3 minute read
Large Crowd Turns Out for Misphacha Memories
August 2023
In June the Hebrew Cemetery joined forces with the Levine JCC’s Art and Culture Department and together they stepped back in time to conduct the inaugural Mishpacha Memories Tours.
And what an unforgettable journey through time it was! A total of 200 people immersed themselves in the captivating stories of beloved and influential figures who shaped our community.
During the two mesmerizing tours, Brian Yesowitch, the cemetery’s Hilbert Fuerstman historical chair, led the groups from reenactment to reenactment. The talented actors and actresses, dressed in period costumes, traveled back in time to unravel, and witness the unique history of our Charlotte Jewish community.
In front of everybody’s eyes Harry Golden, Gladys Lavitan, Al Rousso, Anita Blumenthal, Alfred Smith, Lena Lebowitz, Louis Leon, Bessie and Jacob Rintels, Georgeanna Rippner, as well as Moses Richter came back to live and casually spoke about their remarkable lives and the times they lived in.
Douglas Greene who played the Charlotte Israelite editor, Harry Golden, and who works at the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte as its government relations and public affairs associate spoke about his experience: “It was amazing to research and to be able to actually see the life of Harry Golden before I took on the task of ‘becoming’ Harry in the tour. I felt very connected to the life and work of Harry because I have a lot of the same passions for social justice. I am very honored to have been able to provide a glimpse into such a complex man.”
Jeffrey Poelvoorde who attended one of the tours thought that Mishpachah Memories was a creative and beautifully crafted reenactment. Poelvoorde, a political science professor, said, “Structured as a leisurely walk through the cemetery, pausing to visit their graves, the tour was fascinating, informative fun and occasionally provocative. It served to remind us that a cemetery, while a place of sacred personal and collective memory, is also a history book, an unfolding panoply of Jewish life in the Carolinas.”
The event was the brainchild of the cemetery’s director, Sandra Goldman, who believes that cemeteries are for the living. “Programs like these ease the stigma that is attached to graveyards and prove that things connected to them don’t always have to be somber.” Sandra especially enjoyed working with another Shalom Park agency. “I could not have done it without the spirit of the actors who volunteered their time and the support of the LJCC. It just shows that when we work together, we can achieve amazing results!”
Michelle Rusgo, director of art and culture at the Levine JCC could not agree more. “Collaborating with the Hebrew Cemetery for a historical tour with actor portrayers provided a unique and engaging way to learn about the cemetery’s history and the people buried there. The actors did a wonderful job bringing the stories of the deceased to life, making the tour more immersive and memorable. Sandra poured her heart and soul into this project. To see her idea literally brought to life helped engage the community to understand the journey that brought us where we are today.”
