For two faiths, a week like no other
Plus: Are park restrictions on the way?; Ledger hires managing editor; County releases new data; Commissioners plan small-business loan program; New estimate cuts N.C. deaths by 80%
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Coronavirus shakes up plans for Passover and Easter; Seders on Zoom, Holy Week services live-streamed
Jeff Gleiberman of longtime Charlotte kosher market Gleiberman’s Gourmet collects Passover items for inmates in Georgia prisons. Passover accounts for up to 20% of his business.
By Ken Garfield
To the Four Questions* that will be asked at Seders in Charlotte and around the world Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the pandemic inspires a fifth: Does your mom’s famous brisket taste as good via Zoom?
The answer, of course, is no. As with every other slice of life, Covid-19 is wreaking havoc with Passover. Community Seders hosted by synagogues have been canceled. Restaurants, groceries and delis for which Passover is typically big business find themselves selling chopped liver to go for two instead of 22. And while some Jews will still gather for Seder meals tonight and/or Wednesday, Grandpa Harry and Grandma Betty won’t be flying in from LaGuardia. They’ll have to join you online via Zoom or another platform, assuming they know how.
Whether you are a Christian observing Holy Week and Christ’s resurrection or a Jew celebrating Passover and freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt, the times call for faith and flexibility. A survey of Charlotte’s vibrant Jewish landscape paints a bittersweet picture:
Temple Beth El (www.templebethel.org) will make do with a virtual Community Seder on the second night of Passover at 6 p.m. Thursday. Zoom or stream the Seder from your home. But if you want to smell pot roast cooking in the kitchen as you break the matzo, you’re on your own. Chabad Center for Jewish Life canceled its Community Seder but has been delivering Seder-to-go kits to homes that include, among other goodies, matzo and a Haggadah (book of Passover prayers). Temple Israel (www.templeisraelnc.org) will hold several services Wednesday through Friday, but no Seder.
Elias Roochvarg, Cantor Emeritus of Temple Israel, typically welcomes a dozen or more to the Seder meal at his Charlotte home. This year, it will be just Elias and his wife, Linda, who cooks a mean potato kugel. Their “guests” will join them via Zoom, assuming an already nervous host can get the technology working. “If I lose the connection,” Elias says, “the Seder must go on.” The Roochvargs’ Seder will begin with a prayer of hope. “Help us, God, to see that we are one world, one people, who will rise above the pandemic together.”
Across the city, a number of establishments have been taking to-go orders for Passover cuisine. Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen will even sell you the items (parsley, lamb bone and more) to go on your Seder plate, symbolizing the meaning of the Passover. It’s $23, actual plate not included. Phil Levine of Phil’s Deli, which has been serving up pastrami and the like for 39 years, figures Passover business will be off by more than half. Google and call around to see who has what left to go.
The Passover prize for Beyond The Call Of Duty goes to Jeff Gleiberman, whose family has run Gleiberman’s Gourmet (aka Kosher Mart) for 30 years. Jeff says Passover accounts for 15-20% of his business, with customers coming from across the Carolinas for kosher items they can’t get where they live. Well if folks can’t get to him. … In one three-day period, Jeff drove 900 miles to deliver Passover food to customers in Columbia, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wilmington. He says it felt like he was doing a mitzvah (good deed). The afternoon The Ledger (well, me) stopped by to snap a photo, Jeff was boxing up Passover items for another group of steady customers — Jewish inmates in Georgia state prisons. Or could it be for non-Jewish inmates who want to mark this festival of freedom with a bowl of matzo ball soup?
*Wondering about the Four Questions mentioned at the beginning of this article? They are asked at each Seder service, to recall once more the meaning of Passover. The central question? What makes this night different from all other nights?
Loves me some internet: Passover edition
Easter: a chance for something new?
