Two Treasured Community Members to Be Honored at Temple Israel’s Winter Concert

Irving Bienstock and Audrey Madans

Few individuals have given as much of their time and talents in service of the Charlotte Jewish Community as have Irving Bienstock and Audrey Madans. Longtime residents of Charlotte, both have a long history of volunteerism and leadership not only to their synagogue, Temple Israel, but to the community at large. And neither are strangers to recognition, Audrey having been recognized with Temple Israel’s Commitment to Volunteer Service Award and Irving receiving the Mensch Award, both in 2017. Irving also received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2007 from the Levine Jewish Community Center. On December 6, they will be honored again with Temple Israel’s Shofar Award, an award that has only been previously awarded five times, at the Temple’s second Annual Winter Concert, “The Best is Yet to Come: An Evening of Light and Celebration.” The Shofar Award was created by the Temple’s Board of Trustees to recognize outstanding individuals in the congregation who have demonstrated, on a continuing basis, their long-term commitment to the synagogue. But the recognition isn’t why they do it … Says Irving of his years of involvement in the community, “I always considered it an honor to be able to do what I was doing. I never expected that I would receive an honor like this. Actually, I never thought about it … never occurred to me that I would be honored for something I liked to do.”

Irving moved to Charlotte from Brooklyn, New York along with his late wife, Lillian. Irving has been involved with Temple Israel for more than 40 years. He has served as co-president for the Temple Israel Social Club, as a member of the Religion Committee, and has rarely missed a meeting in his role on the Executive Board and Board of Trustees and as a gabbai for 22 years. Irving frequently leads Minyan service on Sunday mornings and in the evenings when the cantor or rabbi is not available.

Irving’s community involvement, however, extends far beyond his synagogue affiliation. For six years Irving served on the board of Jewish Family Services and sat on the Advisory Board to its president for four years. Irving served on a committee that resulted in Generations at Shalom Park. Only time will tell which of Irving’s accomplishments have had the most impact. But at 94 years old, Irving is well known for sharing his personal experience during the Holocaust with more than 3,200 Charlotte school children.

When asked what would Lillian have thought of Irving receiving the Shofar Award, Irving emotionally responded, “I cried afterward, about the fact Lillian wasn’t with me.”

Audrey, too, has a long and rich history of service in the Charlotte Jewish community. Moving to Charlotte with her late husband, Jerome, she has given a lifetime of hours to her volunteer efforts both with Temple Israel and in the Charlotte community. They moved to Charlotte in 1959 and Audrey immediately became involved, teaching Sunday school in the 1960s. She has served multiple terms as president of Women of (Continued on page 13)

Temple Israel (formerly known as Sisterhood), and has served on the temple’s Board of Trustees. For years the congregation has been blessed with her voice as a member of the temple choir. Currently, she leads the support of families in times of bereavement by making sure they receive a shiva tray after the funeral.

In the greater community, Audrey has served on the board of the Blumenthal Jewish Home for the Aged (The Home), which is now called the Carolina Foundation of Jewish Seniors (CFJS), where she currently serves as a local advisor. Audrey established The Jerome Madans Award through CFJS, which honors her late husband, a longstanding board member. She has served as local president of both Hadassah and B’nai Brith, and has served on the Charlotte Community Affairs Advisory Committee and the Mecklenburg Nursing Home Advisory Board.

“I’m beyond shocked,” Audrey says of receiving the award. “ I think it’s a great award and I’m not sure I’m the one who should be getting it, but I’m thrilled to death and totally surprised, and excited beyond belief!”

Honoring the life, accomplishments, and service of these distinguished individuals goes beyond temple affiliation. All are invited to attend (virtually) the concert and enjoy a musical evening of “Light & Celebration” on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at 5 p.m. The event will offer performances of American Songbook classics and uplifting Jewish music, featuring Cantor Shira Lissek along with other remarkable musicians. The event is co-chaired by Amy Udoff, a lifelong member of Temple Israel, and her father, Norman Shapiro. For additional information, tickets, or to pay tribute to our honorees, please visit templeisraelnc.org.

Two Treasured Community Members to Be Honored at Temple Israel’s Winter Concert