual messages about freedom and fair­ ness.

A prayer, “Eating [Fair Trade] Chanukah Gelt,” by Rabbi Men­ achem Creditor, recognizes the potency of chocolate with Chanukah’s theme of enlightening the world’s dark places, an impor­ tant spin on good gelt for Chanukah, especially for children.

So say a prayer, then enjoy the improved chocolate gelt choices — they may not stay under wraps for long. Y (Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz is the author of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Con­ necting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao,” which was pub­ lished in 2013 by Jewish Lights and is in its second printing. She lectures about chocolate and Jews around the world.)

Tip: If poaching all four eggs at once feels too daunting, try two at a time. Eggs cook quickly and this won’t greatly delay your meal.

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Toasted Pistachios, and Cranberries Serves 4 Ingredients: For the lemon vinaigrette: 1/4 c. olive oil juice of 1 lemon 2 cloves garlic, pushed through a garlic press or very well minced 1/4 t. salt (or more to your taste) For the salad: 1/4 c. quinoa 1 c. water 1/2 c. shelled pistachios 10 oz. baby spinach 1 med. Anjou pear 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries 1/2 c. pitted and sliced Cerignola olives Salt to taste Preparation: To make the lemon vinaigrette:

Spinach salad with quinoa, toasted pistachios, and cranberries.

Whisk the ingredients together.

To make the salad: Combine the quinoa and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn down the heat to low, cover the pot and cook another 10 min., or till the quinoa has soft­ ened and the water has evapo­ rated; set aside. Toast the pistachios in a sm. skillet over low heat till they are just golden brown and fragrant, 3­5 min.; set aside.

Place the spinach in a lg. bowl.

Thinly slice the pear and add it to the bowl along with the cranber­

ries and olives. Just prior to serv­ ing, add the toasted pistachios and cooked quinoa, toss with the lemon vinaigrette and season to taste with salt. Serve family style or in individual bowls or on plates.

Tip: Getting the garlic really finely minced or crushed will help the flavor dissipate, so that instead of biting into a piece of raw garlic, the salad is nicely seasoned with a garlic essence. Y

“A candle is a small thing. But one candle can light another. And see how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other.

You are such a light.”

-Moshe Davis