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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA UNIVERSITYOFN.C.ATCHAPELHILL 00031705487 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION Form No. A-368, Rev. 8/95 Digitized by the Internet Archive 2013 in http://archive.org/details/onepeopleonehearOOgree © Copyright 2002 by Greensboro Jewish Federation All rights reserved Printed in the United States ofAmerica Library ofCongress ISBN 1-931840-99-7 One people one heart: the Greensboro Beltsy connection A bilingual collaboration of the Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, and the Beltsy, Moldova, Jewish communities chronicling life stories and Jewish experiences ofintergen- erational members ofboth communities; includes artwork Cover illustration by Beatrice Schall Print production by: Buchanan Printing and Graphics, Inc. 4500 Green Point Drive Greensboro, North Carolina 27410 One One People Heart The Qreensboro Beltsy Connection Artist's Statement The cover artwork attempts to convey the unique partnership between Greensboro and Beltsy. The central image, an outreaching hand, is made up ofsections ofthe maps ofboth cities. The placement ofthe ladder symbolizes the bridging ofthese communities leading to the enrichment of both. The background uses fragments of the stories and artwork created by the intergenerational communities of Greensboro and Beltsy in addition to the well- known and nostalgic song, "Belz." My hope is that these images will move you, the reader, to explore the inspirational stories and artwork contained between the covers. Once doing that, you will find we truly are One People One Heart. Beatrice Schall . . . , , , , , , , ."". . , , Foreword , , , In September2000, a small groupfromGreensboro, NorthCarolina,journeyed across the ocean to the little-known city ofBeltsy, Moldova, in the Former Soviet Union. Together .2000 . withthe BeltsyJewishcommunal leaders,apartnershipemergedtoenrichthecultural and . , spiritual growth of Beltsy and Greensboro. Beltsy is slowly emerging from 70 years of repression and Jewish isolation. The Greensboro-Beltsy Collaboration, underthe aegis of , the Greensboro Jewish Federation, enlists the resources of the Greensboro Jewish community to revive Jewish life in Beltsy through moral, financial, educational, and . - professional support. Thesecollaborativeeffortswiththe BeltsyJewishcommunity have ledtoavarietyofsuc- : ; cessful ventures: • restoring and preserving the Beltsy Jewish cemetery; • creating acomputer lab in the Beltsy Jewish Community Center forvocational training andJewish education; . • co-founding with Beltsy the firstJewish summercamp forBeltsy families; ; • sending GreensboroJewish educators andcommunity members tohelprun the camp: and • sendingJewish dentists totreatpatients in Beltsy clinics. ,. The Beltsy book project began as a commitment to the cultural diversity of two unique Jewish communities, with adual purpose in mind. Ourfirst objective was toestablish the ; - rebirth of a Judaica library in Beltsy by using the book sale proceeds; the second, to , . promote a meaningful connection between Greensboro and Beltsy by working together - . todevelopthe book and, subsequently, the Judaica library. . In thisbook, senioradults andyouth from Beltsy andGreensboro reflecton life experiences . through personal narratives, artwork, and poetry. Each creative entry is published in both . English and Russian. The book spans the generations and enables us to learn about each - other's lives, history, and dreams, bringing ourtwocities closertogether. ! . Twoyears in the making, we have lovingly nurtured this book tofruition. Ourinitial goal , - , wasto paint aportrait ofourdiverse cultures.The completedbook brings to lightaneven -: more precious truth: by contrasting our distinct communities, we learn that we are, , - . forever. OnePeople with OneHeart. , , We inviteyounow, through thepagesofthisbook, toenterthe heartoftwocommunities. . IreneH. Cohen Linda E. Fleishman ., Greensboro-Beltsy Book Co-Editors ShellyW.Weiner , Greensboro-Beltsy Collaboration Chair Editors' note: Due to technical complexities in incorporating two languages, the Russian textcouldnotbenefitfrom a thoroughproofreadingprocess. Acknowledgments Publication ofOne People One Heartinvolved a cadre ofpeople who embraced Greensboro Book Committee our vision and gave it life. Both the Greensboro and Beltsy Book Committees Elaine Abrams Judy Sydney Lowe deserve our deepest appreciation. Their many hands touched this book with a EllenAdelman Sylvia Samet generosity ofspirit, boundless devotion, and indefatigable energy. As spokes on Robert Chandler Corky Segal a wheel, each contribution was an essential piece ofthe final product. Ina Fishbeyn Beatrice Schall Ela Gabitov Anna Starobin The unflagging support andenthusiasm ofMarilyn Chandler, executive director, Marilyn Henick Mark Stackhouse Greensboro Jewish Federation; Kathy Manning, president; Patricia MacDuff Muriel Hoff Nina Starr-Cohen Peil, administrative assistant; and the entire Federation staff encouraged us all Ziva London Shelly Weiner along the way. Irene Cohen and Linda Fleishman, Co-chairs The wise counsel and genuine sense ofcaring ofDavid Buchanan, our printing consultant, will always shine in our memory. A special place in our hearts is Beltsy Book Committee reserved for Stanley and Doris Tanger, book paper benefactors; Bill Cassell, IgorTepper publishing liaison and resource; and Shelly Weiner, Greensboro-Beltsy Rosa Berdichever Collaboration chair. We value the sage advice and technical assistance of Igor Guravich Sandra Moffitt ofThe Learning Together Company. HesedYakov members We are especially grateful to Ela Gabitov for sacrificing her leisure time, Greensboro Jewish Federation Staff throughout atwo-yearprocess, totirelessly translate the text into two languages, Marilyn Chandler, Executive Director an extraordinary undertaking. To her patient husband, Ildar, our computer Roberta Brunstetter specialist, we offer a double measure of gratitude. We are immensely indebted Dana Greene to Robert Chandler and Mark Stackhouse for countless hours of proficient Dianne Hines editing assistance. Our good fortune continued with the splendid talent of Debra Kaufman Beatrice Schall, ourcreativecoverartist. ElaineAbrams and EllenAdelman, our Patricia MacDuffPeil photographers, wove their magic to locate each writer in Greensboro; digital Empy Perez photography ande-mail enabled IgorTeperto fulfill the same mission in Beltsy. Andrew Rose Many loving spacibas to the book committee in Beltsy: Igor Teper, Rosa Cynthia Scott Berdichever, IgorGurvich, and the members ofHesedYakov.Theircollaboration and unfailing cooperation were not only a constant, but also, ajoy. Participating Institutions and SeniorAdult Groups American Hebrew Academy One People One Hearthas been a fascinating, rewarding challenge. Beth David Synagogue Religious School To everyone in Greensboro and Beltsy, named and unnamed, who in sharing Beth David Vatikim for seniors our passion offered us seemingly limitless time, energy, and resources, Blumenthal Jewish Home cosmic thanks! B'nai Shalom Hebrew Day School Community Hebrew High School Irene H. Cohen and Linda E. Fleishman English Second Language Class for NewAmerican seniors Co-Editors Temple Emanuel Friendship Circle for seniors Temple Emanuel Religious School