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The Charlotte Jewish News- June / July 2025- Page 12 Religious Life
Building a Brighter Future: The Rebbe’ s Legacy in Charlotte
By Rabbi Levi Cohen, Chabad of Charlotte
Each year on 3 Tammuz, this year falling on June 29, Jews around the world pause to remember the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. Though the Rebbe’ s physical presence left this world in
1994, his leadership, vision, and teachings continue to shape Jewish life across the globe— and perhaps nowhere more tangibly than right here in Charlotte.
When Rabbi Yossi and Mariashi Groner moved to Charlotte in 1980 at the Rebbe’ s personal direction, they arrived in a city where the Jewish community
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TEMPLE SOLEL Fort Mill SC was growing but still small. One of the Rebbe’ s first instructions was simple and powerful: make sure there is a working mikvah. The Rebbe understood that Jewish life thrives when it has solid foundations— and that even one act, even one mitzvah, can anchor a community for generations to come.
From those humble beginnings— small Torah classes in living rooms, fledgling Hebrew school programs, Shabbat dinners that felt more like family gatherings than institutions— Chabad of Charlotte grew steadily, hand in hand with the city’ s broader Jewish community.
The Rebbe’ s vision wasn’ t about building organizations for their own sake. It was about building people: giving every Jew, regardless of affiliation, observance, or background, a place to grow, to connect, to celebrate, and to belong.
Today, when we look around the greater Charlotte area, we see a flourishing Jewish community: thriving synagogues, schools, organizations, and cultural institutions that enrich our city. Chabad of Charlotte is proud to be a vibrant part of this broader fabric, offering Jewish education for children and adults, joyful holiday celebrations, outreach programs, and a beautiful mikvah that continues to serve the community— all inspired by the Rebbe’ s call to make Judaism accessible, meaningful, and alive for every Jew.
The Rebbe taught us to see opportunities where others saw obstacles. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, wrote,“ The Rebbe taught not despair, but hope; not defeat, but renewed courage; not resignation, but responsibility.” Even when challenges seemed great, whether rebuilding Jewish life after the Holocaust or reaching Jews in distant cities where community infrastructure was just beginning, the Rebbe believed in the strength of each individual to make a difference.
Elie Wiesel captured it beautifully:“ The Rebbe created a climate in which it became not only acceptable but beautiful to be a Jew.” Here in Charlotte, we strive to live that ideal every day.
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Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson ZT” L, 1987( photo by Mordecai baron CC BY 3.0, https:// commons. wikimedia. org / w / index. php? curid = 17867973)
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Rebbe built people.
As Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz put it,“ The Rebbe did not build a movement. He built people. And people, in turn, build the world.” Each child learning Torah, each Shabbat table filled with guests, and each mezuzah placed on a new home are the true monuments to the Rebbe’ s legacy.
This 3 Tammuz, as we mark 31 years since the Rebbe’ s passing, we reflect on how his vision has taken root around the globe and right here in Charlotte, and how it calls us to continue building.
The Rebbe’ s leadership did not end; it continues through each of us, every time we add a little more light to the world.
To commemorate this special date, Chabad of Charlotte will host a community Shabbat dinner on Friday night, June 27, 2025. The evening will feature inspiration, joy, and reflections on the Rebbe’ s enduring vision and will celebrate the vibrant and growing Jewish life that we are all privileged to be part of.
To inquire about attending the dinner, please reach out to Chabad of Charlotte at( 704) 366-3984 or email mackenzie @ chabadnc. org.
All are warmly invited to join.
Services: 2 nd & 4 th Fridays | 7 PM
2955 Highway 160 W, Fort Mill, SC 29716( 803) 619-1707 | info @ templesolelsc. org