From the Editor: Better Together

The Charlotte Jewish News, February 2023

Shira Firestone, Editor CJN

On my recent vacation to see my children for the first time in three years (thanks COVID), we did something none of us had ever tried before: we went to an escape room. If you’re not familiar with escape rooms, they are a kind of game that involves a team of usually two to ten players in a room that is elaborately designed with themes to resemble a fictional space, such as a prison cell, space station, or ruins deep in the jungle. The team works cooperatively to discover clues and solve puzzles to “escape” the room in a set amount of time. There were five of us working together toward one goal. We had one hour to solve puzzles that would allow us to escape a genie’s bottle. Having no prior knowledge of the room and having never worked together, there was no way for us to plan our approach. We were ushered in to surprisingly realistic cave, the door closed behind us, and the clock began to count down.

Being new to escape rooms, unfamiliar with this scenario in particular, and having never worked together on something like this before, there was no way for us to plan our approach in advance. We had to figure it out as we went along. What immediately struck me was how naturally and quickly everyone fell into roles that were perfectly suited to their skill set and way of seeing the world — different, but none more important than the other. I immediately gravitated toward a mirror in a basket that, when you pointed it at particu- lar rays of light, would open a treasure chest. My son, meanwhile, had figured out where the jewels from the chest fit to open the door that gave us access to the genie’s bottle. While some of us were good at unraveling tactile and visual clues, others could pick locks, and still others could crunch numbers. Some of us were drawn to details, others could see the big picture and put those details together. Leaders and followers emerged without prior planning.

We worked together, each with our unique strengths and perspectives, and I’m happy to report that we escaped the genie’s lamp with seven minutes to spare.

Reflecting on the experience since then, I can’t help but consider the parallels between our little community of five and the larger Charlotte Jewish community of which I’m a part. We may not be trying to escape a genie’s bottle, but we are working together, in our own ways and in our own spaces, for the common benefit of Jewish life in Charlotte — furthering and supporting Jewish identity and celebrating Jewish life. Some individuals and organizations do it by working with children, others by working with seniors. Some focus on physical health, others on mental health. Some provide education- al opportunities and others create and support spaces to worship. And let’s not forget those who provide generous financial support to make this all happen.

Sometimes we can be so focused on our part or so siloed in our own work that we don’t always see the whole or appreciate our part in it. But occasionally, we get to pull back and get a wide-angle view of our community, and when we do, it can be inspiring.

This was my experience at Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s (JFGC) Main Event on January 19 featuring Emmy-Award winning co-anchor of ABC’s “Nightline,” Juju Chang. The annual Main Event is the kickoff to JFGC’s Annual Campaign, which not only raises funds to allocate to more than 70 agencies, but also to support initiatives and programs it oversees on behalf of the community. While sitting in the balcony at Temple Israel, I had a birds-eye perspective with the most expansive view of the almost 600 people gathered. It was a powerful, visual reminder of both the diversity and strength of our community.

I looked down and saw people representing various demographics and interests, including our schools, social service agencies, synagogues, and more. Seated among them were also some of

our most generous philanthropists. And it wasn’t just established leaders who came together for the Main Event. Families new to Charlotte and those unaffiliated with a synagogue or agency were in attendance. Together, we all listened to JuJu Chang share her message about the importance of working together not only within our community, but also together with other marginalized communities who are vulnerable to acts of hate and violence. She said, “You understand that you have far more in common and that we are far more powerful together in solidarity fighting for justice and equality and the things that are foundational in American values.”

It’s cliché to say that the sum of our parts is greater than our whole, but clichés become clichés for a reason. This truism was in full display at the Main Event as our community came together. The night not only generated an excitement to give to JFGC’s Annual Campaign, but to move forward working together, with our unique talents and perspectives, for the common goal of celebrating Jewish life within our own community, and for using the strength of our community to work toward the larger goal of a more just and peaceful world.