Thirty five miles north of Charlotte, suburban Lake Norman, named as one of “the best places in North Carolina to bring up a family,” is a fast-growing area that now features a Chabad center for the area’s Jewish families. In late September, as Hurricane Florence made landfall, Rabbi Chaim and Chaya Greenberg and their baby, Rivka, opened the doors of Chabad of Lake Norman.
“Families who had recently moved to the area told us they missed their Chabad centers back home, and we are glad to fill the niche,” says Chaya.
According to Chaim, an estimated 2,000 of the area’s 130,000 residents, are Jewish. Some are members of the local Reform temple, but the majority are not affiliated. “We want these people to know that, at Chabad they have a home,” he says. “We can celebrate and grow together, regardless of our Jewish knowledge or background.”
The Greenbergs hosted many families over the High Holiday period and are now working on plans for Chanukah. They are arranging public menorah lightings and are collaborating with the Home Depot to host a menorah building workshop for children.
They will also be reaching out to the handful of Jewish students at Davidson College, located in the Lake Norman area. “Though the Jewish students are a tiny minority on campus, we want to bring Jewish programs to them too.”
For more information and to support Chabad of Lake Norman, visit www.chabadlakenorman.com
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