Barbara & Jerry Levin
We truly believe in the adage that "actions speak louder than words." It gives us great pleasure to help others and have always tried to incorporate tzedakah into our family.
Our parents and grandparents showed us that it was our obligation to provide for others. They were very involved in their Jewish communities and we saw them make gifts when they weren’t in the position to make them. They were great mentors to us and with four children and 13 grandchildren we’re attempting to follow in their footsteps.
Judaism teaches us about our responsibility to make the world a better place and pass those traditions and values from one generation to the next. We each have a responsibility to provide for others not because it makes you feel good, but because it’s the right thing to do.
We remember a Charlotte that was much different than the community we live in today. We didn’t have the organizations and facilities to bring people together. All activities revolved around your own synagogue and children didn’t know their peers at the other synagogue. The Amity Club helped bring people together, but not until the Levine Jewish Community Center has it really brought the entire community together. We’ve come a long way from the time when some felt the need to hide their Jewish identity.
We want to see our community grow and have the type of Jewish organizations to support that growth. We have always supported Jewish education for our children as we feel it is most important to instill a Jewish way of life in them when they are young. Our children and grandchildren are already involved in our community and we are very proud of them.
Over the years as we have attempted to support those institutions that have special significance to our community, others have done the same. Each individual determines what has special meaning to them and if we continue to do that, not as individuals but as a community, we will create together a Jewish community that is more prosperous than any of us could have ever imagined.
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