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The Charlotte Jewish News- November 2026- Page 3 Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
What Does Jewish Charlotte Need from Us Now?
By Adam Kolett
For more than 80 years, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte has played a central role in Jewish life across greater Charlotte. Remaining relevant for the next 80, however, will not come from preserving everything we have always done. In some ways, it requires exactly the opposite.
Communities change. The institutions that serve them must be willing to change, too. For Federation, that means asking what Jewish Charlotte needs today, anticipating what it may need tomorrow, and considering what we are uniquely positioned to do about it. The measure of our success cannot simply be whether Federation itself is successful. The more important question is: Is Jewish Charlotte stronger because we are here?
That measure is at the heart of a community planning process we are launching to better understand where Jewish Charlotte is today and, together, determine where we need to go. We are engaging people and organizations across our community to identify emerging needs, existing gaps and opportunities for greater collaboration. We are not beginning this process with predetermined answers. Our goal is to listen, learn and make thoughtful choices about where Federation and our partners across Jewish Charlotte can have the greatest impact.
Recent years have already demonstrated why this approach matters. The alarming rise in antisemitism has required a more coordinated communitywide response. Through Outshine Hate and the Jewish Community Relations Council, we are working not only to respond when incidents occur, but also to build lasting relationships, educate our non-Jewish neighbors and give
Two friends greet one another with a warm embrace.
Jewish Charlotte a more unified voice.
Our newly launched Israel Center grew from a different need. Israel is central to Jewish history, identity and peoplehood, yet for many Jews, their relationship with Israel has become increasingly complex. Our response is not to shy away from that complexity, nor to offer easy answers. Instead, the Israel Center seeks to deepen Jewish Charlotte’ s connection to Israel through its people, culture, history and experiences, creating opportunities for honest conversation, deeper engagement and enduring relationships. Neither initiative began because Federation decided we needed another program. Each grew in response to what we saw happening around us.
Fundraising and allocations remain essential to our work. They allow us to support organizations doing extraordinary work throughout Jewish Charlotte and beyond. But raising and distributing money is not, by itself, our sole purpose. It is one of the tools we use to help create a safer, more resilient and closely connected Jewish community. Our responsibility also extends beyond any single program or organization. We can look across Jewish Charlotte and see where organizations can work together, where a shared investment could accomplish more, or where a challenge is too large for any one organization to address alone.
Sometimes we fund an important need. Sometimes we bring the right people together. Sometimes we recognize an opportunity that might otherwise be missed. And sometimes, we realize that something we have always done may no longer be what our community needs. That can be difficult for any institution to confront. But relevance is not something we inherit from the people who built Federation before us. Each generation must earn it.
As we enter a season of gratitude, I am especially thankful for the partners, volunteers, donors, lay leaders and professionals who give so generously of their time, resources, ideas, energy and hearts to Jewish Charlotte. They are often the first to recognize an emerging need, raise a question we may not have considered or challenge an assumption we have long held. Our community is better because of their commitment, and Federation is better because of their partnership.
We will not anticipate every change or get every decision right. What we can do is continue to listen carefully, act on what we learn and keep asking the question that matters most: Is Jewish Charlotte stronger because we are here?
Buying, Selling or Relocating?
An award-winning real estate agent with a passion for service and more than a decade of experience in the greater Charlotte area. Andrew is an active member and leader in the Jewish community.
Community members enjoy a day on the links at the 19th Annual Sam Strause Levine JCC Golf Tournament.
Andrew Rosen
andrew. rosen @ compass. com M: 704.604.4756 O: 704.234.7880
Andrew Rosen is a real estate licensee affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.