The Charlotte Jewish News- November 2026- Page 4 Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Beyond the Headlines: Building a Deeper Connection to Israel
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Israel Center Director Toby Siegal reflected,“ One conversation will not transform Israel-Diaspora relations. But hundreds of rich conversations, relationships and experiences can begin to change the way people see one another.”
The Israel Center will help foster those experiences by building on Federation’ s existing Israel engagement efforts and introducing new opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. From Hebrew language learning and Israeli cultural programs to visiting speakers and firsthand experiences through missions, the initiative will offer ways to engage with Israel that go beyond headlines and current events.
The Israel Center is also intended to be a community-wide effort. By bringing together organizations, educators, Israeli families, and community members, Federation hopes to strengthen relationships not only between Charlotte and Israel but within Jewish Charlotte itself.
Toby hopes to see the Israel Center become a resource that community members return to and engage with in different ways.“ Are we reaching people who were not previously involved? Are Israelis in Charlotte finding new ways to participate in the broader Jewish community? Are organizations working together more closely?” he asked when reflecting on what
Mastering the obstacle course at April’ s Celebration of Israel Day, which brought the Charlotte Jewish community together for kosher Israeli barbecue, live music and children’ s activities. success might look like in the Israel Center’ s first year.“ If, after a year, the Center has earned trust and people see it as somewhere they can learn, question, disagree, connect and feel closer to Israel and to one another, that would be real success.”
Making those opportunities accessible to the entire community is central to the Israel Center’ s vision. Whether someone has traveled to Israel many times or is just beginning to explore their connection, the Center will offer opportunities to learn, participate, and build relationships.
“ You don’ t need a certain level of knowledge, a particular political position, or a lifelong relationship with Israel. Curiosity is enough,” Toby shared.
Power of Words: What’ s in a Shem?
By Jessica Goldfarb
What’ s in a name? In Jewish tradition, quite a lot. The Hebrew word shem( שֵׁׁ ם), meaning“ name,” carries a significance that goes far beyond how we identify ourselves. A name can connect us to our family, our history, and our heritage. It can honor someone who came before us, reflect the hopes our parents had for us, or carry a story that has been passed down for generations. In Jewish thought, a name is not simply something we are called. It is deeply connected to who we are.
The word shem is built from the Hebrew letters shin( ש) and
Two young attendees race across Shalom Park during a Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte event. mem( מ), and its plural form, shemot, means“ names.” Shemot is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Exodus, which begins by naming the children of Israel who went down to Egypt.
Throughout Jewish tradition, names carry particular importance. Jewish teachings describe a person’ s name as connected to their soul and unique essence. This understanding is reflected in familiar customs, from naming a child in memory of a loved one to using Hebrew names when being called to the Torah or offering prayers for healing. These practices remind us that a name can carry both personal meaning and a connection to the Jewish people across generations.
While our names reflect our individual identities, they also connect us to something larger. A Hebrew name, a family tradition, or a story passed down through generations can remind us that we are part of a Jewish people whose history stretches back thousands of years. Yet Jewish identity is not defined by a single experience or expression.
Here in Jewish Charlotte, that identity takes shape in countless ways, through Jewish learning, friendships, celebrations, and
“ I don’ t want the Center to become something only for people who already attend every Israel-themed event. I want to meet the person who has questions, the person who has drifted away, the Israeli family new to Charlotte, the young adult trying to make sense of what they see online and the person who simply wants to understand more.”
The community will have an opportunity to celebrate this next chapter on Nov. 19, when Federation hosts the official Israel Center Kickoff. The evening will feature Israeli food and music, followed by a presentation from award-winning journalist and author Matti Friedman, who will explore Israel beyond the headlines through his experiences in journalism and storytelling. Through the Israel Center, Federation is investing in a future where Israel remains a meaningful and evolving part of Jewish life in greater Charlotte for generations to come.
To learn more about the Israel Center and register for the Nov. 19 kickoff event, visit www. jewishcharlotte. org. involvement in community life. By bringing people together and creating opportunities to engage with Jewish life, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte helps strengthen those connections, giving individuals and families more ways to explore their heritage and make it meaningful in their own lives.
Our names may be given to us at birth, but the meaning we attach to our identities continues to develop throughout our lives. We inherit stories and traditions from those who came before us, and we add to them through the choices we make, the communities we join, and the values we pass on.
Shem reminds us that Jewish identity is both an inheritance and something we actively shape. Each of us carries a unique story, and through the connections we build with one another, those stories become part of the continuing story of Jewish Charlotte.