Jewish Studies: Educating with Depth
By Jennifer Jones Horton
I was born in 1976 to parents whose union was, at the time, considered both bold and controversial. My parents came from two very different religious worlds.
My mother was raised in New York in a fully Jewish family. My father was a third-generation Irish Catholic from Woburn, Massachusetts. They met on Jersey Street in Boston, right near Fenway Park, and fell in love. However, their marriage was not approved by their families, and they eloped.
From that brave choice came four children: two sisters, a brother, and me. My mom had a name for us. She called us“ cashews.” Catholic on the outside, Jewish on the inside. Our home followed Jewish religious traditions. We celebrated Jewish holidays with meaning and intention. We shared the stories, the rituals, and the community.
At the same time, we celebrated Catholic holidays in a very American way. Christmas had a tree, Easter had chocolate, and they all involved family time, but it was never religious for us. It was simply a moment of warmth and togetherness.
I had my bat mitzvah in Gloucester, MA. I went to Sunday school and Hebrew school twice a week. However, at school, I was the only Jewish student. I remember how casually antisemitic comments could be thrown around. I often felt obligated to say something, to explain or defend, but it was uncomfortable. I was a kid, and suddenly I represented an entire people.
Sometimes the school tried to address diversity by creating panels. There would be one Jewish student, one African American student, and one student with a disability, each of us meant to represent an entire group. The intention was good, but the experience felt strange. We were tokenized, even if people didn’ t realize it. But that experience shaped me.
Being“ the different one” taught me empathy. It made me more aware of what it means to live as a minority and more committed to standing beside others who feel singled out or misunderstood. It also taught me the deep importance of community.
Jewish community matters. It is important for children and adults to have their Jewish culture represented and shared. It is also important to stand up not only for our own people but also for others whose voices are marginalized. Our differences are not something to fear; they are something to celebrate. Cultural exchange makes the world richer and more beautiful.
At the same time, I never want to lose my own traditions. I want to continue living a Jewish life and passing it down to my children. Judaism teaches us about mitzvot, acts of kindness, responsibility, and moral living. It teaches us to care for one another and for the world around us. Judaism is a beautiful religion rooted in compassion, responsibility, and reverence for life and our planet.
And in my own life, I have tried to carry this forward. At my wedding, we stood beneath a beautiful chuppah my mother handmade herself. Now that I have children of my own, both of whom have celebrated their bat mitzvahs at Temple Kol Ami, I see that legacy more clearly. My mother even made a tallit
The Charlotte Jewish News- May 2026- Page 23 to be passed down through the generations, each knot tied with tender loving care and blessed by a rabbi.
While I may not be the most traditionally religious person, I try to live with Jewish values in mind. I teach Sunday school at Temple Kol Ami because I want to share my love of Jewish culture, history, and resilience. I want the next generation to feel pride in who they are and connected to the beauty of our traditions. 10 Mitzvot to Live By
• Welcome the stranger; hospitality and openness strengthenc ommunity.
• Practice kindness daily; small acts of care ripple outward.
• Stand up for justice: Silence in the face of injustice enables hatred to grow.
• Care for the Earth: Our planet is sacred and entrusted to us.
• Honor family and elders: Wisdom and tradition are passed down through generations.
• Seek learning: Curiosity and study are lifelong Jewish values; always ask“ why.”
• Give generously: Charity, tzeda • kah, is an obligation, not an option. Give with an open heart and mind.
• Speak with integrity: Words can heal or harm; choose them carefully. Be a legacy builder, not a destroyer.
• Build community: We are stronger when we show up for one another. Each of us is both leaders and followers. How do you lead with the strength of your Jewish identity? How do you follow Jewish tradition.
• Celebrate joy and miracles: Jewish tradition reminds us to notice the wonder in everyday
Holidays are Family-Friendly at Chabad of Charlotte
By Rabbi Shlomo Cohen and Rabbi Yossi Groner
There is an exciting stretch on the Jewish calendar that feels tailor-made for families – these events carry us from the bonfires of Lag B’ Omer to all-night learning, the Ten Commandment presentation, along with cheesecake and ice cream on the holiday of Shavuot.
