CLEVELAND – Madeline (Maddie) McCann, 10, of Beachwood has been selected to join the national PJ Our Way Design Team, a prestigious position through the PJ Our Way program that gives young people the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while connecting with other pre-teens across the country.

Jacob and Charlie have been giving tzedakah (charity) for as long as they can remember. Their mom, Heather, puts a tzedakah box on the table every Shabbat and they happily share their nickels and dimes. As little kids, they loved hearing a little plunk as the coins fell through the slit in the box. For years now, they know, because their mom tells them, that each little plunk is a mitzvah (good deed) that they can feel proud of.

In the early 20th century my great-great grandfather Ya’akov Kopleman left Lithuania for the Promised Land and became one of Israel’s first settlers.

Meet Becky and Daniel. They are emerging leaders in our Jewish community. We thank them for speaking out for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. They are building Jewish identity, and it’s more important than ever.

Something new is happening at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. It’s called the Israel Advocacy Fellows Program and it’s one of the most important efforts our Community Relations Committee (CRC) is working on today.

Thursday, September 10, 2015 marks the launch of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2016 Campaign for Jewish Needs, which is the annual fundraising Campaign that supports our community’s vitality and vibrancy in the year ahead. The event is open to the public. Doors open 7:00 p.m. on September 10, 2015 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center (26001 S. Woodland Road in Beachwood).

Jewish high school juniors and seniors interested in strengthening the Jewish community and making the world a better place are encouraged to apply for the 2015-2016 Maurice Saltzman Youth Panel (SYP), a program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.