The Charlotte Jewish News- April 2026- Page 3 Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Passover and Community: How Jewish Charlotte Embodies the Spirit of the Holiday
By Jessica Goldfarb
Each year at Passover, we gather around our Seder tables and retell the story of the Exodus. We remember slavery and liberation, hardship and hope. We taste bitterness and sweetness in the same evening. We ask questions. We sing. We argue. We pass dishes across the table.
It is a deeply personal experience. It is also unmistakably communal.
Passover begins with an invitation:“ Let all who are hungry come and eat.” In its earliest form, that was not symbolic. It was literal. The Seder table expanded to make room. No one’ s freedom felt complete if someone else remained excluded.
At Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC), that same spirit shapes how we think about responsibility. Jewish life does not sustain itself by chance. It is built, protected, and nurtured through shared commitment. When one part of our community is vulnerable, the whole community feels it. When one part thrives, we all benefit.
Our Jewish community is as diverse as the four children, and with that comes a wide range of needs, questions, perspectives, and ways of engaging with Jewish life. Some approach tradition with deep familiarity, others with curiosity or rediscovery. Some feel firmly rooted, while others are still finding their place. Federation’ s role is not to narrow those differences, but to create space for them – ensuring that every individual, at every stage of their Jewish journey, has a place at the table and a pathway into meaningful connection.
The Annual Campaign is the mechanism that fuels this work year-round, channeling our community’ s collective investment into initiatives and partnerships that strengthen Jewish education, security, advocacy, and engagement. It ensures that families have access to Jewish education and engagement, that seniors and vulnerable community members are supported, that our institutions are secure, and that our connection to Israel and global Jewry remains strong.
Later in the Seder, we declare,“ In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they personally left Egypt.” We choose to place ourselves inside a shared history and, more importantly, to carry it forward. Leaving Egypt was only the first step; what followed was the long work of building a people and shaping a future.
Passover is a celebration of freedom. It is also a reminder that freedom is sustained by community. In Jewish Charlotte, that community is built every day – through shared investment, thoughtful leadership, and a commitment to ensuring that Jewish life in greater Charlotte remains strong, vibrant, and secure.
As we gather at our tables this year, we are reminded that the story does not end with the Exodus.“ In every generation” calls us not only to remember but to act. To show up. To invest. To take responsibility for one another.
The story of Passover was the beginning of a journey, not its conclusion. The Seder table expands each year to make room for one more voice, one more question, one more participant. Our community grows the same way – through shared investment and a willingness to take our place in the story.
Jewish Values, Lived Daily
By Danielle McLaughlin
As both a lead teacher in the 3’ s classroom and a parent at Charlotte Jewish Preschool( CJP), I have the unique privilege of experiencing the Jewish value of Limud – learning that inspires growth, reflection, discovery, and a lifelong curiosity – from two perspectives.
One of my daughters has already gone through our school, and my younger daughter is now experiencing it too. Watching them mature within this environment has deepened my appreciation for the Reggio Emilia approach and strengthened my belief in the power of Jewish values woven into early childhood education.
As educators, we believe children are already whole people – filled with their own ideas, emotions, and ways of understanding the world. However, the CJP approach teaches us that children learn through the“ hundred languages,” meaning there are countless ways for them to express themselves and connect to learning. This aligns beautifully with Limud.
As a CJP teacher, I cherish being in a space that allows children to fully express who they are. Each day, I meet children exactly where they are, rather than asking them to conform to a single path. I truly believe we offer a gold-standard approach to early childhood education.
Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and give children the freedom to make profound choices – something they don’ t always experience in the structured rhythm of daily life.
So much of a child’ s day is determined by adults: and while structure is important to children, they also need the opportunities to make choices, express emotions, and learn who they are. That is why I love our commitment to intentionally creating spaces where children can grow. At CJP, they are not just learners; they are simply themselves.
I have watched my daughters flourish in this remarkable school. I have seen them become more independent, more confident, and more eager to explore.
The McLaughlin Family.
My younger daughter especially thrives when she can express herself freely – whether through art, dramatic play, building, storytelling, or the many other“ languages” available to her. These experiences do more than teach her skills; they help her authentically come into her own.
Every day, I am grateful that my children have a second home here – a place where they feel safe, loved, and understood. A place where Jewish values are lived, not just taught. A place where learning is joyful, meaningful, and deeply personal.
At CJP, I see the heart of Limud come alive. It is a gift to witness, a privilege to nurture, and an honor to share within our beloved Kehilla.
We Inspire. We Protect. We Rebuild. 2026 Annual Campaign
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