Jackie and Chuck Itzkovitz received the Lotte Meyerson Tikkun Olam Committee Lifelong Service Award. Well deserved!

Mazol Tov to Jackie and Chuck!

As a way of learning more about the Itzkovitzs’ and their trailblazing involvement and contribution to CBHT and the Lotte Meyerson Tikkun Olam Committee, here is background of this dynamic couple for your interest and reading pleasure.
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As a young person, Jackie went to a social justice camp for several years where she met her ‘future’ husband, Chuck. After their marriage and having children of their own, Jackie and Chuck went back to work at the camp during the summer. Jackie attributes those experiences for earning her Masters of Social Work degree. Jackie started the PFLAG chapter in Savannah 22 years ago, which is still going strong. What gives her the most pleasure is that she and Chuck instilled those values learned and lived by, in their children.

So many current temple practices and events can be attributed to the love and good work of Jackie including: starting Shiva practices after funeral (now tended to with love by the CBHT Caring Community), creating and nurturing the beginning of the Hard Lox Jewish Food Festival, writing a Women’s Haggadah, led Women’s seders and writing the Sisterhood Shabbat service, still in use. Jackie was the President of Hadassah for 2 terms sitting on the Southeastern board of Hadassah, and served on the JCC Board for several years. She went to the first community immigration meeting where 17 faith communities came together to investigate possibilities for sanctuaries.

Chuck grew up in Savannah,Georgia. In his professional life he worked with intellectually-challenged teenagers in a state institution to help them move into the community through a Vocational Rehab grant, directed a community based residential treatment program for seriously emotionally disturbed teens in state custody, and ended his professional career working for the US Army in their child and spouse abuse program.

After retiring with Jackie to Asheville and joining CBHT, Chuck became involved through the Tikkun Olam infrastructure, to pursue his social work professional values and Jewish values of social change, social activism and Tzedakah. For several years Brotherhood had sponsored an annual clergy seminar, as part of an active interfaith program, inviting well known Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish scholars to come for a weekend and the local faith communities were invited to attend. At its height this program drew over a hundred clergy and laypersons. This gave rise to Brotherhood efforts, to which Chuck contributed, to form an interfaith clergy and lay action group. This group continued for several years and created important relationships and actions.

Now in Asheville close to 19 years, Jackie and Chuck Itzkovitz have always been connected in some way to helping others. CBHT is honored to have had so many of the temple practices, programs and events attributed to their early nurturing, participation and support.