The Charlotte
JEWISH
NEWS
Vol. 48, No. 3 Adar- Nisan 5786 March 2026
Gathering“ As One”: Highlights from The Super Event
By Jessica Goldfarb
Nearly 500 people came together for Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’ s( JFGC) Super Event this past January, kicking off the 2026 Annual Campaign and creating an atmosphere that felt warm, relaxed, and fostered a sense of belonging for all who attended. Conversations flowed at the preevent cocktail hour, and carried through the evening, reflecting the kind of gathering that encourages people to connect.
That tone carried into the program itself, which was chaired by Brian and Raizel Kahn and featured guest speaker Marlee Matlin, academy-award winning actress and advocate for the Jewish and deaf communities. Communicating through sign language with the support of an interpreter, Matlin’ s story anchored the night in themes of Jewish identity, advocacy, and the power of community. She spoke about growing up surrounded by family, tradition, and a Jewish community that helped instill both confidence and a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for others.
One of the most poignant moments came as Matlin referenced her bat mitzvah at Congregation Bene Shalom. When she worried that her happy tears had stained the Torah, she recalled the rabbi telling her,“ Your tears are a mitzvah,” explaining that while
Jewish history is filled with tears of persecution, hers added something different—“ tears of joy.”
Matlin connected those early lessons to her later work as an advocate, emphasizing how Jewish values of compassion and justice helped fuel her efforts to break barriers in both the hearing and deaf worlds. She highlighted her role in pushing for closed captioning mandates, pausing to ask the audience,“ How many of you watch TV with captions?” When more than two-thirds of the room raised their hands, she smiled and said,“ You’ re welcome,” drawing laughter and underscoring how inclusion strengthens the experience for everyone.
Throughout her remarks,
Event chairs Brian and Raizel Kahn are pictured with Marlee Matlin and staff from JFGC.
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By Jessica Goldfarb When a rare winter storm swept through Charlotte, dropping snow totals not seen in decades, it forced a last-minute pivot for Super Sunday 2026. What it did not do was slow the momentum of a community committed to showing up for one another.
Originally planned as an in-person call-a-thon effort, Super Sunday quickly moved to a fully virtual format as the storm intensified.
Despite the unexpected shift, volunteers across greater
Marlee Matlin engages with guests during the evening’ s celebration.
Super Sunday Snow Day
Matlin returned to the power of community— and the role Jewish institutions like JFGC play in bringing people together, investing in connection, and creating spaces where individuals can grow into confident advocates. That message resonated deeply with a room united by a shared commitment to sustaining Jewish life in Charlotte.
The Super Event marks the official launch of JFGC’ s 2026 Annual Campaign, a collective effort to support the programs and services that strengthen Jewish Charlotte and connect it to the global Jewish community. From education and security to care for those in need and opportunities for Jewish joy, the Annual Campaign fuels the work that allows community members of all backgrounds to feel seen and supported. As of The Super Event, the 2026 Annual Campaign has already raised $ 3.3 million.
In centering the evening on advocacy, inclusion, and identity, The Super Event reflected the same values that drive JFGC’ s work year-round. As the 2026 Annual Campaign begins, the message is clear: strong communities are built intentionally, through shared investment and a commitment to one another.
If you have not yet done so, we invite you to“ Be a Part of This” collective effort by making your pledge online at jewishcharlotte. org.
Charlotte logged on from their kitchen tables and home offices across the city, demonstrating what it means to show up with intention and purpose.
Their flexibility and dedication ensured that Super Sunday 2026 was not defined by the weather but rather by the strength of a community that understands the power of collective action.
Throughout the day, volunteers representing Jewish agencies, organizations, and congregations across the region reached out to community members throughout greater Charlotte, inviting them to support the 2026 Annual Campaign.
These conversations were about more than fundraising; they were moments of connection, reflection, and shared responsibility, reinforcing the idea that sustaining Jewish life in Charlotte is a collective effort.
Each pledge received represented not only financial support but also trust in the work Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC) does year-round to care for the community, respond to
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