Home Care In Jerusalem, NC

BURLINGTON, N.C. — In an exclusive interview with Spectrum News 1, a North Carolina woman who was on a tour bus in Israel Oct. 7, the day the Israel-Hamas war started, shared what she witnessed.

What You Need To Know

Redeemed Church in Burlington, North Carolina was one of the first stops Kemi Omotade made. She says the congregation was filled with so much emotion after hearing how her trip to Israel changed her life.

“Now, you have the sirens going off, we were actually in the middle of a tour and then the sirens just started going off and this is where our tour guide just started to tell us to take cover, take cover,” Omotade explained.

Omotade, who has lived in Greensboro for 15 years, says faith has always been a passion of hers, which is why it was so important for her to go on a mission trip to Israel and get baptized in the Jordan River.

“Where Jesus was baptized, so to be able to witness that was a remarkable experience,” Omotade said.

Spectrum News 1 could hear the sirens and see people ducking for cover in exclusive video Omotade shared.

“But by this time, we’re up against the wall and then shortly, you’ll see the actual missiles in the air. Essentially, they were intercepted, which is a good thing, obviously, they didn’t want those missiles to land, you see now those were the different missiles that went off,” Omotade explained.

Shortly after, they got back on the tour bus and attempted to drive back to their hotel, but couldn’t get across the border from Jerusalem because they encountered soldiers.

“Our tour guide, she actually got off the bus, went out there with her hands surrendered to tell them that we come in peace, she gets out there and tries to convince them we’re tourists, we’re trying to get back to our hotel,” Omotade said.

She says they were forced to turn around and go to another hotel.

“We asked the tour guide, if you were in this situation what would you do and the tour guide said we would have left yesterday and at that point, that’s when we realized it was time for us to go,” Omotade explained.

She says as soon as she could, she started looking for flights back to the U.S. when she was able to help people pay for their tickets home and said they all made it back safely.

“Even in the midst of it all, we were at peace, because we knew who sent us there, because we knew that God had our backs,” Omotade said.

Omotade said because they were not allowed to cross the border, there was an elderly woman from their group who was still at their hotel in Bethlehem.

They were not able to reunite with her until much later.

She told Spectrum News 1 she received word that her tour guide is safe in Israel.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish celebration also known as the Festival of Lights, lasts from sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 15. And for those days and festive nights, you’re going to need something to eat and events to gather for celebrations in the Charlotte area.

The holiday — also spelled Chanukah — marks the Maccabees’ uprising against the Syrian Greek army and the miracle that followed. Just enough oil was found to illuminate the menorah, or lamp, in the newly rededicated Holy Temple in Jerusalem for one day, but it lasted for eight full days.

Traditional foods eaten during the Jewish celebration the include challah, brisket, latkes, rugalach and sufganiyot (which are jelly-filled doughnuts).

Locally, there are several events planned, as well as places making food for the holiday.

Celebrate the holiday with these gatherings in the Charlotte area:

Location: 6619 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270

When: Dec. 7-15

Activities will continue throughout Hanukkah.

Price: Varies

Location: East North Main Street at the Overhead Bridge

When: Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Ballantyne Jewish Center’s Waxhaw Menorah Lighting will include activities for the whole family, crafts, music and, of course, traditional Hanukkah doughnuts and latkes. Hot drinks will be available, too.

Price: Free

Pre-order food for the holiday from a Charlotte business:

Location: 4001-C Yancey Rd. #100, Charlotte, NC 28217

Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen is offering a Hanukkah menu that includes gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan choices. Entree offerings include beef brisket, seared Corvina filet or salmon, Frenched chicken breast or spaghetti squash with eggplant caponata. Braided Challah is available and served with honey butter.

Side dish choices are:

Menu

Price: Price varies, as items are a la carte. For example, Beef brisket is $70, and seared salmon is $68. Challah is $26. Orange Olive Oil Cake with Raspberry Jam is $6 per slice or a cake for $20.

How to order: Online

Deadline: Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. for Dec. 7 pickup; Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. for Dec. 8 pickup; orDec. 12 at 3 p.m. for Dec. 15 pickup

Pickup: Pickup or delivery Dec. 15

Location: 6619 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270

This kosher food service offers individual servings of options including bagels and lox, sandwiches, hummus bowls and salads, or deli platters for serving larger crowds.

Menu

Price: Prices vary, as items are a la carte. A bagel and lox box is $14 per person, or platters are available for 10+ people, starting at $160.

How to order: Order online

Deadline: Two hours’ notice is needed Monday-Thursday. Shabbat takeout orders are due Wednesday by midnight. Daily menu orders for Friday are due by Thursday midnight. Kosher Charlotte is closed Saturday and Sunday but is available for weekend catering events.

Pickup: Pickup or delivery is available.

Location: 1515 S Tryon St #105, Charlotte, NC 28203

The Salty is offering traditional Sufganiyot, made with a 24-hour mini brioche filled with strawberry jam and rolled in powdered sugar.

