The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2022 - Page 16 Religious Life
Temple Kol Ami Thankful for Loving Neighbors By Shari Baum Love thy neighbor. It is one of the major principles espoused by all Judeo-Christian religions but unfortunately seems to be one of the hardest to live by. Sadly, there are many examples of not so neighborly behavior, as antisemitic, anti-Asian, anti-Muslim, and racist crimes are on the rise. Every once in a while, however, something happens that reaffirms your faith in humanity. Temple Kol Ami (TKA) had one of those moments recently. Mr. Gary Wickham of MorningStar Church in Fort Mill contacted TKA right before the anniversary of Kristallnacht in November. He said he wanted to present our congregation a gift on behalf of his church in commemoration of the Night of Broken Glass and to show solidarity with his Jewish brothers and sisters. Michael Vinnik, TKA president, met with Mr. Wickham and his wife to receive the gift, a beautiful crystal bowl. “I was just so blown away and incredibly touched,” said Michael. “We are so thankful to the Wickhams and MorningStar Church for their thoughtfulness.” To paraphrase the words of Anne Frank, in spite of everything, people are really still good at heart. The community at Morningside Church is living
those words, and for that we are so grateful. Your gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness, are appreciated by Temple Kol Ami as well as the whole Jewish community. If you live in York County or the Ballantyne area, Temple Kol Ami might be the place for you! We are a warm and inclusive Reform congregation comprising Jews from diverse backgrounds. We are currently having in-person Shabbat services on the first and third Friday nights of each month at Philadelphia United Methodist Church, 1691 SC-160, Fort Mill (please check our calendar at www.templekolamisc. org for any updates). We hope you will join us soon and find your Jewish home in our neighborly community.
Camp Gan Israel Ballantyne Summer 2022 Get ready for our ninth summer of Camp Gan Israel (CGI) fun. Our camp is part of the fastest growing network of Jewish day camps in the world. CJI enjoys a well-earned reputation as a trendsetter in Jewish camping, with innovative ideas and creative programs being introduced continually. Your child will wait all year to come back to camp! Campers enjoy a wide range of exciting activities and field trips in a warm, caring environment, cultivating pride and love for their Jewish heritage. The mission of CGI is to instill Jewish values in children of all Jewish backgrounds and with all levels of observance. Our camp program and activities are imbued with Jewish ambiance and culture. Challah baking, stories, Israeli dance, drama, Jewish and Hebrew songs, group discussions, and beautiful Jewish crafts combine to create a joyful atmosphere filled with spirit for each child. This is all part of the unique Gan Israel experience. We have brought it all here. This summer, allow your child to experience the magic — enroll them in CGI. This year we will be offering four weeks of nonstop fun: June 20–July 15. Sign up for single weeks or all four and save!
Stella, Michelle, Jaclyn, and Daniel enjoy glow-in-the dark glasses at the StoneCrest Menorah lighting.
Our campers are divided into three groups: Mini CGI (Preschool) Ages 3-5, Junior CGI Rising K-Rising 3rd grade, and Senior CGI Rising 4th-Rising 6th grade. We are bringing back our wildly successful CGI EXTREME for rising seventh and eighth graders for the first two weeks only: June 20–July 1 Visit www.CGIBallantyne. com for more details and information. Hanukkah with the Ballantyne Jewish Center Hanukkah 2021 was one of
A delicious edible menorah at Hannukkah Wonderland
our busiest seasons ever. We began with three days of more than 400 adults and children enjoying our magical Hanukkah Wonderland, followed by our annual menorah lightings at Stonecrest and in Waxhaw. This year we added an additional menorah lighting in Weddington. Thanks to Rachael Weiss and Chabad of Charlotte for making that happen. We were thrilled to be back in Sun City on the fifth night for our Annual Hanukkah Party with 75 attendees. We ended Hanukkah with a grand Hebrew School Disco Hanukkah Party and Lights N Strikes Bowling party for Cteen Jr. Thank you to our amazing volunteers for all of their help, our donors for their support, and our warm and welcoming community for making this Hanukkah the most joyous one yet.
