The Charlotte Jewish News- September 2025- Page 5
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
FEDERATION IMPACT: BENEFICIARY AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS ALLOCATIONS
As a means of bettering our greater Charlotte Jewish community, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte allocates funds to Jewish organizations that embody Jewish values. In recognition of their work, we at Federation wish to bring attention to these organizations and the good that they do.
When Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte allocates funds each year, we do so with the understanding that our responsibility extends far beyond our local community. We are proud to support a network of overseas agencies doing critical, often life-changing work across Israel and the broader Jewish world. These partnerships— many of them strengthened through our collaboration with The Jewish Federations of North America( JFNA), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee( JDC), and the Jewish Agency for Israel( JAFI)— are an extension of our mission to care for those in need, deepen Jewish identity, and support a vibrant, secure Jewish future.
While larger partners like JAFI and JDC often come to mind, a portion of our impact overseas is made possible through support of smaller, grassroots organizations working on the ground to serve their communities. From underserved youth in Israel’ s periphery to Ethiopian-Israeli families, from bilingual schools that bring Jewish and Arab children together to programs uplifting people with disabilities— our reach is broad, diverse, and deeply rooted in values of dignity, opportunity, and unity.
Each year, a portion of our Annual Campaign goes to agencies such as:
• Aharai-Givat Olga, Educating 4 Excellence, Technoda, and the Yerucham Association, all of which empower Israel’ s youth with educational enrichment and leadership opportunities.
• Chabad Chesed Center, Talpiot: Community For Its Children, and the Gidon Association / Maksam, which provide basic needs and services for families facing food insecurity, neglect, or poverty.
• Krembo Wings, a youth movement where children and teens with and without disabilities come together to build friendships and community.
• Hand in Hand, a national network of bilingual schools that serve as a model for coexistence, welcoming both Jewish and Arab students and families.
• Israel Religious Expression Platform( iRep), which promotes religious diversity and pluralism within Israeli society.
• TALMA, an immersive program that strengthens Jewish identity and education by connecting Jewish educators from around the world with Israeli classrooms.
• Friends of the IDF, which provides health and wellness support to Israel’ s soldiers.
• HIAS, which offers humanitarian aid to refugees and asylum seekers, grounded in Jewish values of welcoming the stranger.
• Ethiopian National Project supports Ethiopian-Israeli communities with academic, social, and career-building programs.
• Hadera Young Adult Center, which helps connect Israeli young adults with career opportunities and professional development.
• JDC’ s FSU Welfare Program, which supports vulnerable elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union with essential care and services.
This year marks a new chapter in our overseas engagement with the launch of a dedicated Overseas Allocations Committee, a group of community members tasked with evaluating the evolving landscape in Israel and beyond. As a key component of Federation’ s overall allocations process, this committee will help identify urgent needs and strategically allocate overseas funding to the organizations best equipped to address them.
Because of you, Federation’ s reach is global. Your support ensures that wherever there is a Jew in need, we are there.
Whether responding to a crisis, supporting inclusive education, or uplifting vulnerable populations, these overseas agencies reflect our collective values in action. Through them, we don’ t just make a donation— we make a difference.
The Charlotte
JEWISH
NEWS
Vol. 47, No. 8 elul 5785- Tishrei 5786 September 2025
Shalom Park Leads Safety: A New Era of Campus Security
Shalom Park is more than a campus— it is the physical and spiritual heart of Jewish life in Charlotte. Every day, people of all ages gather here to learn, celebrate, connect, and serve. The Foundation of Shalom Park( Foundation), which oversees
New Security Lobby
the operation and safety of this 54-acre campus, is committed to ensuring that all who enter feel both welcome and secure.
A Strategic Commitment to Protection
Security at Shalom Park is evolving— not in isolation but in collaboration. While the Foundation leads this transformation, we deeply value the strength of our agency partnerships, whose cooperation is vital to the success of every advancement. Our approach is guided by a longterm vision: to create a comprehensive, system-wide safety culture that protects our people, preserves our values, and ensures the vitality of Jewish life in Charlotte, NC.
Smarter Entry, Safer Campus
A major milestone in this effort is the transformation of the main lobby into a modern security hub. Equipped with facial comparison technology, the new space will support seamless, touchless credentialing for the thousands who access the campus weekly— balancing safety with ease.
Expanded Leadership in Security
Thanks to funding from Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte through the national LiveSecure initiative, the Foundation has appointed its first Security Director and Advisor, Martha Dozier. This new role marks an exciting chapter in our proactive safety culture and extends our support to Jewish institutions throughout the Charlotte metro region. In this capacity, Martha consults on security plans / operations and policies, coordinates training, and completes security assessments for Jewish organizations not on Shalom Park. The strategic expansion of our security team underscores our core belief that safety is not just a system, it is a culture we build together.
Prepared for the Unexpected Behind the scenes, the Foundation has developed a new Emergency Standard Operating Procedure Plan to guide all agencies through incidents ranging from medical events to active threats. Built in partnership with local law enforcement and national experts, this framework ensures
When people gather to celebrate, learn, worship, or lead within Jewish spaces, they deserve to do so without fear. Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte is committed to making that possible— through proactive planning, strategic investment, and community-wide coordination.
In recent years, Federation has taken a lead role in strengthening the security of Jewish life across greater Charlotte. From helping organizations access federal resources to helping fund local infrastructure upgrades, this work reflects both an urgent need and a collective responsibility.
As the central philanthropic organization for Jewish Charlotte, Federation is uniquely positioned to raise and direct the funds needed to meet these critical needs. Security has become
Martha Dosier, Security Director & Advisor-LiveSecure Project preparedness and coordinated response at every level.
At the Foundation our mission is clear: to keep this campus a safe, vibrant home for Jewish life – now and for generations to come.
For questions about the security lobby, emergency planning or the new credentialing process, please contact Chris Dozier chris. dozier @ shalomcharlotte. org.
Securing Jewish Charlotte: Federation’ s Commitment to Safety a top priority— one that Federation continues to address in close partnership with donors, local institutions, and national networks.
Through LiveSecure— a national initiative in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America— Federation has helped organizations across Charlotte apply for federal Nonprofit Security Grants, complete site assessments, and access expert guidance. A significant step forward was the hiring of a dedicated Security Director focused on institutions across greater Charlotte, providing hands-on support, planning, and coordination with law enforcement. For many institutions, this marks the first time they’ ve had direct access to professional security expertise.
In 2024, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte received a grant from The Tepper Foundation, which helped significantly expand our capacity to support community security. Combined with Annual Campaign dollars and other targeted gifts, this funding has enabled Federation to assist the Foundation of Shalom Park in making key physical upgrades, improving emergency preparedness, and enhancing coordination across campus institutions.
By aligning local leadership with national resources, Federation is ensuring that every Jewish life in Charlotte has the tools and support it needs to stay safe and resilient. Security is an ongoing effort, and Federation will continue to help lead it with focus, collaboration, and with the shared commitment of a community that protects its own.
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