09/18/2026
Living Our Values in the New Year
In a few days, we will gather again with family and friends to observe Yom Kippur – the day we take stock in our individual actions and deeds from the past year. It is also a time to reflect as a community and recommit to the Jewish values that connect us.
The professional staff and community leadership of your Federation spend a significant amount of this time in reflection on the responsibility we as Jews have for one another (Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh).
For example, we have a moral obligation to ensure older adults – including local Holocaust Survivors – age with dignity, independence, and respect (Kavod Habriyot). Traditionally, this has meant making sure they have adequate housing, food, healthcare, and a sense of connection to the community.
With changing lifestyle preferences – including the rapidly increasing number of older adults who prefer to remain living at home – and ever-changing healthcare needs (such as the rising number of those dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses), caring for older Jewish Clevelanders today includes so much more.
Through the Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA), we are expanding our long-standing work to help older adults establish customized care plans that promote their well-being and independence. This increased capacity includes care navigation services that help seniors and their family members understand and obtain available government benefits, as well as manage doctor appointments.
Likewise, we are now:
- Offering wellness, movement, lunch, learning, and social programs like Primetime Wellness Club at the Mandel JCC
- Fostering Jewish learning, meaningful conversation, and intergenerational programming through the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland’s Chayim Tovim initiative
- Bringing holiday programs, social connection, and service opportunities to residents of senior living communities through Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network
- Keeping Jewish residents in assisted living and long-term care settings throughout Northeast Ohio connected to Jewish life through the new “senior living liaison” position within Bikur Cholim
As a result of gaps in services and emerging trends identified by our Older Adult Task Force, we launched the Aging Well initiative within our Access Jewish Cleveland program. Aging Well enables older adults in Jewish Cleveland and their caregivers to quickly navigate the various services needed to help keep them healthy, independent, and connected.
Through Aging Well, older adults and their families will find information about a wide range of services and resources, including short-term and respite care; daily activities and companionship support; light housekeeping and meal assistance; medication reminders; transportation; social opportunities; and more. Likewise, Aging Well provides seniors with information on housing options – including independent living and assisted living.
To learn more about Aging Well, click here or call Access Jewish Cleveland at 216-292-4636.
As we move forward into the new year, we will continue to roll out new and innovative offerings designed to support our community’s older adults. To help inform this work, we have established an Aging Well Advisory Council, which is comprised of older adults from Jewish Cleveland.
Council members will help us identify challenges this segment of the community faces, as well as provide feedback on current and future programs available in Jewish Cleveland. We look forward to updating you on our progress as we move forward.
The care and well-being of our senior community members always has been – and will always be – a top priority of ours. While we are proud of all the work that is being done to enable seniors in our community to age with dignity and security, we know there is still much more to do. We look forward to continuing to put in place innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of our community’s older adults.
We wish you an easy and meaningful fast this Yom Kippur. May you be sealed for good in the Book of Life (G’mar Chatimah Tovah).
Shabbat Shalom and Am Yisrael Chai,
Jeffrey J. Wild, board chair
Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president
