The Charlotte
JEWISH
NEWS
Vol. 48, No. 7 Av-Elul 5786 August 2026
The Question Before Us
By Adam Kolett
Charlotte’ s Jewish community is thriving. Our synagogues are active. Our agencies are strong. New families continue to arrive, bringing fresh energy and new ideas.
But growth, by itself, is not a vision.
Charlotte’ s Jewish community has reached an inflection point. We are no longer simply asking how to accommodate growth. We are asking who we aspire to be. The decisions we make over the next several years will shape Jewish Charlotte for decades to come. Our responsibility is not simply to respond to change, but to help lead it. And that conversation feels especially urgent today.
The events of October 7 and their aftermath have fundamentally transformed Jewish life around the world. Antisemitism has become more visible, conversations about Israel have become increasingly complex, and many Jews have found themselves asking deeper questions about identity, belonging and community. Rather than retreat from those questions, we should see them as an invitation to strengthen our connections with one another and to think more intentionally about the kind of Jewish community we hope to build.
At the same time, Charlotte itself is changing. Young families are planting roots. Longtime members are asking how we preserve what makes our Jewish community special as we prepare for what comes next. Each
NONPROFIT ORG U. S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLOTTE NC PERMIT # 1208 CHARLOTTE, NC
5007 Providence Road, Suite # 101 Charlotte, NC 28226 Change Service Requested of us experiences Jewish Charlotte through a different lens, connecting through different institutions, relationships and traditions. Together, those differences will help define the kind of Jewish community we become.
These are not decisions for one organization to make, but for all of us to navigate together. At Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, we believe one of our most central responsibilities is to convene these conversations. Federation is uniquely positioned to bring people together, listen carefully and help translate our collective wisdom into a shared vision for the future.
And so, over the next year, we will put that commitment into action through a community visioning and planning process. This is not about creating another cumbersome report to sit on a shelf. It is about listening first, engaging broadly and defining a shared vision and clear priorities for Jewish life in Charlotte. What are our greatest strengths? Where are the gaps? What should Jewish life in Charlotte look like five, 10 and 20 years from now?
These answers matter because every major decision that follows depends on them. How we invest resources. How we support agencies and programs. How we cultivate leadership. How we strengthen Jewish education across every stage of life. How we engage the next generation. How we deepen our connection to Israel.
The answers will shape how we invest resources, where we build new capacity, how we pre-
Kolett Family
pare future leaders, and how we ensure Jewish life remains vibrant for generations to come.
The strength of a Jewish community is measured not simply by the number of institutions it has, but by whether people feel they have a place within them. Belonging has become an essential part of our communal vocabulary, but it is not created through slogans or good intentions alone.
It grows organically when people are genuinely welcomed into Jewish life, when relationships are formed, when leadership is cultivated and when individuals see themselves reflected in our shared future. Jewish education, in all its forms, is one of the most enduring ways we nourish that sense of belonging
By Jessica Goldfarb Finding your place in a new community can take time. Finding your place in Jewish Charlotte doesn’ t have to.
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte will host its second annual Newish & Jewish event, a community showcase designed to introduce people to the many organizations, programs, businesses, and opportunities that make Jewish Charlotte such a vibrant place to belong. Join us Aug. 30, from 10 a. m. to noon at the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts at Shalom Park.
Whether you’ re new to the area, newly exploring Jewish life, or simply looking for new ways to get involved, Newish & Jewish offers an easy way to discover everything our community has to offer in one place. Last year the event saw hundreds in attendance!
The fair-style event will feature more than 35 booths representing Jewish organizations from across the Charlotte area. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local synagogues,
across generations.
Our responsibility also extends beyond our own institutions.
Building Jewish community also means strengthening relationships beyond our own institutions. Federation helps forge civic partnerships, advocates for our community and ensures Jewish voices are heard, respected and understood throughout the greater Charlotte region and beyond. These efforts strengthen not only Jewish life but Charlotte as a whole. They matter not only in moments of challenge but also in the ongoing work of creating a more connected city.
None of this happens without philanthropy. Every gift is more than a charitable contribution. It is an investment in the people, institutions and formative educational experiences that strengthen Jewish life in Charlotte. The institutions we rely upon today exist because previous generations chose to invest in them. Now it is our turn to do the same. Ultimately, the future of Jewish Charlotte will not be determined by any strategic plan, committee or organization. It will depend on whether we are willing to imagine our future together, invest in one another, and move forward with purpose.
Find Your Place at Newish & Jewish
schools, camps, social groups, and nonprofit organizations while learning about programs and services for every age and stage of life.
The event also highlights the incredible diversity of Jewish Charlotte. Visitors can connect with organizations addressing everything from food insecurity and environmental stewardship to thrift stores and gardening, alongside agencies focused on
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