Irving Bienstock's life traced a remarkable path from Nazi Germany to a long legacy of service and leadership within Charlotte's Jewish community. A Holocaust survivor, U.S. Army veteran, longtime Temple Israel leader, and dedicated educator, Irving spent his life sharing lessons shaped by hardship, service, and faith. He died peacefully on May 12, 2025, at the age of 98.
Born in Dortmund, Germany, on June 15, 1926, Irving experienced firsthand the rise of Nazi persecution. At age twelve, he witnessed the violence of Kristallnacht, including the destruction of his neighborhood synagogue and the ransacking of his family home. Within weeks, his mother arranged for him to escape to Holland with only a suitcase, ten German marks, and no travel papers. After a brief detention there, he was helped by members of the Jewish community and reunited with his sister, Sylvia. In 1940, the family immigrated to the United States, where they began a new life in New York.
Military Service and Career
Determined to contribute to his adopted homeland, Irving was eager to enlist in the U.S. Army at age 17. However, out of respect for his mother's wishes, he held off. In 1944, recognizing his desire to serve, his mother told him, "I don't want to lose you now," and he waited until his 18th birthday. He served with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. Upon his return, he completed high school with special permission to attend both day and night classes and went on to earn a degree in engineering from Pratt Institute. This launched a 50-year career in textile engineering, culminating in a move to Charlotte in 1975 when he helped relocate the Singer plant from Queens, New York to Monroe, North Carolina.
Charlotte quickly became home for Irving and his wife, Lillian, whom he had met at a synagogue dance in Brooklyn in 1947. Their bond lasted 69 years, until her passing in 2019.
Community Leadership and Service
Irving built a rich life rooted in Jewish tradition and community service. At Temple Israel, Irving became a familiar and steady presence. He served on the Executive Board and Board of Trustees, co-led the Temple Israel Social Club, and was a member of the Ritual Committee. As gabbai, he frequently led Minyan services and stepped in whenever clergy were unavailable. In recognition of his decades of service, he received the Shofar Award in 2020.
After retiring in 2000, Irving devoted himself to Holocaust education. What began as a few classroom visits evolved into a core role with the Levine JCC's Butterfly Project starting in 2008. Through weekly workshops and talks, he shared his personal story with thousands of Charlotte-area students and adults, helping to ensure that the events of the Holocaust would not be forgotten.
"Once I'm gone, nobody will know what the Nazis did to us," he often said, underscoring his commitment to being a living witness.
Personal Remembrances
Dana Kapustin, a close family friend, wrote:
"Irving had a heart of gold. He carried himself with dignity and kindness, and there was something deeply grounding about being in his company. His love for people was evident in every interaction—whether it was through a warm smile, a helping hand, or a gentle word. He had a way of seeing people, really seeing them. His absence leaves a space that can never be filled."
Howard Olshansky, executive director of Jewish Family Services, noted:
"Irving's passing represents the loss of an era of Holocaust survivors in our community. Irving was devoted to his wife Lillian, his Judaism, and to sustaining the message of 'Never Again' through Holocaust education."
Legacy and Continuing Impact
Irving's influence extended throughout Charlotte's Jewish community. He wasn't born and raised here, but what he accomplished in his lifetime changed the path and drive for the Jewish community in Charlotte. His loving, firm guidance was evidence of what drove his family and what his passion for Jewish life brought to the community.
Irving also served on the board of Jewish Family Services and its President's Advisory Board. His and Lillian's support helped sustain Temple Israel, the Levine JCC Butterfly Project, and numerous Jewish and secular organizations through their generous legacy gifts.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Lillian; his sister, Sylvia; and his parents, Ida and William. Irving's story, told in various forms throughout his years of teaching, represents survival guided by three values he lived by: education, remembrance, and quiet generosity.
His philosophy was clear: "Keep the memory of the Holocaust alive to ensure something like it never happens again."
The family asks that donations be made to Temple Israel or the Levine JCC Butterfly Project.