By Jessica Goldfarb

Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC) began with a commitment that has remained unchanged for more than eight decades: this community takes responsibility for one another.

Local Jews first organized under the United Jewish Charities of Charlotte in 1939, understanding that their future depended on what they could accomplish together. Just a year earlier, in 1938, the city’ s small Jewish community watched with panicked alarm as Kristallnacht unfolded, signaling a new level

of violence against Jews across Europe. In response, community members mobilized to raise funds, support overseas relief efforts, and formalize their growing network of mutual aid. Their tireless work led to the creation of an organization that would evolve into today’ s JFGC.

Early JFGC work was powered by volunteers who canvassed neighborhoods, knocked on doors, and asked friends as

well as neighbors to join a collective movement. Those grassroots campaigns fortified the framework for a more organized Jewish community. Since the 1940’ s, JFGC has served as a pivotal connector, supporting local families, strengthening congregations, and participating in national efforts to aid Jews around the world.

A great deal of JFGC’ s early recorded history was lost in 1982, when a fire destroyed the Jewish Community Center building and with it, many years of Federation archives. What

survived were the stories shared among generations. Powerful reminders of the dedication, cooperation, and vision that shaped the community’ s earlier years.

Out of this devastating loss came one of the most transformative chapters in Charlotte’ s Jewish story. Rather than simply rebuilding, community leaders imagined something entirely new and bigger: a shared campus for Jewish life. Community visionaries helped bring that vision

to life in 1986 when Shalom Park opened and began to reshape Charlotte’ s Jewish landscape. For the first time, JFGC, the new Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center, Jewish schools, and cultural organizations operated side by side, creating a sense of belonging and interconnection that continues to define the community today. Two synagogues, Temple Israel and Temple Beth El, later joined the campus in the early 1990’ s.

Over the years, the community has continued to look to JFGC when needs expanded or new challenges emerged.

When Israel was founded in 1948, JFGC spearheaded Charlotte’ s efforts to raise funds for Aliyah, forming partnerships, and gathering community support. During the Six-Day war in 1967, Yom Kippur War in 1973, and 1982 War in Lebanon, emergency funds were raised for relief efforts in Israel. When Jews from the former Soviet Union sought refuge in 1991, JFGC organized resettlement efforts, raised more than $ 1 million for Operation Exodus, and welcomed new families into Jewish life.

At home, JFGC was instrumental in the the founding of Jewish Family Services, The North Carolina Hebrew Academy, the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Blumenthal Educator’ s Research Center, our local B’ nai Brith Youth Organization, Hillel, and many more influential agencies.

JFGC also continues to respond as the world changes. The creation of the Jewish Community Relations Council formalized the community’ s voice in advocacy against antisemitism, further strengthening relationships across the greater Charlotte area. During the COVID-19

pandemic, when the Shalom Park campus paused in place, the community’ s commitment only grew louder as JFGC worked behind the scenes to support Jewish Charlotte as we navigated unprecedented times. In the wake of October 7, 2023, grief bound the community together as JFGC mobilized quickly to provide relief, clarity, and critical support for Israelis as well as Jews worldwide.

Today, JFGC continues to evolve while remaining grounded in the values that shaped its inception. Through periods of growth, celebration, and challenges, one constant has defined Jewish Charlotte and that is the strength of the community itself. JFGC is proud to serve as the community convener, coordinator for Jewish identity, Israel education, and the central philanthropic organization that stewards this shared responsibility. Its tireless contributions reflect the values of those who created it as well as the generations who continue to sustain it.

As we look toward 2026 and beyond, new chapters are already unfolding. Educational programs are expanding, cultural experiences are growing, relationships

with Israel are deepening, and the work of combating antisemitism is more vital today than ever. The future of Jewish Charlotte continues to be shaped by the people who show up, give generously, and move forward together.

The next milestone in Jewish Charlotte’ s story has yet to be written, yet each of us plays an integral part in shaping what comes next. Want to learn more? Register for the upcoming Super Event, Jan. 22, to learn more about the work JFGC is championing across our community and its plans for the year ahead.

* Archival sources consulted for this article include The Charlotte Jewish News archives and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte archives.

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immersive celebration of Jewish humor and community.

Films Worth Clearing Your Calendar For

On Jan. 21, we invite you to join us for a free preview screening of“ For the Living,” a powerful documentary about resilience, memory, and the moral responsibility of remembrance. More than a historical account, the film follows the extraordinary journey of Marcel Zielinski, a 10-year-old Holocaust survivor who walked 60 miles from Auschwitz to Krakow in search of his family. Decades later, JCC

Krakow honors his story by organizing an annual ride in which 250 cyclists retrace Marcel’ s path as a collective act of memory and solidarity.

This moving film stands as a testament to human courage, compassion, and the enduring power of empathy. Following the screening, director Tim Roper will join us for a discussion and Q & A, alongside Jonathan Ornstein, Executive Director of JCC Krakow.

Another highlight of this year’ s festival is“ Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold,” a compelling

documentary about the visionary founder of Hadassah. Szold forged vital connections between American Jewish women and the communities of Palestine, built the foundation for modern healthcare there, and later established Youth Aliyah, rescuing 11,000 children from Nazi-occupied Europe.

The film traces her enduring impact and her steadfast belief in social responsibility, offering a portrait of courage, compassion, and leadership that continues to resonate today. Following the screening, Peabody Award – winning director Abby Ginzberg

will join us for a conversation and Q & A.

The CJFF carries forward its long-standing tradition of bringing Jewish life and culture to the screen, creating a welcoming space for our community and for friends from across greater Charlotte to gather. Each screening offers more than a seat in a theater; it’ s an invitation to reflect, engage, and share in the joy, inspiration, and humanity of powerful storytelling. From intimate gatherings to the lively energy of Opening Night, the festival reminds us that cinema can spark conversation, deepen

understanding, and strengthen the bonds that connect people to one another.

To purchase your tickets, please visit www. charlottejewishfilm. com.