The Charlotte Jewish News- August 2025- Page 2
Editor’ s Corner
Turning the Page Together
Shira Firestone, Managing Editor CJN
There’ s something about holding a newspaper in your hands. The quiet rustle of the pages. The way a story stays with you as you move from one article to the next. And let’ s not forget the traces of black ink that linger on your hands! It’ s not just information— it’ s connection.
At the Charlotte Jewish News( CJN), we honor that tradition. For nearly five decades, the CJN has been a thread weaving together the stories of Jewish life in our community: the celebrations, the challenges, the holidays, the everyday. It’ s what we mean when we say we’ re Celebrating
Jewish Life, not just in moments of joy, but in the full spectrum of what it means to live in community.
Today, we turn the page— both literally and figuratively— as we introduce a new chapter: a modern, mobile-optimized digital edition, designed to meet readers wherever they are.
This shift isn’ t about replacing the past. It’ s about building on it. It’ s about honoring the work of those who came before us and ensuring that the stories we tell today and tomorrow, remain timely, relevant, and rooted in purpose.
Transitions like this are both exciting and unsettling. They ask us to stretch— to imagine how tradition can live in new forms without losing its essence. They invite us to ask: How do we stay rooted and yet open to transformation? How do we carry forward what matters most, even as the tools we use evolve?
The new digital edition reflects that trust. You’ ll find new ways to read, new ways to search, new ways to share— including features like clickable article view, interactive puzzles, embedded video, and share buttons that make it easy to send your favorite stories with a single tap. It means reading the CJN on your digital device during a coffee break, searching for a friend’ s name in seconds, or forwarding an article to someone else you think would be interested.
But what hasn’ t changed— and what will not change— is our commitment: to represent, inform, and engage the Jewish community of Charlotte.
That’ s the heart of this transformation. Not technology for its own sake, but for the sake of connection. Not innovation for novelty, but to strengthen the role the CJN plays as the central communications vehicle for Jewish Charlotte. Not a departure from tradition, but a continuation of it— in a form built for the present and ready for the future.
Thank you for being part of this next chapter. Thank you for turning the page with us.
Shira
Shabbat Candle Lighting Times( 28226 Zip Code. For other locations, visit www. charlottejewishnews. org.)
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The Charlotte
JEWISH
THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH NEWS
Shira Firestone, Editor Julie Dalli, Proofreader
5007 Providence Road, Suite 112 Charlotte, NC 28226( 704) 944-6765 www. charlottejewishnews. org charlottejewishnews @ shalomcharlotte. org
The CJN does not assume responsibility for the quality of kashruth of any product or service advertised. Publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political party or position by this newspaper, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, or any of its employees. Articles submitted by individual agencies bearing their logo are reflective of the opinion of that agency.
Published monthly except July
NEWS
An affiliate of Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
The Leon Levine Foundation
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nancial return and again through measurable social impact.
“ Leon Levine was committed to giving back to the Family Dollar customers who gave so much to him,” Michael Tarwater, TLLF board chair, said.“ We honor his life and legacy by focusing our philanthropy in the place he proudly called home, and we are now poised to make a significant impact across North and South Carolina for generations to come.”
With this momentum comes a bold strategic commitment: The Leon Levine Foundation will intentionally spend down all its
Turning the Page
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is mobile-friendly, searchable, and interactive. Flipbooks served us well, but they no longer reflect how people read today. Readers now engage with stories in many forms, including long-form features, short highlights, embedded videos, and interactive visuals. This platform lets us meet them where they are.
You can now open any story in article view for a clean, easy read on your phone or tablet. You can search for names or topics, click to share a story, or even watch a video embedded right on the page. There’ s a crossword puzzle you can play without printing— and assets, ultimately sunsetting its operations within the next 50 years. This decision reflects Mr. Levine’ s core belief that urgency in giving can drive lasting impact, and that true permanence lies not in the Foundation’ s continued existence, but in the enduring change it catalyzes in people, institutions, and communities across the Carolinas.
As The Leon Levine Foundation embarks on this next chapter, its $ 2 billion commitment is more than a number— it’ s a declaration of purpose. With an eye toward impact over perpetuity, the Foundation is investing boldly in
the future of the Carolinas. The next 50 years will not be about preserving an institution, but about empowering communities, strengthening systems, and ensuring that Leon Levine’ s legacy lives on through meaningful, measurable change. we’ ve added smart navigation so you can jump directly to what interests you most.
To help readers discover all the new features, we’ re launching the CJN Digital Explorer Challenge— a fun, interactive scavenger hunt. Each month, we’ ll post a new challenge on our Facebook page. Try the features, explore the issue, and if you complete the challenge, you’ ll earn some serious bragging rights— plus a chance to win a free Hungry Howie’ s pizza.( Yes, really.) Follow us on Facebook so you don’ t miss the next one!
We’ re excited about what this means for accessibility, for creativity, and for the future of Jewish storytelling. This shift marks a more flexible, sustainable model for how we connect, consume, and engage as a community.
CJN remains the central communications vehicle for Jewish Charlotte. This transformation ensures it can stay that way for years to come. Whether you prefer paper in hand or a screen in your palm, we invite you to explore this next chapter with us.
Because the Charlotte Jewish News has turned the page— and you’ re part of the story.