11/09/2018
Keeping Our Day Schools Safe
- Share This Story
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland helps educate and empower the next generation of Jewish youth through our religious schools and five Jewish day schools to make sure that every little girl and boy can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. We invite you to read the story below by Michelle Hirsch, Women's Philanthropy Campaign Co-Chair:
My daughter attends Gross Schechter Day School, a Federation beneficiary agency. She jumps out of bed every morning, loves singing her Hebrew songs, and telling me why it’s so important to give tzedakah (charity). One day on our way to school, I heard a little voice come from the backseat.
Mommy…
Yes, Shaina...
Did you know that Jim is my friend?
Who?
Jim.
Shaina who is Jim? (Knowing there are no boys in the class named Jim, but keeping an open mind because I too had imaginary friends when I was a little girl.)
As we pulled up to the school, Shaina yells and points out the window.
“Mommy, that’s Jim. Jim keeps me safe.”
I then realized that she was talking about the Pepper Pike policeman, Officer Jim, that’s assigned to Gross Schechter’s campus.
In 2017, $435,000 of Federation dollars was put towards security through the Campaign for Jewish Needs. That is keeping our community safe – our day schools, the JCC, our synagogues. It’s Officer Jim, yes. But it’s Federation that keeps my daughter safe. It’s all of us who keep her safe. Thank you for helping protect my little girl.
Because when we give to Federation, when we give through Federation, we are not just giving to another cause. We are giving to help Jewish people, investing in our Jewish community, protecting our Jewish family.
