08/26/2026
For Elena. For Tali. For Jewish Cleveland.
This Sunday, our community will launch its annual Campaign for Jewish Needs with its largest day of collective action: Super Sunday Kickoff! On this day, our diverse community comes together to celebrate all that makes Jewish Cleveland special while ensuring this year’s fundraising efforts get off to a strong start. It is more than a day of volunteering or fundraising. It is a powerful expression of our shared belief that together we can accomplish far more than any of us can alone and of our shared responsibility for one another.
At the Federation, we always start the annual Campaign before the official kickoff with an internal “Staff Campaign” push. Each year, the Federation professional team renews its commitment to the community it serves. While listening to my colleagues – who come from different backgrounds and experiences – discuss Campaign and their connection to our mission, I found myself reflecting on why I give. My reasons are many, but the common denominator is people.
I give to make sure there is always someone to call at a time of personal need. Thanks to Access Jewish Cleveland, our community has someone who can provide a lifeline to individuals and families navigating life’s challenges.
I give because people like Elena, a 77-year-old retired physicist and Hebrew teacher in Tbilisi, Georgia, are depending on us. Blind due to retinal detachment and surviving on a pension of just $137 a month, Elena receives food, homecare, and the support she needs to live with dignity.
I give so that children like Tali*, who came to Camp Wise this summer carrying unimaginable trauma after witnessing her father’s murder on October 7, can begin to heal. At camp, she found a safe space to find comfort, reconnect with others, and experience the joy of being a child again.
I give to help keep our Jewish community safe. It is vital that everyone – our kids and families, our friends and neighbors, and all those we don’t know personally throughout our local community – can participate in Jewish life with confidence, supported by one of the strongest community security programs in the country.
I give to make sure our children have safer, more welcoming environments at school. Through our work with various school districts and community partners, we are providing strong advocates to help our kids stand up to hate and antisemitism.
I give so that we continue to be there for one another when tragedy strikes. Whether it’s helping our extended family overseas in times of trauma or providing counseling, support, and guidance to families locally through long-time beneficiary agencies like Jewish Family Service Association and Bellefaire JCB, we are there to help them move forward.
I give so that our community can continue to work together to find solutions that strengthen our community. For example, through innovative programs like Aging Well, older adults in Jewish Cleveland and their family members get the expertise and compassionate care they need to navigate the path ahead.
Most of all, I give because of you. Because of the generosity, compassion, and commitment I see every day across Jewish Cleveland. In Jewish Cleveland, we don’t let politics get in the way of helping people. You inspire me to do more.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary community. I hope you will join us on Super Sunday Kickoff as we come together to strengthen Jewish Cleveland and continue to build a thriving future for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president
*name changed to protect confidentiality