Menu

Price: $3.25 each

Deadline: ASAP

Pickup: When you schedule it before Dec. 17

Location: 11025 Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28105

Location: Park Road Shopping Center, 4205 Park Road Charlotte, NC 28209

The bakery — which is closed at both locations Mondays and Tuesdays — will offer raspberry sufganiyot throughout December for pre-orders and walk-in customers, although the treats sell out frequently.

Menu

Price: $4.50 each

Deadline: When you set it.

Pickup: When you set it. Delivery is also available.

This story was originally published November 24, 2023, 6:00 AM.

Rule No. 1 for attending Aleeza Ben Shalom’s live matchmaking event at Chabad of Charlotte: You don’t have to be single.

Also known as the “Marriage Minded Mentor,” Ben Shalom hosts podcasts, writes books and travels the world, sharing her talents for the rich tradition of Jewish matchmaking. She most recently hosted Netflix’s “Jewish Matchmaking” series.

Live matchmaking is in store for Ben Shalom’s Charlotte appearance Wednesday, Sept. 6 at Chabad Center for Jewish Life. Not looking for your soulmate but still want to attend? That’s OK, too.

“I’m going to train the audience to be matchmakers,” Ben Shalom said in a video interview. “They ask the questions. I never know what they’re going to say, and it’s really fun. I’m very excited to come and play with them.”

Ben Shalom is responsible for hundreds of matches that have led to engagement and has trained hundreds of dating coaches and matchmakers worldwide. She lives in Israel with her husband, five children and dog.

Although she knew she wanted to get married and have children, Ben Shalom said she didn’t really know what she wanted to be when she grew up. In her teens and during college, she was always setting up friends, and by her mid-20s, a friend encouraged her to start her own website for matchmaking.

“I accidentally became a matchmaker,” she said.

Head over to her website, marriagemindedmentor.com and you’ll find links to coaching, dating courses, podcasts and her books, plus her list of events. Binge “Jewish Matchmaking” on Netflix and watch as Ben Shalom sets up dates in colorful locales like Miami, Los Angeles, Jerusalem and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She interviews each single about what they’re looking for in a match.

“Finding your person is the hardest thing to do in the entire world,” Ben Shalom said in the first episode. “That’s where I come in.”

Ben Shalom said she was ready for any reaction to the eight-episode series. How would Jewish matchmaking resonate with a wider Netflix audience?

“I was ready for anything — antisemitism, death threats,” she said. “But I’ve gotten so much love. I think because it’s authentic. People come up to me and give me blessings. It’s been really special.”

And with that same humor and infectious laugh that makes her so charming on screen, she adds, “I think I’m likeable.”

The show debuted in May, and Ben Shalom hasn’t stopped to rest, traveling the world with her live show. She’s making matches across the U.S. and Australia in August and September, spending 8 to 24 hours on average in a city before jetting off to the next.

“She has a lot of charisma and a straightforward approach,” said Rabbi Levi Cohen, who was paired with his wife through a matchmaker. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of learning. We’re very much looking forward to her performance.”

So what’s next for the globe-trotting matchmaker who has everything from multiple podcasts to a hit series on Netflix?

“Since the show came out I’ve matched 600 clients, and we’re planning and plotting our next big thing,” Ben Shalom said. “This is big, big. I’d like to write a bestseller with Aleeza-isms, advice and stories, packaged so sweetly with a great title. It should be fun and playful and really a fun read.”

In the meantime, fingers crossed that “Jewish Matchmaking” is renewed for a second season — Ben Shalom is still waiting to hear. It’s filmed on a tight schedule with lots of travel, but like matchmaking, a path filled with both true love and heartbreak, it’s totally worth it.

“There’s no harder job but there’s no better job than this,” she said. “You build the match that builds the family that builds the world. It’s very empowering.”

Location: Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 6619 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270

When: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 7:30-10 p.m.

Tickets: General admission tickets are $36.

The event, hosted by Chabad of Charlotte, Ballantyne Jewish Center and The Uptown Chabad, will feature Aleeza Ben Shalom live, sharing matchmaking tips. VIP experiences that include a reception, a signed book, appetizers and kosher wine are available.

This story was originally published August 31, 2023, 6:00 AM.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh husband and wife, vacationing in Israel, were able to get a safe flight out of Tel Aviv on Monday. Israel's security cabinet formally declared war over the weekend after a surprise series of strikes from Hamas caught the country's military off guard, leading to heavy fighting.

What You Need To Know

Jay Izso and his wife, Linda Craft, arrived in Tel Aviv on Saturday as part of a vacation to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary.

“We were going to do a 20-day trip and a private tour and plan to renew our vows in Tiberius and go from Tel Aviv to Tiberius and Jerusalem and a number of other places throughout Israel,” Izso said. “When we arrived on Saturday at 10:35 in the morning, we didn't know really anything until we actually were in the airport that Israel had been bombed.”

Izso said his wife has traveled to Israel before and, at first, didn’t think this was out of the norm.

“She thought, well missiles occasionally fly over regularly here. So we thought, ‘well, this is not that big of a deal.’ Well, then we found out that it was a bigger deal,” Izso said.