It’s Holy Week. If you’re an ardent Christian, you’ve already found a meaningful way to feed your faith online, through your church home. If you are a person of another faith or no faith, this is just another week to shelter in place. But if you’re one of the many Christians who practice their faith twice a year — at Easter and Christmas — the pandemic offers a unique opportunity to find renewed hope in Jesus’ resurrection.
Who couldn’t use some hope these days?
If you don’t belong to a church — and many Christians don’t — stretch your faith wings. Ask a friend or neighbor where they go to church. Google a church you’ve always wondered about and see what it’s offering online. If you were raised Presbyterian, consider a Lutheran church and vice-versa. Most every church will offer one or more Easter Sunday services. Some will have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, too.
Many will be live-streamed. Others were taped in advance. Most will broadcast from the sanctuary, though some churches are filming off campus, including in the homes of clergy. Trust me. I did church work for 12 years. This will be high-quality, powerful stuff. Heads up, Roman Catholics: Bishop Peter Jugis is leading live-streamed Masses. Visit www.charlottediocese.org for details.
So don’t use the pandemic as an excuse to watch “Meet the Press.” If Holy Week means something to you, gather the family in front of the device of your choice. Give online. The pandemic is financially rocking churches. Maybe even dress up the kids for an Easter Sunday family portrait, for we won’t see this again. Can I get an Amen on that?
Freelance writer Ken Garfield says his mom’s split pea soup at Passover in Woodmere, N.Y., was to die for. Reach him at garfieldken3129@gmail.com.
New park restrictions on the way?
Are new restrictions at local parks coming soon? Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney hinted that possibility at a City Council meeting on Monday.
In a presentation, he reviewed the few citations issued to those violating the “stay at home” order — to a massage parlor and to abortion protestors. And he acknowledged that most residents are abiding by the order. Then he said this:
To our community members who are refusing to comply with these orders, you should expect some additional restrictions, potentially, regarding the parks. I can’t speak for the county, but if they do, again, we’re going to continue to work to have people abide by those additional restrictions if and when they come.
His words weren’t entirely clear. We’re reading tea leaves here. But that sounds short of a total park closure. Maybe more like stepped-up enforcement — which is the more sensible approach.
Charlotte Twitter was outraged over the weekend over this footage of people playing volleyball at Romare Bearden Park uptown:
Ledger brings on experienced journalist as managing editor
Exciting announcement: The Ledger has a new managing editor, our first full-time addition since starting more than a year ago. Her name is Cristina Bolling — and many of you probably already know her and her work.
For the last 20 years, Cristina has been a writer with The Charlotte Observer, where she has covered a variety of topics: government, immigration, style, culture, the arts.
She is a gifted storyteller, a dogged reporter, an innovative thinker and — most importantly — an all-around nice person with a good sense of humor. She understands Charlotte because she has lived here for two decades and is raising her family here.
Should you like to know more about Cristina, check out the email we sent to paying subscribers a couple days ago outlining her background, with links to some of her best work in Charlotte in the last two decades — such as profiles of hugely famous local fashion Instagrammers and a Ballantyne dad who traded in his IT job for a career playing videogames.
Here’s why Cristina says she is joining The Ledger:
After 20 years of reporting in Charlotte, I’m excited to join the Ledger because my passion is giving people news they need to know, in a way that’s honest, timely and smart. The Charlotte Ledger audience is a community of engaged, informed readers, and I’m excited to build a relationship with you — to tell you stories you won’t find anywhere else, to surprise you, and sometimes, to make you laugh. Tony and I are committed to making the Ledger something you see as essential to your life in Charlotte.
Feel free to drop her a line and welcome her.
Reliable, local news has never been more important, and The Ledger is building an experienced team that can give it to you and explain what it means.
If you’re enjoying what you read in The Ledger and are on our free distribution list, I invite you to consider a paid subscription. Subscribers receive full access to everything we write, and they support an innovative, forward-looking approach to delivering original, local news and insights in Charlotte.
