The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2021 - Page 12
Giving Thanks and the Festival of Lights: Two Holidays Come Together By Julie Loftis The first night of Hanukkah begins in November this year, just three days after Thanksgiving. They are two separate, unrelated holidays celebrated for different reasons with unique traditions, but when you think about it, they actually have a great deal in common. The first Thanksgiving meal was a celebration among colonists and Indigenous Americans, an event commemorating the end of a successful harvest despite fighting the harsh winter and widespread disease. Pilgrims in attendance, many of whom had sought refuge in the new land to escape religious persecution, were able to enjoy religious freedom. According to Tzvi Freeman on Chabad.org, “That’s Hanukkah, as well: a narrative deeply embedded in the collective Jewish psyche of how we fought back against religious oppression in our own land, earned our freedom, and thanked G-d for the miracles.” Today we celebrate the warmth of the season of overcoming obstacles and focusing on gratitude during the Thanksgiving meal and lighting of me-
norahs. Lighting the menorah commemorates the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days instead of one. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, reminds us to bring light into dark, hope where there had been none. We can symbolically spread light in our community by carrying out our task of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Our world can be transformed by kindness. However, during a holiday season when giving thanks is the norm, Jewish Family Services (JFS) is responding to the needs of those who have a hard time seeing the light or finding thankfulness in their world. During this holiday season, JFS works hard to not only respond to people’s day-to-day challenges but also to ensure that members of our community who are struggling can also enjoy some of the holiday traditions many of us take for granted. It is also when we rely on those who want to help support our efforts. Below are just a few ways that you can help JFS provide individuals and families with the opportunity to celebrate the miracle of the Festival of Lights or truly give thanks over a Thanksgiving meal and meet the ongoing needs of our community.
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Donate to the food pantry: Food is a must for any holiday! During this time of year, we stock up the pantry to make sure everyone in our community has the necessary supplies to “fix all the trimmings” for a holiday meal and that nobody goes hungry. Grocery gift cards: For some families, purchasing a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner could mean not paying a utility bill or purchasing gas for their car. For Thanksgiving, JFS supplements food pantry orders with gift cards to allow families to enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Gift cards ranging from $10 to $50 can help families with needs ranging from purchasing just the turkey to those who need help with the full meal. Dreidel Drive (October 11-November 10): Help us bring connections, smiles, and light to
children, grandparents, seniors, and survivors to celebrate this joyous holiday. Participation is easy — purchase a gift card, indicate the amount on the gift card, and turn it in to JFS. Preferred gifts cards include Target, Walmart, grocery stores, or Amazon (hard copy, no digital gift cards, please). Family to Family Annual Campaign: While the holiday season may last a couple of months, the needs of our community last throughout the year. Our Family to Family campaign is a major source of funding that ensures we can meet the needs of those in our community affected by issues such as mental health, aging, food and financial insecurity, and family violence all year long. Volunteer your time: JFS has a variety of opportunities, including helping the food pan-
try, visiting seniors, assembling and/or delivering birthday bags or holiday bags, and many other ways you can contribute your time. To get more information on any of these opportunities to support our community, please visit our website at www.jfscharlotte.org or call us at (704) 3646594. Donations and gift cards can be mailed to Jewish Family Services, 5007 Providence Rd., Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28226.
JFS Volunteers & Donors September Volunteers: Marcia Arnholt, Mike Arnholt, Suzy Catennazo, Dan Coblenz, Jonathan Collman, Andrea Cronson, Julie Dermack, Sheryl Effren, Terri Fishman, Rachel Friedman, Meredith Gartner, Amanda Gitlitz, Marty Goldfarb, Jennifer Golynsky, Gail Halverson, Rebecca Hockfield, Oren Hubara, Bob Jacobson, Michael Kaplan, Etti Krause, Elliot and Stephanie Krietman, Marcia Lampert, Adam Levy, Matt Luftglass, Gene Marx, Frada Mozenter, Barbara Rein, Nina Rose, Lynne Sheffer, Janice Shubin, Cindy Siesel, Louis Sinkoe, Lorin, Stiefel, Ken Stern, Steve Teich, David and Beth Thrope,,Gail Vogel, Susan Webber, Nancy Wielunski, Jan Weiner, Amanda Zaidman Thank you for making Rosh Hashanah special for our seniors: Madeline Aaron, Suzy and Joshua Catenazzo, Shai Fargian and Yafo Kitchen, Amanda Gitlitz, Jodie Joseph, Karen Knoble, Matt Luftglass, Rebecca Hockfield, Ron Nadal and Golden Grains Bakery, Barbara Rein, Lynne Sheffer, Janice Shubin, Lorin Steifel, David and Beth Thrope, Ballantyne Jewish Center, Charlotte Jewish Day School Special Thanks: Temple Israel and congregants for incredible High Holiday food drive and staff at Moishe House for transporting donations Hadassah Meal Preppies: Sharon Cavanaugh, Karen Futtersak, Sara Friedman, June Hirschmann, Yvette Jacobson, Judy Kaufman, Penny Krieger, Andy McCleary, Helene Schillian, Elissa Vining, Kyle Vining Shalom Green: Thank you for continuing to harvest fresh produce (eggplant, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, herbs, figs) for our clients. Food Pantry Donations: To our generous community: Thank you for continuing to donate to the food pantry. We could not run the pantry without your incredible donations.
JFS Tributes September 2021
www.vrbbcharlotte.com
For a Speedy Recovery of Leonard Marco Paul and Lynn Edelstein For a Speedy Recovery of Marnie Strumwasser Stanley Greenspon For a Speedy Recovery of Norman Steinberger Stanley Greenspon In Celebration - Happy Birthday Harriet Perlin Richard and Linda Bressler David and Debra Van Glish In Appreciation of Cantor Shira Lissek Stanley Greenspon In Appreciation of Rabbi Judy Schindler Stanley Greenspon In Appreciation of Norman Steinberger Robert and Joyce Stoll In Appreciation of Rabbi Michael Wolk Stanley Greenspon In Honor of Don Bernstein Matthew Gromet and Phyllis Schultz In Honor of Kathleen Purvis Temple Israel Social Club In Honor of Louis Sinkoe Allan and Marcelle Oxman In Memory of Martin Bernstein Maxwell and Susan Greenman
In Memory of Audrey Madans Maxwell and Susan Greenman In Memory of Kenneth Markiewitz Lori Trapani In Memory of Jack Poznanski Francine Poznanski In Memory of Manuel Rosenfield George and Andrea Cronson In Memory of Larry Ross Michael and Myra Woland In Memory of Ann Girson Schorr Allen Saxe and Jessica Schorr Saxe In Memory of Fred Shporer Lisa Shporer In Memory of Donna Witikka Paul and Lynn Edelstein Jake and Vera Mendel Mazel Tov to Rabbi Dusty Klass Carol Lash Mazel Tov to Penina Polsky Maxwell and Susan Greenman Mazel Tov to Lucy Silverstein Maxwell and Susan Greenman Mazel Tov to Liza Simon Maxwell and Susan Greenman
