By Noah Goldman

It is well known that Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC) plays a vital role in supporting our local Jewish community through allocations to several partner agencies, all of which are critical to the well-being and vibrancy of our community. But

did you know Federation also supports Jewish Life overseas?

There are approximately a dozen organizations in Israel that receive JFGC funding, most of them located in our sister city of Hadera. JFGC is not alone in this effort; many Federations across North America also allocate funds to overseas partners. This work continues a long tradition in Jewish communal life: supporting fellow Jews we may never meet, because we understand ourselves to be one people.

Our two primary partners are the Jewish Agency for Israel

through a variety of initiatives. JDC helps Jews in need all over the world by providing social as well as communal services and assists with crisis responses, for example, Ukraine and Israel in recent years.

Personally, I’ ve had the privilege of seeing JAFI’ s and JDC’ s work firsthand. In 2020, I participated in one of their programs on a kibbutz in Northern Israel alongside Jews from around the world as well as Israeli Arabs. It’ s an experience I hold onto fondly as it taught me much about coexistence and engaging across differences.

In 2023, I participated in a JDC trip to the country of Georgia, and it was here I witnessed the incredible work they do in former Soviet countries struggling with weakened economies, corruption, and more. I visited the community centers they established to ensure that Jewish seniors in need have access to critical services and a supportive community including access to essential medicines and providing spaces for communal connection. These were just glimpses into the work that JAFI and JDC do and yet these experiences shaped me as a Jew and continue to shape the trajectory of my career.

The local partner organizations we support in Israel serve their communities in countless,

children who participate come from low-income families, and this important program provides them with a safe, engaging, and educational place to learn as well as explore.

The Chabad Chesed Center in Hadera works tirelessly to combat poverty providing hot meals, financial assistance, and guidance to anyone in need who comes to them. The Ethiopian National Project works to improve integration of the Ethiopian Jewish community into Israeli society. Hadera has a sizable Ethiopian-Israeli population as well as many other diverse communities as well and through this organization, they provide educational and emotional support to children in need.

The Hadera Development Fund assists young adults in professional and community development. They support young adults, many in challenging circumstances, by building business skills, encouraging personal responsibility, and empowering them to take charge of their future. Their work has become even more essential, with many of the individuals they support having returned to the army for reserve duty. While many were proud to serve their country, it was very disruptive to their family life, professional ambitions, and mental health. These challenges have made the

nections, and a powerful sense of peoplehood. Each dollar given helps weave a stronger global Jewish fabric, connecting Charlotte to Hadera and beyond.

It should bring anyone a sense of uplifting joy that a Jew in Hadera receives help, in part, thanks to the greater Charlotte area Jewish community. The next time you visit Israel, I encourage you to visit at least one of our partner organizations. Seeing their work firsthand is truly inspiring, and it highlights the impact they make, each and every day.

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.

For more information about- Federation’ s Israel and Global Jewry work, contact Noah Goldman at noah. goldman @ jewishcharlotte. or. g

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.

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Noah Goldman visiting Israel

( JAFI) and Joint Distribution Committee( JDC). Both organizations plan and execute massive projects designed to support and strengthen Jewish life around the world. JAFI assists with Aliyah( immigration to Israel) and connecting Jews around the world to each other

meaningful ways – from education to social services and beyond. Technoda – the Science and Technology Center located in the heart of Hadera’ s Givat Olga neighborhood – offers outstanding after-school programs in science, technology, physics, robotics, and more. Many of the

Hadera Development Fund’ s work even more critical.

These are but six of the essential organizations JFGC supports overseas. Our commitment to our brothers and sisters in Israel goes far beyond words – it is expressed through meaningful partnerships, cross-border con-

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