Each year, as we retell the story of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt, we think about seders of the past. Everyone has a role: who reads what part in the Haggadah, who sits quietly hoping they won’t be called on, who asks the four questions, who kicks their sister or brother under the table, who brings the soup or the special family dessert ... who just won’t stop talking ... we all have our roles and our questions.

When our world changed on October 7, 2023, we opened the doors of our day schools to Israeli families temporarily relocating to Cleveland.

As Israel came under attack from Iran early on April 14, many Clevelanders were visiting the Jewish state on missions through the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood.

I am writing this from Tel Aviv where I am with several members of the Greater Cleveland and Jewish Cleveland communities on Federation’s Humanitarian Mission for Business and Civic Leaders. We came to Israel together to see, hear, and begin to comprehend what happened on October 7, 2023, and what that means for Israel and the Jewish people.

On the six-month anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, over 1,000 people turned out to walk and run in memory of those killed in Israel or still held hostage in Gaza.

Participants on the Jewish Federation of Cleveland Volunteer Mission to Israel are participating in hands-on volunteer projects that meet pressing needs, and experiencing how Cleveland supports Israel in times of peace and war.

We hope to see you at our April events. This month, we are hosting a community-wide run/walk to honor those killed or kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, a self-defense training from JFC Security, LLC, and more.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland aims for at least 1,334 participants at its Ratzim Bishvilam event April 7 to run or walk for the 1,334 killed in Israel or still held hostage since Oct. 7, 2023.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland issued the following statement in response to the ceasefire resolution voted on yesterday by Cleveland City Council:

A week prior to the five-month anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, 20 leaders from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland embarked on a mission to the Jewish state.