After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Young Leadership Division mobilized to rebrand its Big Event as a Night of Unity to become a night of support.

The Jewish Volunteer Network (JVN) has created efforts to support the people of Israel as well as older adults in Cleveland during this horrific time. The following calls to action are directly based upon feedback we have received from our partners both locally and overseas as to what they need from us now, many of which can be done from your home. Please join us in service to show your support.

As it has done before in other crises, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland quickly mobilized to launch the Israel Emergency Campaign for assistance to victims of terror and address growing needs following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Everything changed on October 7, 2023. Nothing will be the same. Ever. The grief, devastation, hurt, and anger we feel is palpable and visible. While our Israeli family – still reeling from the most atrocious of terror attacks – is now embroiled in a war against terror, we in Cleveland have our own fight.

As the war in Israel entered Day 3 following a surprise attack from Hamas near the Gaza border, 2,000 people came together Oct. 9 at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland to pray and show support for the Jewish state.

On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Board of Trustees and staff, we thank you for your support of and participation in these efforts. We will keep you posted on developments as regularly as is feasible. In the meantime, we welcome your questions and suggestions.

In the early morning of Oct. 7, Dan Zelman, board chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, like many people, checked his phone immediately upon waking up. To his surprise it was flooded with news about terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip on the state of Israel.

We invite you to join us for a special community gathering in support of Israel on Monday, October 9 at 5 pm at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland offices in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building (25701 Science Park Drive). This event will feature comments from local clergy, community leaders, and others as we come together to demonstrate our unshakeable stand with Israel at this time of crisis.

Combating the hatred confronting the Jewish people has long been a top priority of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Whether it be helping to enhance local security to ensure Jewish Cleveland remains open and welcoming, providing educational programs that empower community members to stand up to anti-Jewish / anti-Israel rhetoric, or forging strong, supportive relationships across Greater Cleveland, Federation has been a driving force in the ongoing fight against antisemitism.

We’re so grateful to JVN’s incredible leadership team! This committee, chaired by Marty Shankle, meets bimonthly to spearhead new and existing volunteer opportunities in the Cleveland Jewish and general communities. Get to know committee member Leslie Brandon.