Izso said they had a positive experience at their hotel but, understandably, they were pretty limited in what they could see or do in the area and their tours were canceled. They were also told to gather in the hotel’s shelter area a few times, which he describes as a nice large conference room.

“You never felt ... like you were unsafe. They made us go down to the shelter, the first night we were there. They have shelter areas in the hotel. So they made us do that twice, but that was the last time we ever had to do that,” Izso said.

Izso said, if they were not in Tel Aviv, their experience would’ve likely been different because he heard stories from people that were arriving at the hotel from other parts of Israel.

“We really were in a bubble in Tel Aviv compared to the atrocities that were happening south of us,” Izso said. “We were in a very different place than the southern part of the country that is closer to the Gaza Strip, so I can't speak for everything that's happening there. I have met people who came to the hotel from there that had horrifying stories, but they came here to that hotel and to the hotels that were in Tel Aviv ... because it was safer.”

Still, he said, they were constantly hearing thundering noises from bombs going off. However, Izso said they never felt like they were in danger because of the Iron Dome.

“Yes, we heard bombs every day. Yeah, we sure did. It was like it was always thundering, you know, whether it was day or night, it was always thundering and you could hear it,” Izso said. “The truth of the matter is we never felt unsafe. We felt completely safe.”

As for finding a way to leave Israel, Izso said flights were being canceled, and they didn’t have much luck with the U.S. Embassy there.

“The embassy was closed and barricaded. And so I wasn't sure what the embassy really could do for us anyway. Honestly, it seemed that the people in the hotel knew more about how to get us around or out than the response that we got,” Izso said. “I called the embassy, and they told me to actually fill out a form, letting them know. Then I got a form letter back to fill out more forms and was told they would keep us abreast of the situation. But that was it. There was no, ‘hey, we're working on it.’ I didn't really get that.”

Izso said they made the best of their time in Israel but feels they were lucky to get on a flight to Greece on Monday, where they can continue their anniversary vacation.

Before they left Israel, they encountered people in a nearby park gathering donations for Israeli troops.

“Something that people put together that they were getting care packages for the soldiers, the Israeli soldiers. So they were doing salty snacks, sweet snacks, toilet paper, water, all the things that they might need,” Izso said.

“They had all these little makeshift stations and boxes that they were packing with different things for the Israeli soldiers. We went to the grocery store with our friends who happened to be here from the States, and we went bought water and groceries and bags of groceries. And we went back and gave them the snacks and things that we accumulated at the local grocery store that was right there,” Izso said.

While it was not what they originally planned, Izso said it was an impactful situation to witness and take part in.

“Just willing to donate whatever they could donate and get whatever they give. And clearly, these are volunteers that are putting this together. And you just saw this amazing solidarity So many people. And they just kept bringing, you know, things. It was just it was amazing. And I was we were so happy to be a part of it. That was a small part of it, of course, but it was really cool and felt like we contributed at least on some manner,” Izso said.

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Since the summer, dozens of Jewish institutions across America have been targeted with fake bomb threats, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

A Jewish center in Durham, North Carolina, evacuated its occupants after receiving a fake bomb threat on Tuesday, one week after the arrest of a suspect accused of directing a series of such threats at synagogues across the country.

Since the summer, dozens of Jewish institutions across America have been targeted with fake bomb threats, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL said it had identified three new threats at Jewish locations across North Carolina this week, including Tuesday’s.

The suspect who was arrested last week, Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos, was a Peruvian national who made more than 150 threats, mostly by email, against synagogues and other buildings both Jewish and non-Jewish across five different states in September, the FBI said.

The period when he sent the threats included Rosh Hashanah, which took place in mid-September. The bomb threats began, the FBI said, after Santos tried and failed to solicit child pornography; phone numbers that were sent along with the threats belonged to teenage girls who had rejected or cut off contact with him.

But Nunez Santos’ activity did not account for all of the hoax threats Jewish institutions have received since July, according to ADL reports. And the incident at the Jewish Community Campus in Durham, which led to the evacuation of a Reform synagogue, a Jewish day school and a JCC all located on the campus, demonstrated that such threats have continued even with that suspect in custody.

According to the Secure Community Network, a security firm monitoring Jewish institutions that partners with the ADL, there has been a noticeable downturn in such threats since the High Holidays and Nunez Santos’ arrest. But SCN also expects more threats to be made. Jewish institutions dealt with previous waves of fake threats in 2017 and 2020.

“While a certain number of incidents have been attributed to that arrested individual, the uptick in swatting incidents and bomb threats is not just a trend from recent months, but recent years – and they are continuing,” SCN director and CEO Michael Masters told JTA in a statement. “One arrest will not – nor has not – stopped what has emerged as a tactic for fear and disruption.”

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Masters said SCN was “communicating with federal law enforcement and intelligence partners on next steps” to address the epidemic of false threats to Jewish institutions, which attract a response from law enforcement.

“Since at least as early as 2017, the Jewish community has been targeted with waves of bomb threats, often facilitated by advanced communications technology,” Todd Gutnick, an ADL spokesperson, told JTA. “Unfortunately, this trend is likely to continue.”

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