4 minute read
Federation Super Week Championing Change
March 2024
By Jessica Goldfarb, JFGC Communications Specialist
The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte (JFGC) recently concluded the highly anticipated Federation Super Week, with great success. The week-long series of events, held from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, showcased Federation’s commitment to championing Jewish life and fostering a stronger, more unified greater Charlotte Jewish community.
Federation Super Event
The highlight of the week was the Federation Super Event on Feb.1. This year’s Super Event embraced a reimagined format featuring a panel discussion exploring pressing current issues. Nearly 500 people gathered at Temple Israel to hear insights from nationally renowned Jewish figures Rabbi David Wolpe and Sheila Katz. Juju Chang moderated the discussion, making a return appearance after the 2023 Main Event.
The panel focused on events in Israel, the global rise of antisemitism, and strategies for our community to navigate these challenges. “Counsel culture” became a favored term, a direct contrast to “cancel culture.” Encouraging and spreading counsel culture helps our community fight antisemitism by inviting those who disagree with us to open discussion, rather than simply “canceling.” It was a night full of laughter, tears, and hope. Closing remarks emphasized that by relying on the strength of our Jewish community, we will get through these difficult times.
The Super Event also marked the official launch of the 2024 Annual Campaign and the kickoff of the Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) year of vital initiatives and programming. The critical work of JCRC has already begun with a fly-in to Washington, D.C., among other endeavors.
JCRC Fly-in to Washington
On Jan. 30-31, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte participated in an organized flyin to Washington, D.C., to help advocate for crucial matters, including emergency aid for Israel, increased funding for FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and support for the Antisemitism Awareness Act. See front page for more details.
Community Enrichment
The Annual Campaign helps Federation raise funds to support a variety of different Jewish causes, including community engagement.
The pre-Super Week screening of “The Boy,’’ presented by the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, is one such exmple and offered a glimpse into Israeli storytelling surrounding life along the Gaza strip, while the kickoff of the “Calaniot Before the Rain” ceramic workshops allowed participants to express their creativity and show solidarity with Israel. Additionally, Federation’s sponsorship of “Israel Swings for Gold” at the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival underscored its commitment to promoting meaningful dialogue surrounding Jewish identity and history.
Super Sunday and More
For the grand finale of Federation Super Week, more than 100 volunteers gathered in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts for Super Sunday, reaching out by phone to fellow community members and offering a convenient way for them to make their 2024 Annual Campaign pledge. The phone and text outreach became a powerful way for individuals to actively contribute to the ongoing success of the campaign.
Funds raised on Super Sunday will empower Federation to continue fostering a stronger greater Charlotte Jewish community through vital initiatives in education, engagement, Jewish identity, and philanthropy.
Federation Super Week was just the beginning. As the 2024 Annual Campaign gains momentum, the ongoing support and engagement of the community remain essential to advancing Federation’s mission of championing Jewish life. If you haven’t yet made your pledge, you can do so online at www.jewishcharlotte.org.
