Shalom (Hello) to Itamar Meromi, Michal Katzman, Ziv Birenzwige, and Orel Regev.

Chanukah time is an awesome time.

took me several days, but I have recovered from all the excitement of co-chairing the 3rd Annual Cleveland Shabbos Project Challah Bake that took place at the Cleveland Convention Center on November 10. With nearly 1500 women in attendance, it was the largest Cleveland Challah Bake yet.

I don’t know about you, but even though I feel ready to get back to my routine after the disruption of the Jewish High Holidays and Sukkot, there is usually a part of me that feels a bit down. I miss the sense of community that is almost palpable at this time of year.

Every summer, 1,500 young Jews from 20 countries travel to rural Hungary to attend Camp Szarvas. Funded in part by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Federation partner agency, Szarvas merges the fun of sleepaway camp with the celebration of Jewish peoplehood.

On Sunday, October 9, the 2016-17 Saltzman Youth Panel opened our first meeting by talking about an amazing individual. There are many words to describe Maurice Saltzman – orphan, businessman, and entrepreneur are just a few that come to mind. The most important word I can use to describe Mr. Saltzman would be teacher.

Many people ask me, “What can I do with all the beautiful honey I have left over after Rosh Hashanah?”

For the past 11 ½ months, four Israeli teenagers have been serving as emissaries in Greater Cleveland to educate the Jewish community about Israeli life and culture, with a focus on connecting with other teens.

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 2016-2017 Maurice Saltzman Youth Panel, a program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. As a group, panelists recommend how to distribute up to $50,000 to programs in the Jewish and general communities. Participants will develop their leadership and group consensus skills as they learn about the philanthropic process and responding to community needs.

Check out what the Cleveland Community Birthright trip has been doing during their trip to Israel this summer!