A couple other staffing notes: Tim Whitmire, contributing editor, has been a regular writer for The Ledger and in recent weeks has helped with the planning and editing of coronavirus coverage. With a background in journalism and finance, Tim has been a key strategic editorial and business advisor to the Ledger since its inception a year ago. His CXN Advisory business supports leaders of early-stage and high-growth organizations.
In addition, last month, The Ledger brought on an intern, Queens student David Griffith, who has quickly been thrust into coronavirus coverage and has done solid work, with more on the way.
County eyes small-business help
County commissioners are meeting tonight to discuss a plan to aid small businesses affected by the coronavirus. The proposal would make available loans of between $10,000 and $35,000 at 3% interest and that would be available within 10 days.
Borrowers would need to meet other requirements — like being profitable or growing, having fewer than 50 workers and being in business for at least two years. The county estimates it could make about 142 such loans.
We put the document outlining the details of the proposal on The Ledger’s website. You can find it here.
Commissioners are also considering a program with smaller loans of up to $10,000 for companies with five or fewer employees.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. and can be viewed on the Government Channel or online.
By the numbers: N.C. coronavirus deaths
According to data from the state on Monday, 33 people have died from Covid-19. Here’s the breakdown by age:
Source: N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
In brief:
New local data: Mecklenburg County released new data on confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday night. You can find the details here. Among the highlights: about 40% of patients with confirmed cases have been released from isolation, and the county believes the disproportionate share of black residents contracting Covid-19 stems from “underlying racial/ethnic disparities in rates of chronic conditions that increase severity of illness.” (WFAE explored the issue in-depth on Monday.) As of Monday afternoon, Mecklenburg County had 741 confirmed cases and seven deaths. The state’s latest numbers are here.
New South Carolina limits: S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster is ordering new restrictions on retail businesses that are still open. “Retail stores have to limit customers to no more than five per 1,000 square feet or 20% capacity, whichever is less.” The new order takes effect at 5 p.m. today. (WFAE)
Charlotte development: Construction on existing buildings in Charlotte is continuing, but developers say new projects could be postponed because of the effects of the coronavirus. “This outbreak will make it harder for nearly every project to get started, and trying to get a large, complicated project going will be significantly more difficult,” the CEO of Grubb Properties said. (Agenda)
Popular loan: Bank of America has received applications from 177,000 small businesses for the new federal small-business loan program, the company said Monday. The applications totaled nearly $33B in financing. (CNBC)
Death estimates fall 80% in a week and a half: Researchers at the University of Washington revised their estimates of North Carolina coronavirus deaths. They “now think about 500 people will die from Covid-19 in North Carolina, down from the more than 2,400 they predicted just a week and a half ago.” (News & Observer)
Yard waste: With the city halting collection of yard waste, officials are asking residents not to place the waste in trash or recycling bins. “Composting, there you go,” Mayor Vi Lyles suggested at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Are you essential? Prove it with Ledger gear
Whether the county acknowledges it or not, you’re essential … so why not let everybody know it with a new Charlotte Ledger “Essential” T-shirt?
Just in time for spring, these stylish, 100% cotton tees boldly proclaim that you matter — and the typeface can be easily read from a socially distant six feet away.
Now available in cuts for men and women. They’re $15, and for every purchase, The Ledger will donate to the Covid-19 Essential Needs Fund, which helps supply masks and face shields to healthcare workers, provides lodging for patients’ families and caregivers and supports technology for remote healthcare visits during the coronavirus pandemic. It is managed by Charlotte-based Atrium Health Foundation.
For free shipping, use the promo code CLTL20
For the dog in your life: In addition, Mecklenburg’s “stay at home” order deems pet care as an essential service — so make sure your canine lets everyone in the neighborhood know who’s the top dog with a Charlotte Ledger “Doggone Essential” bandana ($13):
Enjoy.
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The Charlotte Ledger is an e-newsletter and web site publishing timely, informative, and interesting local business news and analysis Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, except holidays and as noted. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing, or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire; Reporting intern: David Griffith