Table Of ContentTHE 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
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Foreword ,
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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.
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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
