LAVAA, a digital health company in Israel, has hired three Clevelanders who interned with the startup over the summer through the Cleveland Onward Israel program with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

From June 9 to Aug. 3, 36 Jewish college students or recent graduates from or living in Greater Cleveland ventured to Tel Aviv through Onward Israel’s partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood.

The experience of participating in Onward Israel helped Naomi to be able to combat BDS on her college campus as well as land a job in the field.

Like most college freshmen, Alejandra Fishman arrived on the campus of Kent State University feeling equal parts excited and nervous. The native of Puerto Rico chose Kent State University to study at the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. Moving to Northeast Ohio for college was a change for her, but it felt like home immediately after stepping on campus.

There are two things in my life that define me – my Jewishness and baseball. I was born and raised in Jewish Cleveland and the values of Judaism were instilled in me from a very young age – from synagogue, Sunday School, Jewish Day Camps, BBYO, and activities at the Mandel JCC. Jewish Cleveland is everything to me – as is playing baseball. I’ve put so much into being able to play my entire life, including in college.

For the next eight weeks, 43 Jewish Cleveland college students and recent grads will have the experience of a lifetime! That’s because they’re spending the summer interning in Tel Aviv as part of Onward Israel, a program funded through I-Connect, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

Hi, my name is Sammie Jacobs. I was born and raised in Beachwood, and will be a Senior at Case Western Reserve University this fall. I participated on Onward Israel this past summer, and was one of 42 Clevelanders who went on Onward this year.

Hi, my name is Sammie Jacobs. I was born and raised in Beachwood, and will be a Senior at Case Western Reserve University this fall. I participated on Onward Israel this past summer, and was one of 42 Clevelanders who went on Onward this year.

Meet Nathan. He's been to Israel before, but he’s ready to go back again – this time, for the entire summer! Nathan is a participant with Onward Israel Cleveland, an 8-week program where students ages 20-25 live and intern in Tel Aviv. Follow Nathan's journey on this blog, and to learn more about all Israel opportunities, visit our I-Connect Page.