Jewish Clevelander Alexandra is in St. Petersburg, Russia. She is a JDC Entwine volunteer with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Commmitee (JDC), a Federation partner, teaching English and Hebrew to local students participating in a joint YESOD/Jewish Agency camp called TIUL International.

Barry Feldman, Chair of the St. Petersburg Partnership Subcommittee, shared the following message to his fellow volunteer leaders serving on the Federation's Overseas Connections Committee. We invite you to read his message, and be inspired by the work that we do in our sister city of St. Petersburg, Russia to renew Jewish life where it was once forbidden.

Little ones and their families learned all about Rosh Hashanah during an interfaith event co-sponsored by jHUB and Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike. At “Heading into the High Holidays – Let’s Get Ready to Celebrate,” held last month at Horseshoe Lake Pavilion in Shaker Heights, families gathered for Rosh Hashanah activities including singing, story time and a trip to the lake.

Little ones and their families learned all about Rosh Hashanah during an interfaith event co-sponsored by jHUB and Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike. At “Heading into the High Holidays – Let’s Get Ready to Celebrate,” held last month at Horseshoe Lake Pavilion in Shaker Heights, families gathered for Rosh Hashanah activities including singing, story time and a trip to the lake.

I am Daniel Pearlman and I grew up here, in Solon. From an early age, my identity was shaped by the Jewish Cleveland community. I went to preschool at Jewish Day Nursery, affiliated with Bellefaire, a Federation partner. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew was that I loved the environment around me. Even today, I am still close with some of my preschool friends.

I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me (Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li). Some Jews are familiar with this phrase from Song of Songs. It is recited at weddings and inscribed on jewelry.

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.