It’ s a season filled with dynamic movement, warmth, and memory-making, especially for children. And here in Charlotte, this excitement comes alive in a unique and vibrant way at Chabad of Charlotte.
If you’ ve ever watched a child’ s face light up at a crackling Lag B’ Omer bonfire, you understand something essential about Jewish life: not everything is taught – some things are felt. Lag B’ Omer arrives like a breath of fresh air in the middle of the
Omer count, a day when the quiet introspection of the season gives way to laughter, music, and firelight. Children run to soak in a sense that Judaism is not only meaningful – it’ s joyful.
At Chabad, that joy is intentional. The holiday becomes an experience: live music, handson activities, and the kind of relaxed, welcoming environment where families – whether deeply affiliated or just exploring – feel at home. Parents chat while kids play, and somewhere in the background, the deeper story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and the power of Jewish unity quietly takes root.
If Lag B’ Omer is about fire, Shavuot is about the revelation at Sinai. There’ s something profoundly beautiful about watching children hear the Ten Commandments. At first glance, it’ s a quiet moment – kids fidget,
Jennifer Jones Horton and her daughter Adeline
parents whisper reminders – but beneath the surface, something powerful is happening. Tradition teaches that every Jewish soul, including the youngest ones, stood at Mount Sinai. So, when children gather to hear the Aseret Hadibrot on Shavuot morning, it’ s not just a reenactment; it’ s a genuine homecoming. And then, almost seamlessly, the calendar turns toward Shavuot.
At Chabad of Charlotte, Shavuot is designed with families in mind. Ice cream parties and dairy buffets make the holiday deliciously accessible, while engaging programs ensure that even the youngest participants feel included. There’ s a warmth to it – a sense that Torah isn’ t something distant or abstract, but something alive, something that belongs to every Jew, regardless of age or background.
One Charlotte parent put it simply after attending a Shavuot program:“ My kids didn’ t just hear the Ten Commandments – they felt like they were part of something big.” That may be the thread that ties Lag B’ Omer and Shavuot together so beautifully. One is filled with dancing flames under the open sky; the other with the quiet awe of standing at Sinai. But both are, at their core, about connection to community, to tradition, and to something greater than us.
In a world that moves quickly and often feels fragmented, these are the moments that linger. These are the memories that shape identity. From bonfires to Sinai, the journey is short – but its impact can last a lifetime. And at Chabad of Charlotte, that journey is open to every family, ready to be experienced together.
life. Stop with intention to discover the miracles of today. Say the shehecheyanu for each new miracle to remind you they are everywhere. I had a rabbi once tell me that whatever you do consistently is who you are. What will you become through your daily consistent choices?
What I love most about Judaism is that it remembers miracles. It teaches gratitude. It calls us to honor the earth and all living things. My parents took a risk when they chose love across traditions. From that courage came a life where I could embrace my Jewish identity fully while also learning to respect and appreciate the traditions of others.
This is the very legacy I hope to pass on to my children: a deep pride in who they are, a commitment to kindness, and the understanding that our differences are not weaknesses but the very things that make this world magical.
Temple Kol Ami is a Reform Jewish congregation formed in the spring of 2010 to answer the needs of a growing and diverse Jewish community in the greater York County area. We are a warm, caring, and egalitarian community, cherishing tradition while yearning for expression in modernity. To learn more: yorksynagogue @ gmail. com or visit templekolamisc. org.
Join us Tuesday, May 5, at 5 p. m. for a Lag B’ Omer barbecue and family celebration. More details at chabadnc. org.
Join us Friday, May 22, at 11 a. m. for the Shavuot experience including the reading of the Ten Commandments followed by services, kiddush luncheon, and dairy treats. The second day of Shavuot on Shabbat, May 23, includes the last Yizkor service of the year until Yom Kippur. Please RSVP for Shavuot programs at chabadnc. org or call 704- 366-3984.