High, ho, high, ho, it’s off to camp we go!
Program to highlight southern summer camp experience
The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina will present “A Summer to Remember: Jewish Summer Camps in the American South” on Nov. 9-10 at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.
“Jewish summer camps have been a fixture of the southern landscape for 60 years. Camp Blue Star, Camp Judaea, Camp Barney Medintz, Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Camp Juniper, Camp Coleman, Camp Baker, and Camp Ramah Darom the most recent arrival, have nurtured generations of youngsters, creating a Jewish social milieu hard to find in small southern communities,” the Society shared. Head out for a weekend of reflection and remembrance as the Society explores the history of these camps and their ongoing impact on the way Jewish youths see themselves and the world.
Keynote speaker will be Marcie Cohen Ferris, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She will share her thoughts on “God First, You Second, Me Third.”
A full itinerary is available online.
Registration is $75 per person. Call Enid Idelsohn at 843-953-3918 or email ldelsohn@cofc.edu for more information.
Hotel accommodations are available at The Inn at USC (a Wyndham Hotel property), 1619 Pendleton St. Rates are $120 per night. Reservations are due by Oct. 23 by calling 803-779-7779.
In other news, the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust Teacher Advisory Committee will present its eighth annual teacher workshop, “Lessons for the Holocaust: Teaching with Primary Sources,” on Oct. 18 at Columbia College.
Registration and refreshments are from 8-8:30 a.m., with the workshop following until 4 p.m.
Keynote speaker is Morris Glass, Holocaust survivor and co-author of “Chosen for Destruction: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor.”
Workshop sessions will be conducted by Dr. Lauren Granite, regional educator and director of the U.S. educational programs of Centropa, the first oral history project that combines old family photographs with the stories that accompany them.
Registration is $35 and includes a copy of Glass’s book. It is suggested that attendees read this before the event.
info/registration: jhssc.org/events.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month observed
Film, discussion and workshop help to educate
During October, the community observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Participants might be seen wearing purple ribbons as a show of their fight against domestic violence and others may choose to observe it in other ways. Purple ribbons are available for those who wish to wear one at Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Rd., and show that you are a warrior in the fight against domestic abuse!
And, as part of that reflection, seven organizations — Shalom Bayit of North Carolina, Jewish Family Services, Levine-Sklut Judaic Library, Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, LoveSpeaksOut and Mecklenburg Ministries — are teaming up to help bring enlightening programs to help educate the public on this often ignored issue.
Abuse is happening in the Jewish community more often than most think. We see it, but rarely believe it. Usually, we call it something else: bad temper; poor judgment; rough day at work; he didn’t mean it; she’s a real klutz; he drinks too much; they just don’t get along. It might be your mother, your best friend, your teenage son or a sister. Some are beaten with fists, but more often they are traumatized by words and actions that humiliate and demean, for the goal of the abuser is total power and control over this one person.
On Oct. 6, 5 p.m., a film and interfaith panel discussion will be held at the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts, Shalom Park. Attendees will be able to screen “I Believe You: Faiths’ Response to Intimate Partner Violence.” This nationally-acclaimed documentary explores stories of survivors of abuse and how clergy and faith groups have advocated for and helped those harmed by abuse.
The film was produced by David and Debra Vinick, with the support of The New York Board of Rabbis, United Methodist Women, National Council of Churches, Presbyterian Women, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and a consortium of Muslim organizations.
Admission is free and open to the public.
On Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m., a “Help Your Tween/Teen Feel Safe” parent workshop will be held at the Sam Lerner Center.
It is presented by LovesSpeaksOut’s Ann Kreidler-Siegel, LCSW, SEP (psychotherapist in private practice) and Melissa Siegel (National Youth Advisory Board chair at Love Is Respect).
Did you know that one in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship, yet 80 percent of parents are unaware of what their child is experiencing? It’s never too early to talk to your child about healthy relationships.
Parents will learn: What age group is at greatest risk of sexual assault? When is texting abusive and how many teens experience it? Where is dating violence most likely to occur? To whom do teens go when it happens? Learn about prevention and become familiar with the world of cyberabuse/textual harassment, the signs and symptoms of an abused or abusive person, and what you can do to help. The program is a must for any parent.
Admission is free and open to the public. However, an RSVP is requested by Oct. 14.
Call 704-364-6594 or email info@jfscharlotte.org to sign up for the workshop or for more information.
Marsha Stickler, director of Shalom Bayit of North Carolina, said that they are looking for volunteers to help serve as greeters, etc., or who might enjoy baking for the parent event. Email info@shalombayit-nc.org to join in.
info: shalombayit-nc.org. jewishcharlotte.org. jfscharlotte.org.
Judaic Art Gallery Showing
The N.C. Museum of Art’s Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery is celebrating the High Holiday season with a tour of its Judaic art collection, which features beautifully crafted ceremonial art such as the Standing Hanukkah Lamp by Ze’ev Raban (see right) of Jerusalem’s Bezalel Workshop.
