Photo from February 1997 Charlotte Jewish News Anita and Herman Blumenthal (far right) with son Alan Blumenthal, granddaughter Stacy Blumenthal, daughter-in-law Lee Blumenthal and granddaughter Jill Blumenthal

Newspaper archives are a treasure trove of collective memories and experiences, providing a snapshot of our history. The Charlotte Jewish News has been in print since 1979, providing a nearly bottomless opportunity to delve into the history of the greater Charlotte Jewish community. The following are from February, 1997.

Looking Back... Blumenthals Will Be Honored

February, 1997

On March 5, 1997, two of the Charlotte Jewish community’s most prominent philantrhopists, Herman and Anita Blumenthal, will be honored at a gala celebration in the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The evening, sponsored by the Board of Directors of Temple Beth El, will mark the beginning of the fund raising efforts for the Temple Beth El Permanent Endowment Fund Trust, which was initiated last year by the Blumenthal’s $1 million gift. The black-tie evening will

feature keynote speakers Governor James Hunt and Rolfe Neill, editor of The Charlotte Observer. Other highlights will include cocktails, dinner, and performances by the resident companies of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

There will be a special presentation of the Blumenthal Aware, which honors Herman and Anita Blumenthal and their generous $1 million gift which was the first major contribution to the Temple Endowmenet Fund. Herman and Anita Blumenthal were the inspiration for this aware and this special evening is an opportunity to celebrate their philanthropy.

In addition to honoring the Blumenthal’s for their lifetime of giving, the Board of Directors will also announce and recognize other major gifts that have already been pledged to the Endowment Fund, and will launch the next phase of the endowment drive which will continue as a permanent part of the Temple’s financial program.

Looking Back...Federation Set to Begin Demographic Study

February, 1997

The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, in its continuing effort to better serve its constituency, is about to embark on a major community demographic study. For the first time ever, the Federation will conduct a survey of the Jewish community with a view toward determining the size of the population, the services it needs, and the elvels of its participation in, and awareness of, Jewish life and institutions. The study has the full cooperation of all synaoguges and Jewish agencies in Charlotte.

Sara Schreibman, Chair of the Federation Demographic Study Committee, said the survey will provide the Federation with a clear profile of the geographic, demographic, religious, and philantrhopic characteristics of the growing Charlotte Jewish community.

The study will be conducted by the University of Miami’s Dr. Ira Sheskin, a nationally-recognized Jewish demographic expert. Sheskin has conducted fourteen studies of Jewish communities. Sheskin has designed a questionnaire based on input from the committee and will oversee the selection and training of the interviewers. The demographic

survey will entail 400 telephone interviews conducted on a random digit-dial basis in the greater Charlotte area. Interviews will be conducted over a two to three week period beginning on March 6, 1997.

The interviews will be done anonymously, Sheskin said, but he added that in order for the survey to provide valid, unbiased results, it is necessary for a high percentage of the Jewish households to answer the questionnaire.

“That is why it is so important that the community be aware of what we’re doing.,” Schreibman said. “If people are aware of the study, they’ll be more likely to participate.”

In order to heighten awareness and maximize participation, Federation will mail out more than 2,500 postcards to everyone on its mailing list, and posters and flyers will be placed in synagogues and institutions around the community.

“This study will set the direction and the tone for the Federation as we move toward the eyar 2000,” said Marvin Goldberg, Federation executive director. “It will enable us to et a true handle on the numbers and needs of our growing Jewish population.