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

By Elizabeth Johnson

The Charlotte Jewish News has long served as a public good, preserving local stories, documenting milestones, and strengthening our sense of connection as a community.

Month after month, it has done so without ever asking readers to pay. Today, however, the economics of print have changed.

We are asking those who value Jewish life in Charlotte to lead the way.

This is more than paying for delivery. It is an investment in an institution that records our history, elevates our voices, and helps us better understand one another.

Thank you for standing with CJN and all it serves.

By Sue Littauer

I lead the Center for Jewish Education( CJE) Book Club, but I’ ve also belonged to another book group that has met for nearly 30 years. Everyone in our circle is Jewish, but our reading lists range widely. From time to time, our choices overlap with those of the CJE book club, whose selections are written by Jewish authors or revolve around Jewish themes.

But as an avid reader, I still carve out time for books outside my club selections. Recently, I finished“ The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans. The novel unfolds entirely through letters, each one connected to Sybil Van Antwerp, a septuagenarian in Annapolis, Maryland. Through her correspondence, we meet the people who shaped her life: family, friends, and the occasional passing acquaintance, and we watch her reflect on regret while honoring the quiet acts of kindness that give her story its heart.

So why do I recommend this book? Throughout the story, I kept wondering whether a Jewish thread might appear, and eventually it does. We learn that Theodore, Sybil’ s gentle and devoted Jewish neighbor, is a Holocaust survivor. Their friendship deepens into something tender and luminous. When I finished the book, I closed it and sat quietly for several minutes, letting the power of this masterpiece settle in.

The quotes on the back cover are worth reading on their own. One of my favorite authors, Elinor Lipman, writes,“ I was wowed by this deliciously brilliant book. Author friends – please forgive me for proclaiming“ The Correspondent” my new favorite novel.” Once you finish the book, I would love to hear what you think. The author lives in Winston-Salem, and I keep thinking how lovely it would be to invite her to lunch. Currently on my nightstand is“ Hostage” by Eli Sharabi, an unflinching account of his time held captive by Hamas. Sharabi

Beginning in February 2026, The Charlotte Jewish News print edition will move to a $ 36 annual subscription model. This change will help cover rising production and distribution costs, while also ensuring the future of our community’ s newspaper years to come.

Visit charlottejewishnews. org to get yours now! writes with clarity, pulling readers into the emotional and physical realities of imprisonment. Early reviews call the memoir a“ must-read.” You can borrow a copy from the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library at Shalom Park. I’ ll share more reflections on“ Hostage” soon – stay tuned.

The Center for Jewish Education( CJE) Book Club provides an opportunity for members of the community to come together and discuss selected books. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:30 AM in Room A110 at Shalom Park.

All featured books can be found at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center, located within the Center for Jewish Education. Participation is open to everyone; to become a member, simply register as a USER at the library desk. For questions or additional information, please call 704-944-6783, or contact Sue Littauer at sueb. littauer @ jewishcharlotte. org