Go online for more details on the Museum and Judaic collection. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and admission is free (aside from special ticketed exhibitions). Hours are: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, visit ncartmuseum.org.
Domestic Violence Retreat Slated
“There is no place for domestic abuse in our Jewish community.”
Shalom Bayit-NC and Jewish Family Services are hosting a mini-retreat on domestic violence in the Jewish community on June 25, 6-7 p.m., Shalom Park, foundation board room, 5007 Providence Rd.
Although over the past six years progress has been made in the community in the form of ensuring that everyone should be safe in their relationships and in their homes. Monthly publicity, brochures and posters, workshops and sermons, discreet information in restrooms, clergy and lay training, teen education, support groups and one-on-one volunteer friends have been made possible with the support and cooperation of many volunteers and Charlotte Jewish agencies.
“Yet, the number of people who have come forward for help has been small, despite statistics that prove one in four are suffering in an abusive relationship. That includes our teens,” Shalom Bayit-NC Chair Marsha Stickler said.
It is obvious that is a need for fresh ideas to develop novel and more successful approaches this coming year. Organizers are hoping that 15-20 creative, energetic, knowledgeable volunteers will join in a one-hour mini-retreat to look at past and present efforts and offer ideas for better ways of reaching, helping, and raising awareness in the Jewish community in the future.
Refreshments and some projects and concepts to begin the discussion will be provided. This will be informal discussion with no strings attached.
To RSVP, call Stickler at 704-756-9209 or email nfo@shalombayit-nc.org.
For more information on the work that Shalom Bayit NC does, visit shalombayit-nc.org.
Wildacres sets summer symposium
The 66th Annual Wildacres B’nai B’rith Institute of Judaism will be August 12-15, 2013, in North Carolina’s Little Switzerland, aptly named for its spectacular beauty. A $10 per person discount applies to payments received by June 15. Full kosher meals, two-bedded rooms with private bath, live Blue Ridge Mountain music, hiking, card table games and three outstanding speakers are included in the cost: $360/per person, double occupancy or add $140 for single occupancy.
Three outstanding speakers will cover a variety of Jewish topics.
Eli Groner, Israel’s Minister to the U.S. for Economic Affairs, Washington D.C., was born in the U.S. He emigrated to Israel with his family as a teenager. He holds a BA in Political Science from Bar-Ilan University and an MBA from New York University. His topics include:
• Israel Confidential
• Israel at the UN: the Challenges Facing Israel Today
• The Secret Sauce for a Start-Up Nation
Joel Hoffman has lectured on translation, Hebrew, and Torah at Brandeis and at Hebrew Union College. He writes a bi-weekly column for the Jerusalem Post. Joel is a National Jewish Book Award winner, and the author of “And God Said: How Bad Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original Meaning.” His topics include:
• On the Bible’s Cutting Room Floor
• The Bible Doesn’t Say That
• 3,000 Years of Jewish Continuity through 3,000 Years of Hebrew
Jeffrey Morton, professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla., is a designated Master Teacher, the 2004 University Researcher of the Year, and the 2012 College Distinguished Teacher of the Year. He teaches international law, diplomacy and American foreign policy. His topics include:
• Iranian Nuclear Threat
• The Role of International Law in American Foreign Policy
• Confronting Terrorism
Checks for $360/person, double occupancy (add $140 for single occupancy) should be made payable to B’nai B’rith Institute for Judaism and mailed to Sandra Apple, 4200 Stratton Village Ln., Wilmington, NC 28409. Remember to deduct $10 per person when payment is received by June 15.
For information about needs based scholarships, contact Karen Shectman, 919.533.8032.
For more information contact Bill Carr at bcarr@ipass.net or 919.781.4207.
For more information or to register online, visit www.wildacres.org.
Friends Run to Benefit Jewish Family Services
Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte will honor U.S. veterans with a charity Friends Run on Nov. 11 at 8 a.m. at Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Rd.
The chip-timed 5K and one-mile family walk/run will mark the second year that Jewish Family Services (JFS) has sponsored a run, formerly called The Falafel 5K. It serves as a fundraiser for JFS, with proceeds directly benefiting the non-profit agency that helps members of the community who struggle with issues related to aging, parenting, illness, job loss, disability and poverty. It services are available to people of all ages, religions and socio-economic backgrounds.
Registration and packet pick-up is from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Kick-off is at 7:45 a.m. with a salute to veterans, including a patriotic color guard presentation, poem reading and singing of the National Anthem by John Crane. Stacey Simms, host of NewsTalk 1110 WBT Charlotte’s “Morning News,” will emcee the event. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue apparel. The family fun run begins at 8:30 a.m.
