It was mid-morning on a Wednesday. I was serving as visiting faculty at our regional Reform Jewish overnight camp and was sitting with 50 high school age campers when Hitler started speaking. I had to resist the urge to leave the room when I heard that voice and its inflammatory speech. I listened uncomfortably to those hate-filled words, but what came next was inspiring. This program was part of a regularly scheduled daily shiur (educational lesson).

Sammy and Raz. Two girls, two different parts of the world. And this year, they met here in Cleveland for the first time and formed an unbreakable bond for life. All because of Israel.Cleveland.Next (icnext), a Federation-supported initiative.

Meet Cathy. A business-owner, dedicated volunteer, and proud Jewish Clevelander. She is a busy person, who always finds time to help others. When she started working as a literacy tutor when her own children were learning to read, she found a passion. And now, Cathy volunteers with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Public Education Initiative (PEI).

Ariella Payne of Lakewood found jHUB’s Seder in a Box so helpful last year, she requested More Seder in a Box for Passover this year.

An evening of inspiration! Community leaders, elected officials, and special guests from across our Cleveland community joined together to discuss an issue important to all of us: education equity and civil rights. Together, we are all partners in ensuring a strong future for Cleveland children.

The 69th Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland's Community Relations Committee (CRC) featured Wade Henderson, a visionary leader of the human and civil rights movement, as the Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecturer. You can hear all of his remarks in the full video recording of his speech.

Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, joined us at our 69th Annual Meeting of the Community Relations Committee to discuss seven principle issues of education. Hear his remarks now:

With activities like “Flying Eggs” and “Don’t Burst the Balloon,” it’s no wonder students and parents alike walked out of Mandel JDS happy and, more importantly, a little bit more educated. Mandel JDS held their first annual STEM Fair, on Sunday, March 6. The concept of STEM (a acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) took hold of the building as students and parents alike in engaged in 18 different interactive, educational activities.

When Emma and Brandon met and fell in love, their different faiths didn’t stop them from getting married and starting a family.

A palpable feeling of excitement overtook Mandel JDS students and teachers as they trickled into the building on Friday morning, walking under a brand new sign for the first time. The new logo and sign are just two of many changes coming to the school on the heels of the transformative 17 million dollar gift received from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation.