The past several years have been fraught with unanticipated emergencies. From COVID-19 to natural disasters to the war in Ukraine, and most recently the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, and the aftermath of the ongoing war, there are many who are suffering in unimaginable ways. In the Jewish tradition, one of our most important values is giving tzedakah, charity. We give tzedakah because there are always people in need. The nonprofit organizations that provide critical services cannot support the most vulnerable – or respond quickly to the trauma, pain, and economic hardships caused by crisis – without our generosity.

Despite the distance and the time difference, the Cleveland and Israeli communities have been able to have lasting impact on one another through partnerships between the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and its overseas partners like The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that Bonnie Marks of Beachwood was awarded the 2023 Ruby Bass Challenge Award, the organization’s most prestigious award for women philanthropists. Marks was honored with the award at the Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy Signature Event on June 21.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Young Leadership Division kicked off the summer with its annual Summer Soiree June 15 at Pins Mechanical Co. in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland.

J. David Heller has been appointed the national campaign chair of the Jewish Federations of North America and will immediately begin a two-year term, according to a news release.

We hope to see you at our June events! This month, our young adults are volunteering to clean up a local beach and getting together to celebrate summer, we are honoring Jewish and African-American activism, celebrating our Women IN Philanthropy donors, and more.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today the first round Israel at 75 Microgrant recipients. Through this program, the Federation is funding a wide range of projects throughout the Cleveland Jewish community that are geared toward Israel programming as part of the organization’s year-long Israel at 75 initiative.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland held its annual spring cemetery cleanup May 21 as over 100 volunteers, including more than 30 students from Chaviva High School, spent two hours of their morning cleaning Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in Cleveland.

As the Jewish Federation of Cleveland met for its 119th annual meeting, it reflected on the past year and the historic moment of Israel’s 75th year of independence.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced at the 119th Annual Meeting on May 22 that Global Cleveland has been named the 99th recipient of the Charles Eisenman Award, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s highest civic honor for outstanding contributions to our community.