We hope to see you at one of our many November events! This month, we're welcoming the world-renowned Israel Philharmonic to Cleveland, celebrating the generosity of our community at 2023 Campaign for Jewish Needs events, volunteering together to make our community stronger, and more!

As the state of Israel approaches its 75th anniversary as an independent state on May 14, 2023, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland is kicking off a yearlong celebration of events with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Almost five weeks ago, I walked into the Addis Ababa airport to greet 209 Ethiopian Jews who were about to make aliyah, ending the wait their families had endured for generations – to fulfill the promise of making their way to Jerusalem “delivered on the wings of eagles.” The strength, courage and focus of these men, women, and children were every bit as steadfast as the wings on the airplane that was about to fly four hours to Israel, where their dreams would finally come true.

As a kid growing up in Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin in the Valley of Springs, Maayan Cohen struggled with significant social and personal difficulties. Because of the many difficulties he was facing, Maayan was integrated into the Youth Futures program when he began fifth grade. As a participant in the program, Maayan was assigned a mentor, an emotional and social coach, who worked closely with him for three years in school and during afterschool hours, to help him acquire the tools and self-confidence he needed to realize his potential and succeed.

Prior to his U.N. General Assembly address, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid met with about 35 leaders from the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Sept. 21, including current and former Clevelanders.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland welcomed a delegation of young professionals from Cleveland’s sister city Beit Shean during the week of Sept. 6 through Sept. 13.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will kick off the community’s “Israel at 75” celebration series with a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) on November 12, 2022 at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Concert Hall - Severance Music Center. The IPO has performed in Cleveland only twice before – most recently in 2015.

As her exhibition “If You Thirst for a Homeland” is on display at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Roe Green Gallery in Beachwood, the Federation will bring Israeli glass artist Dafna Kaffeman for a one-week artist-in-residence stay from Sept. 6 through 11.

The Cleveland Jewish community welcomed six Teenshinim from the Israeli community of Beit Shean/Valley of Springs in early July – the first delegation from Israel to Cleveland in more than two years. The Teenshinim is a program for high school juniors interested in applying for a year of service in North America or Israel.