Paper Clips
Last Friday, the rabbis and I had the privilege of welcoming six beautiful souls to the Jewish people as they reached the conclusion of their conversion process. Each completed their own journey, some over the course of decades, to affirm their Jewish identity. There are another six or so who will also convert in mid-July. […]
Thank You Sterling Elementary Volunteers!
Many years ago when the CMS superintendent called on houses of faith to partner with high-poverty public schools, Temple Beth El answered the call. Ever since then, we have been paired with Sterling Elementary School in Pineville, and we support them in multiple ways — school supply collections, Mitzvah Day projects (including packing and delivering […]
Mitzvah Day Thank You
Days like Sunday make me proud to be a part of our Temple Beth El community. One of the privileges of being me on Mitzvah Day is that I get the opportunity to move from project to project on campus, dropping in and seeing all of the beautiful cards, journals, bags, and pillows being decorated, […]
Something for Everyone on Mitzvah Day by Karen Greenblatt
There’s something for everyone on Mitzvah Day. We started in 1998 when our sons were just two years old, coloring paper bags that older kids would fill with toiletries (for the women’s shelter) or lunches (for the Salvation Army). We also baked cookies, before someone realized, fortunately for the recipients, that toddlers handling cookie dough […]
Why I am Participating in Mitzvah Day by Jennifer Golynsky
I was contacted last year by Charlotte Family Housing and asked to provide some pro bono human resource consulting. After researching the organization, I quickly agreed. I held focus groups with the dedicated employees to gauge job satisfaction and learn about the population they serve. Due to the lack of local, affordable housing, Charlotte Family […]
Mitzvah Day – It’s About the Bagels by Rachel Choffin
I first got involved in Mitzvah Day as a little kid. My first memory of this event was the giant pile of bagels in the middle of the room – and then we (as a family) helped decorate bags for meal prep items/food to go home with the students at The Freedom School. When I […]
Sacred Ground by Susan Jacobs, Director of Education
On Sunday, April 7th, Temple Beth El Religious School third grade students and their parents took a field trip to The Hebrew Cemetery of Charlotte. Our third graders have been learning about Jewish life cycle events all year and the rituals around death and burial are part of their studies. This is not an easy […]
Why I Participate in Mitzvah Day by Jennifer Clark
Tikkun olam, the call to repair the world, is not only what drives me to click on the registration link and sign up for Mitzvah Day every year, but these words (and the sentiment and actions behind them) are an undercurrent of what connects me to the Jewish community in Charlotte and beyond. The many […]
Getting Lost in the Logistics of Passover and Finding Our Way Forward by Rabbi Judy Schindler
In preparing for Passover it is so easy to get lost in the logistics – the guest list and the table settings, the matzah and the menu. The seder is such an elaborate meal. The Shabbat before Pesach calls us to plan ahead with intention. This coming Shabbat has a special name – it is […]