“We are encouraging families of all ages to join in the Friends Run together. Our annual 5K is a healthy, social way for Charlotte to become aware of what Jewish Family Services offers to our community,” said Jennifer Collman, 2012 Friends Run Event chair.
Participants are encouraged to enjoy the post-race party featuring refreshments, TCBY frozen yogurt, free day passes to the Levine Jewish Community Center, swimming under the pool bubble (first 200 participants), post race stretching and chair massages.
In an effort to allow greater participation, babysitting will be provided to race participants through the center for a nominal fee. Reservations are required through Nov. 4 by calling 704-366-5007.
Additional registration pick up will be held on Nov. 10, 12-5 p.m., at Charlotte Running Company, 5355 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Suite 300, in the Promenade
Fees for 5K runners are: through Oct. 28, $25; Oct. 29-Nov. 9, $30; and $35, race day. Fees for the mile run are: through Oct. 28, $10; Oct. 29-Nov. 9, $12; and $15, race day. All entry fees include Friends Runs T-shirt and goody bag.
Those who want to support JFS, but do not wish to run, may sign up as a “ghost runner” and receive a shirt and goody bag.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female runners overall.
To register or for more information, visit friendsrun.com.
Butterfly Project seeks support
Women’s Professional Network…forging relationships, building community
invites the community to
Art, Heart and Soul
A special program combining
The Butterfly Project and “Books, Blankets and Bears”
Thursday, October 25, 2012, 6-7:30 p.m.
Participate in The Butterfly Project, a poignant and interactive tribute to the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. The simple act of painting a butterfly represents each child’s spirit and has taken on a life of its own.
The Books, Blankets and Bears Project is done in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and as an extension of the Women’s Professional Network’s Shalom Bayit/NC initiative, they will be contributing books, blankets and bears to the Battered Women’s Shelter. Over the last year we collected cellphones for the shelter. They are still needed, so consider giving your cast-offs and replacements, as well. Bring your items to an upcoming Havurat Tikvah event or service or take them to the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s office located at Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Rd.
To make a reservation by Oct. 18 or for more information, contact Sue Littauer at 704.944.6758, sue.littauer@jewishcharlotte.org or visit jewishcharlotte.org.
The Women’s Professional Network presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte offers women the opportunity to engage socially and connect with a cause. The Network meets 5 times each year and is open to all professional women who contribute a minimum of $180 to the Annual Campaign.
Panel discussions on Holocaust slated
Davidson College is currently engaged in panel discussions on the Holocaust across the area and has invited the community to attend one organized by the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library at Gorelick Hall, 5007 Providence Rd., on May 7 at 7 p.m.
This comes in the aftermath of a research trip to various memorials in Germany and Poland during Spring break. Students researchers are facilitating the discussion panels as part of their coursework.
Dr.Thomas Pegelow Kaplan from the Department of History and author of “The Language of Nazi Genocide” and Dr. Scott Denham from the Department of German Studies and editor of the book series “Interdisciplinary German Cultural Studies” led the European trip. Full access to the archives at various institution were made available to the students. This included the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, the Memorial Site of the House of the Wannsee Conference and the Volkswagen Corporation in Wolfsburg.
The students presented their preliminary findings at the prestigious Friedrich Meinecke Institute at the Free University of Berlin and at the Sosnowiec campus of Silesian University. They also had the opportunity to met with Polish and German scholars, students, members of the Jewish community, politicians, a former Hitler Youth member and a rescuer, as well as Righteous Among the Nations.
The presentations include new work on the Auschwitz orchestras, female slave labor at the city of the KdF (“Kraft durch Freude” or Strength through Joy, now known as the Volkswagen Beetle) car (Wolfsburg) and the Jewish exhibitions at the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial in the German Democratic Republic and the united Germany.
To learn more about the trip, visit www.davidsonian.com/news/holocaust-seminar-spends-spring-break-abroad-1.2718798.
Talli Dippold, library director, and Rachael Levine, director of community relations and Israeli affairs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte are acting as liaisons between the school and Shalom Park.
Although attendance is free, it is suggested that material presented may not be suitable for children.
For more information, contact Dr. Thomas Pegelow Kaplan at 704-894-2284.
Violins of Hope comes to the Queen City
Violins of Hope will make it’s Carolina appearance between April 9-24 at various venues across Charlotte. This initiative is a joint partnership with Queens University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as cultural institutions from the area.
Included are exhibits with poetry and artwork created by the camp’s children. The exhibits, along with film screenings, lectures and concerts are held at a various locations.
Featured are 18 violins that were recovered from the Holocaust. None of these “lost children” have been assembled and played together in the Western Hemisphere until now. They are being used in a series of programs that explore the instruments’ extraordinary stories.
Amnon Weinstein, a master violinmaker from Israel, has been the person responsible for recovering these instruments, including restoring them to playing condition so they could be shared with audiences.
For more information, full schedules and more, visit violinsofhopecharlotte.com.