With profound sadness and a heavy heart we regret to report the death of vic gelb, a Federation Trustee for Life.

Zach and Shelby Siegal of Chagrin Falls love being a part of Jewish Cleveland. After pursuing careers in other cities, they returned home to Cleveland to raise their son. They love all the opportunities for Jewish life here – the unparalleled schools, communities, and programs like PJ Library. Meet them now:

Each year, 8th graders from Gross Schechter Day School and Mandel Jewish Day School – two of Federation’s beneficiary agencies, travel to Israel to experience in-person everything they’ve learned in the classroom about Israeli culture and history. They also have a chance to spend time with their peers in Beit Shean, Cleveland’s sister city.

Guided by Jewish tradition of tzedakah, meaning righteousness or charity, and tikkun olam, meaning repairing the world, women who give gifts in their names increase control and responsibility as decision makers and leaders in their community. A woman’s charitable gift exhibits power to make a difference, confirming women are accountable in the family, the community and the Jewish people. By giving as individuals, women can stand up and truly be counted.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that Judi Kovach, Co-Founder and Chair of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, is the 2018 recipient of the Irene Zehman Award.

Shavuot is a holiday celebrating the time when the Jewish people harvested their last grain of the season, and begin harvesting their fruit crops. A tradition is eating dairy foods including cheesecake, blintzes, and quiches to symbolize the kosher food laws in the Torah.

We recently concluded our 8-day Israel Arts and Culture Mission with a beautiful dinner at the Israel Museum, where our group got to share a few thoughts about what we experienced as we explored the depth and breadth of visual arts, music, dance, theater, architecture, literature, jewelry and textile design, and of course, the culinary arts! Somehow we managed to fit in all of those things between meals!

Forty Jewish high school juniors and seniors representing public and private high schools across Cleveland have come together to recommend grants totaling $44,000 to 14 organizations for crucial programs in the Jewish and general community through the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2017-2018 Maurice Saltzman Youth Panel.

Securing our community is one of the top priorities of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Thanks to a generous donation from Barb and Abe Miller, the Federation will be distributing 550 Project Safe Classroom Backpacks to Jewish Cleveland classrooms, including all Jewish Cleveland day schools, religious schools, and early childhood centers. Over the course of two days, students from Yavne School for Girls and Fuchs Mizrachi School – Federation beneficiary agencies – as well as members of our Young Leadership Division (YLD) volunteered their time to fill the backpacks with medical and emergency supplies and safety equipment.

Israel is home to many of the best culinary experiences in the world. Community members recently returned from a first-of-its-kind mission that explored our Jewish homeland's innovation and cultural diversity through the lens of food. Read a few of their trip highlights now: