Since 2011, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland's Winter Break Lunch Program has served hundreds of students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The program fills the gap to serve children during their winter break who would normally receive a lunch at school.

There’s a fitting coincidence in the latest collaboration between the Cleveland Israel Arts Connection and Mishkan Or Museum: it features an artist known for uniting seemingly disparate themes and emotions.

The Cleveland Jewish community gathered to mourn those killed in Australia, where two gunmen targeted Jewish people celebrating the first night of Chanukah at a public menorah lighting at Bondi Beach. Federation’s “Shine a Light” event united our community to mourn the victims, pray for the wounded, and support all who are grieving.

Ilana Isakov Katz, vice chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s board of trustees, said lighting a menorah during Chanukah, gathered with friends and family, “should never be an act of courage.”

Nazi memorabilia, some already attracting bids, is being offered for sale through a local online auction – a move the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s board chair Jeffrey J. Wild condemned as “abhorrent.”

Segula, which means ‘treasure’ in Hebrew, is a partnership between the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and three local day schools: Fuchs Mizrachi School, Gross Schechter Day School, and Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School. Segula helps families with children with special needs to be able to access a Jewish education.

May this Chanukah bring you and your loved ones peace, joy, and renewed purpose.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland raised a record $39,035,018 through its 2026 Campaign for Jewish Needs to support the needs of local and global Jewish communities, which was announced to about 900 attendees at the Dec. 8 campaign closing event at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s Mendy and Ita Klein Okawood Campus in Cleveland Heights.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that a record $39,035,018 has been raised by 9,036 gifts representing 12,094 donors in the 2026 Campaign for Jewish Needs. The Federation’s annual Campaign provides the critical dollars necessary to help keep our diverse, local community safe, strong, vibrant, and welcoming, as well as serve the needs of the global Jewish community.

Thank you and mazel tov to Amir Jaffa for leading Jewish Cleveland during the 2025 and 2026 Campaign for Jewish Needs!