Community Unites at Charlotte Stands With Israel Concert

April 2024

By Lena Kosinovsky

Last fall, mere weeks after the horror of October 7, my husband and I went to a long since planned event with close friends. More than half of those in attendance had lived in Israel for many years. Everyone had close relatives and friends in the IDF, under the barrage of rockets, reeling from losses. We went with mixed feelings best described as “It’s good that it wasn’t canceled. Hamas can’t erase our lives completely.”

What we experienced was even better than that. Three of our friends, an accomplished vocalist, violinist, and pianist, started the event with magnificent renditions of Hatikvah and Shema Israel. It was beautiful, touching, and uplifting. I immediately thought that their talent could be used to uplift a larger community.

The trio (with the violinist's son, a talented multi-instrument musician) decided to continue working together. Thus, The Mosaic Project was born. We decided to share their talent with others and organized a Chanukah event for the wider ex-Soviet Jewish community of Charlotte. That program was a hit, with over 70 attendees. We raised more than $1,500 for Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank service.

The success of that event gave me the idea to bring it to a wider audience and bring multiple organizations together in support of Israel. I spoke to several well-respected local professional music groups, who, along with The Mosaic Project, generously and gladly donated their time and talent. We set a Feb. 10 date and secured a venue for 200 people and began planning for the Charlotte Stands With Israel Concert.

To help me organize the event, I turned to Club Z teens and parents. I initially helped bring Club Z to Charlotte four-and-ahalf years ago and led it for the first year (until we were able to hire a regional director). This organization helps high school kids become strong, knowledgeable, and proud Jewish leaders. In dozens of campuses around the country, the top leaders of pro-Israel student organizations are Club Z graduates. At both UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte — they are graduates of Club Z Charlotte.

It was natural therefore for me to rely on them to organize a large fundraiser. The venue was sponsored by Club Z Charlotte. My co-director of Club Z Charlotte, Rabbi Ya’aqov Walker, made a powerful and eloquent address to the audience. The keynote address was delivered by Olga Washington, a South African native and Charlotte resident. She is the past director of Club Z Charlotte and (until last month) national COO of Club Z. Among numerous awards and accolades for her pro-Israel work, last fall Olga was recognized by Jerusalem Post as #1 among the 25 leading Zionist “ViZionaries” worldwide. She is currently spearheading the African-Jewish Alliance (AJA), a coalition of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish groups that educates the public about the religiously-inspired mass murder, kidnapping, and enslavement of blacks, Jews, and Muslims by jihadists across North Africa and in the Middle East. The AJA also campaigns for the captives’ liberation.

In addition to The Mosaic Project (Katy Sherman, Marina Goman, Inna Amronin, and Tal Goman), the following musicians performed:

- The String Duo, an award-winning duet of Maria Alexandra and Angelina Reed

- The dynamic instrumental/ vocal ensemble of JoDavi (Joshua David Washington),which tours throughout the country and internationally. Joshua is also the President of Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel.

- Talented pianist and composer Randy Sandoli. Both Randy and Joshua are Christian Zionists, our indispensable friends at this time, and always.

- We also heard riveting vocal and instrumental performances by Sam and Mick Cohen. I had the privilege of watching these outstanding young brothers grow up in our congregation.

Rabbi Rachel Smookler of The Ruach delivered inspiring and uplifting insights about her recent mission trip to Israel and led us in prayer for Israel and the hostages.

This event would also not have been possible without the Israeli volunteers who decorated the hall with Israeli and American flags and hostage posters, as well as spread the word, which brought us to full capacity. It also would not have been possible without The Amber Room, volunteers who handled sound, as well as Woland Web, which volunteered the marketing efforts.

The concert turnout exceeded all expectations. Two hundred eight people gathered, and we sang and clapped along, danced, cried, and laughed. We represented different races, religions, genders, and ages. The concert ran considerably longer than we planned due to calls for encore and long ovations.

Before and after the concert, we held a benefit sale of art works donated by local award-winning artists: Vladimir Vitkovsky, the estate of Abram Rabkin, as well as several Israeli artists, whose works we imported from Israel. Altogether, the Charlotte Stands with Israel Concert and the Art sale netted more than $7,500 for Israeli charities.

We are grateful to everyone who came for this unforgettable evening of Jewish Unity at the time when it’s needed the most. Am Israel Chai!