L’Chaim to An Unforgettable Evening

This past Saturday night, nearly 350 members of our community filled the Carolina Theatre for an evening that brought together everything we love about Temple Beth El: warmth, music, connection, and purpose.

We raised over $425,000, a record-setting amount, to strengthen the work we do every day: worship and music, Jewish education across all ages, pastoral care, tikkun olam, and the countless moments of belonging that make our congregation feel like home. It was one of the most successful and inspiring celebrations we have ever held.

Honoring Extraordinary Leaders

We gathered to celebrate Marcy and Fred Dumas, two people whose leadership has shaped Temple Beth El in profound and enduring ways. Their words and the tribute shared that evening reminded us that sustaining our congregation is a sacred responsibility that blends gratitude for the past with daring hope for the future. We’ve included the tribute video below so our entire TBE family can celebrate these extraordinary leaders.

A Night Filled With Spirit

An extraordinary performance from Morgan James lifted the room, and Rabbi Knight shared heartfelt reflections on how Temple Beth El changes lives every day — from young families finding belonging to teens discovering their voice to older adults continuing to learn and connect. He reminded us that our congregation is a steady source of comfort and courage in a complicated world.

A Generational Commitment to Our Future

One of the most powerful moments of the night was the announcement of a $2 million leadership pledge to strengthen Temple Beth El’s endowment from three families who are leading our congregation toward the future:

• Immediate Past President Alan Kronovet & Cary Bernstein
• President A-J Secrist & John Jaye
• First Vice President David Crane & Cindy Crane

Their vision and generosity mark the beginning of a renewed, community-wide movement to secure Temple Beth El for the generations who will follow us.

Where We Go From Here

Saturday night was not the culmination of our efforts, but was the start of something bigger, as we continue our efforts to realize the daring hope of TBE Together, our strategic plan. Working toward our vision of a bold Jewish future in Charlotte requires the resources to sustain our proud, connected community. The energy, generosity, and commitment at the Carolina Theatre and across Temple Beth El reflect a congregation growing from strength and ready to build boldly — together.

There are two meaningful ways to help continue that momentum:

1. Support the work that shapes Jewish life every day.
Your  generosity fuels everything we do. Every gift, at every level — makes a difference.

2. Start exploring how to help sustain Temple Beth El for the future.
If the commitment from our leaders inspires you, we would be honored to talk about endowment and legacy giving opportunities. Please email Jonathan Friedman, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, or call our offices at (704)366-1948 to set up a time to connect.

With Gratitude

To everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, or gave so generously: thank you.

Your support strengthens the heart of our Temple and helps build a vibrant Jewish future here in Charlotte. L’Chaim — to life, to hope, and to the future we are creating together.