Jacobs-Jaffa Charlotte Jewish Heritage Tour

Understanding our past. Celebrating our present. Visioning our future.

Charlotte’s 165 years of Jewish history is rich with civic, business and religious leaders, and philanthropists. As part of our Jacobs-Jaffa Charlotte Jewish Charlotte Heritage Tour, participants will enjoy a unique, engaging, entertaining and educational hike through our city’s history. The experience will include a tour through the Hebrew Cemetery that was founded in 1867 and is rich with stories of the famous Jews who were buried there from the Civil War to the Civil Rights era to today. We will pass through historic sites that highlight Jewish contributions to our county and state, as we explore the pluralistic and powerful Jewish community that thrives in Charlotte today. This program is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Donald Jacobs and Florence Jaffa in honor of Susan Jacobs. Five generations of the Jacobs-Jaffa family have made Charlotte their home and the Jewish community a central pillar of their lives.

Atherton Cotton Mill 1893

About the Tour...

It is educational... Rabbi Judy Schindler, Roz Cooper and Susan Jacobs, are three veteran Charlotte educators who love Charlotte's history and will guide you through two centuries of Jewish life celebrating our rich past and our boundless potential for a shining future.

It broadens your appreciation for Charlotte's leaders... Hear stories that can't be found in history books, and personal gems of wisdom in the voices of our community's founders, builders, and philanthropists.

It is delicious... Jewish nosh included, complete with knish, kugel, and rugelach.

Aerial image of Shalom Park

Book your Tour Today!

It's perfect for any neighborhood, social, or religious group.

Join us for our upcoming tours:

Tours for regional educators - February 26, 2023, 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and April 2, 2023, 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Through a generous grant from the Lenora Stein Community Creative Learning Program, we are able to offer Charlotte community educators the opportunity to participate in a Jacobs-Jaffa Charlotte Jewish Heritage Tour at no cost. (A $10 registration fee will be returned upon completion of the tour.)

To register for the February 26th tour for educators: https://engage.queens.edu/register/jacobsjaffatourfeb2023.

To register for the April 2nd tour for educators: https://engage.queens.edu/register/jacobsjaffatourapr2023.

Community Tour - March 26, 2023, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Open to anyone who's interested in learning more about the history of Jewish Charlotte. $36.00/person.

To register for the March 26th community tour: https://engage.queens.edu/register/jacobsjaffatourmar2023

Groups tours available by appointment.

Want to customize the tour to fit your needs or for more information about any of our tours, contact Susan Jacobs, ssj544@gmail.com.

The tour departs from Queens University and includes lunch and an in-depth tour of the Hebrew Cemetery. Additional stops may include: the municipal Holocaust Memorial, Shalom Park, the Margaret and Lou Butterfly Garden Holocaust Memorial, and Ohr HaTorah.

Click Here to Register for Community Tour

In their own voices…

"This tour was a true learning experience for our TriBE members who were born here and those who relocated to Charlotte. Be prepared to be surprised by the wealth of information shared by Rabbi Judy and Susan Jacobs. As a side note, the nosh was enjoyed by all!" - Janette Schwartz

"You are great storytellers and teachers and I hope that many more people are able to take advantage of this great program." - Participant in October 2022 Tour

Click here for messages from our pioneering and prominent Jewish Charlotteans