Conservation is not just for spring time chats on Earth Day--Hanukkah is also a great time to talk about protecting the environment.

Dina Rubin has been selected to join the national PJ Our Way Design Team, a prestigious position through the PJ Our Way program that gives young people the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while connecting with other pre-teens across the country. Dina, age 9, lives in Orange Village with her mom, dad, and older brother Ari, who was also involved in PJ Our Way as a member of Cleveland’s Local Design Team.

PJ Library is more than receiving Jewish-themed books and attending events for families – it’s building a stronger Jewish future. Anna Novik is the Engagement Ambassador for Cleveland’s Russian Jewish community; her connection to PJ Library takes on a more meaningful role as she’s able to involve her sister, Ella, and two nephews, Michael and David. We spoke to Ella and Anna about how they’re rediscovering their own Jewish roots through PJ Library.

As a member of the Federation's Overseas Connections Committee (OCC), and former Roslyn Z. Wolf JDC International Fellows stationed in St. Petersburg, Russia back in 2006-2007, my husband Matt and I have seen firsthand the life-changing work that the Cleveland Jewish community conducts through its partnership overseas in Russia. However, we recently had a chance to see first-hand the work that our community does to support our other sister city in Beit Shean, Israel.

Judaism has a lot of interesting connections to baseball.

Thank you: two simple words with tremendous meaning. Thank you for being part of our community. Thank you for raising your children with us. Thank you for being with us.

My husband and I took a weekend getaway to Toronto. Crossing the Peace Bridge into Canada, it struck me how only one lane was allowing entry into the United States, while several lanes were entering Canada. I wondered, “How welcoming does it feel to those who wish to enter the United States?”

During the High Holiday season, we talk about teshuva or repentance. But what is it exactly? Teshuva actually means "return" in the context of returning from doing wrong.

I am the new Young Family Engagement Manager at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. I am a mom of two amazing daughters. We have lived a few places, including Israel and I’m excited to now be in Cleveland. I’m looking forward to connecting with other young Jewish Cleveland families!

I feel a little anxiety. A little sadness. I’m excited, but also a little helpless. For the first time, my kids don’t want me to drive them to school. I expect this from my middle schooler, but my 9 year old? When did he stop needing me?