When we talk about the critical needs in our Jewish community, how many of us have the full picture of what that really means? I have been involved with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and supported our community’s annual Campaign for Jewish Needs for decades, so when I took the helm as campaign chair this year, I thought I knew what I was getting into.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will close its 2025 Campaign for Jewish Needs with a celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School at 26500 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will host its Campaign Closing Celebration for the annual Campaign for Jewish Needs on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 pm. The entire community is invited to attend this event, which will be held at Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School (26500 Shaker Blvd in Beachwood).

Picture this. I am in Tel Aviv when the sirens sound to alert of rockets being fired upon us by one of Iran’s terrorist proxy organizations. I make my way with the others to the nearest safe room – which happens to be a hotel stairwell. For the next 10 minutes, we catch up on our families and look at pictures of new grandchildren as we listen to Israel’s “Iron Dome” intercepting the rockets over central Israel.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland's Young Leadership Division (YLD) is seeking outstanding young Jewish Clevelanders to serve on the YLD Board. YLD engages and cultivates future leaders of the Cleveland Jewish Community.

Over 400 people attended the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Women IN Philanthropy MaIN Event on Nov. 21 at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood, where Adeena Sussman, chef, author and advocate for Israel, discussed food’s impact on a community while facing adversity.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we not only take stock in everything we are thankful for, but we also remember those in need. Right here in Cleveland, thousands struggle all year just to obtain basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter.

Mazel tov to Dassi Shtern for receiving the 2024 Irene Zehman Volunteer Award for her outstanding volunteer efforts with Chaviva High School.

Nearly 3,000 Jewish leaders across the country gathered for the Jewish Federation of North America’s General Assembly from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C., where all 146 Jewish federations around the country, other organizations and smaller communities that don’t have a Jewish federation address pressing issues facing the Jewish community in the wake of heightened antisemitism and the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel.

In response to the increasingly aggressive threats to the Jewish community and most recently, the Neo-Nazis marching in Columbus, Ohio, Jewish Federation of Cleveland is asking for your help.