Charlotte Jewish News Sept 2026 | страница 4

The Charlotte Jewish News- September 2026- Page 4 Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte

Sue’ s Book Club

By Sue Littauer
It seems every book recommendation article these days is a list of all-time favorites, the best books of 2026 or personal mustreads. But one question I hear repeatedly is,“ If you could give one book not five stars, but six, what would it be?”
It took some serious thought, but I finally landed on four books that, in my opinion, are
absolute home runs. The titles that follow are the books that earned more than a few good-natured eye rolls from my friends because I simply couldn’ t stop recommending them.
“ Waking Lions” by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
This story follows Eitan Green, an Israeli neurosurgeon whose life unravels after he strikes and kills an Eritrean migrant worker in a hit-and-run accident, then flees the scene. What follows is a gripping exploration of guilt, morality and the consequences of a single split-second decision.
“ Mary Jane” by Jessica Anya Blau
Set in Baltimore during the summer of 1970, the novel follows a 14-year-old girl caught between her conventional family and the free-spirited household she works for as a nanny, where a famous rock star and his movie-star wife are secretly hiding from the spotlight.
“ Goyhood” by Reuven Fento
What happens when a devout Orthodox Jewish man discovers in middle age that he isn’ t Jewish? In“ Goyhood,” that startling revelation sets off a funny, poignant and deeply Jewish exploration of faith, family and belonging. Fenton’ s debut is both thought-provoking and unexpectedly heartwarming.
“ Horse” by Geraldine Brooks
At its heart,“ Horse” is far more than a novel about a racehorse. Inspired by the remarkable true story of Lexington, Brooks crafts a richly layered tale spanning 1850s Kentucky, 1950s New York City and present-day Washington, D. C. As the story moves across generations, it explores race, art, history and the enduring connections between past and present. It’ s one of those rare novels that entertains while leaving you thinking
long after you’ ve turned the final page.
The Center for Jewish Education( CJE) Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month in Room A-110 on Main Street at Shalom Park. Sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, the
group welcomes all readers. To join, register at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center, where all of the featured books are available. For more information, contact Sue Littauer at sueb. littauer @ jewishcharlotte. org.

Center for Jewish Education Book Club Schedule

The Center for Jewish Education( CJE) Book Club brings community members together to discuss selected books. Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room A110 at Shalom Park, with all featured books available through the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center. Participation is open to all. To join, register as a USER at the library desk. For more information, call 704-944-6783 or contact Sue Littauer at sueb. littauer @ jewishcharlotte. org
September 9 Counting Backwards Jacqueline Friedland
October 14
Not About Us
Allegra Goodman
November 11 Kissing Girls on Shabbat Sara Glass
December 9 Goyhood Reuven Fenton

The Power of Words: The Beauty of Yofi

By Jessica Goldfarb
Yofi! It is one of the most recognizable words in modern Hebrew, an easy expression of“ great!”“ good!” or“ amazing!” that finds its way into conversations every day. But hidden within that familiar exclamation is a meaning we may not think about when we say it. Its literal translation,“ beauty,” raises a bigger question.
The word yofi comes from the Hebrew root yud-feh-heh( י-פ-ה) and is closely related to yafeh
( יפה), meaning beautiful. Forms of yafeh can be found throughout the Torah, while today yofi is most often used as an exclamation of amazement, approval, or happiness. But what does Judaism mean when it talks about“ beauty?”
The Jewish tradition of hiddur mitzvah, beautifying a mitzvah, encourages us to consider how we fulfill mitzvot. We take our time to choose the best apples for Rosh Hashanah, decorate a sukkah with handmade crafts, or prepare a Shabbat table with purpose.
With this understanding, beauty is not simply about appearance, it is also an expression of intention, effort, and care. Hiddur mitzvah encourages us to go beyond the minimum requirement and create something worthy of exclamation. In other words, something truly“ yofi!”
The same idea can shape the way we think about Jewish communal life. At Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, the work is not simply about making Jewish life possible, but about going above and beyond to make it meaningful.
Jewish Charlotte is shaped by people who give something more: their time, energy, and themselves. A gathering builds relationships. A lesson deepens Jewish identity. An act of generosity strengthens a community.
Perhaps the literal and everyday meanings of yofi are not so different after all. Beauty can be found not only in what we see, but in what we create when we give something our utmost attention and care.
When those things come together to make something meaningful, there may be no better word for it than“ yofi.”