Rabbi Yosef Lassri and his wife noticed their son, Yair – who has autism spectrum disorder – was not progressing as well as he could with his grades in school.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a Federation overseas beneficiary agency, is the leading global Jewish nonprofit organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. JDC rescues Jews in danger, provide aid to vulnerable Jews, develop innovative solutions to Israel’s most complex social challenges, cultivate a Jewish future, and lead the Jewish community’s response to crises. For over 100 years, their work has put the timeless Jewish value of mutual responsibility into action, making JDC essential to the survival of millions of people and the advancement of Jewish life across the globe.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, JDC gives elderly Jewish women in the Ukraine food, medicine, and homecare.

Testimony Theater Cleveland is a program in which 7th-12th grade students interview Holocaust survivors and their families about their experiences and then act out those stories as a powerful and emotional stage performance.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that Danielle Wild of Beachwood was awarded the 2021 Ruby Bass Challenge Award, the organization’s most prestigious award for women philanthropists. Wild was honored with the award at the Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy virtual Signature Event on May 27.

– The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that the staff of Cleveland Clinic, The MetroHealth System, and University Hospitals have been named the 97th recipients of the Charles Eisenman Award, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s highest civic honor for outstanding contributions to our community. The Federation recognized these three healthcare systems and celebrated our community at the 117th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 21.

Students Middle and High School in Cleveland created original poems as well as visual arts pieces for the Yom Hashoah Creative Arts Contest

Jewish Federation of Cleveland was joined by Cantor Rebecca Carmi and her family, alongside pianist Laura Silverman to perform a medley of Chanukah songs for our community for Festival of Song.

Dayna and Cameron were recognized at our Campaign Closing Celebration for their dedication to the Campaign for Jewish Needs.

To prevent social distancing from becoming social isolation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic – especially among the elderly in Jewish Cleveland – the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jewish Volunteer Network (JVN) quickly mobilized to create a multi-pronged program designed to touch base with these vulnerable community members to make sure they knew they were not alone or forgotten in this unsettled time.