Esther* is a beautiful, bright 11-year-old who brings light and happiness to everyone she encounters. An exceptional friend, she cares deeply about the people around her. When her mother told her that, for her 11th birthday, she would need to choose just one friend to celebrate with instead of inviting all the girls in her grade, she teared up — not because of what she wanted, but because she couldn’t bear the thought of hurting anyone’s feelings by not choosing them.

While kindness and empathy come naturally to her, learning has not always been easy. She was diagnosed with dyslexia in the middle of kindergarten and later with double-deficit dyslexia between second and third grade. What comes naturally to many children has required immense effort, perseverance, and courage from her every single day.

For a child facing these challenges, the obvious path might have been to move to a school without the added demands of a dual curriculum. But Fuchs Mizrachi School chose a different path: they chose Esther.

As a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Fuchs Mizrachi School receives vital support that helps make this kind of individualized care and education possible. With our community’s support of the annual Campaign for Jewish needs, the school can continue to invest in resources, programs, and services that help meet students where they are and give them the opportunity to thrive.

At every step, Esther has been met with individualized support, accommodations, and an unwavering belief in her potential. Her teachers and school community have worked tirelessly to find alternative resources and support so she can continue learning and growing alongside her peers.

She may never fully close the gap in Hebrew and English reading. But Fuchs Mizrachi School has given her something far more important: a place where she is seen, where she is supported, and where she is celebrated — not in spite of her differences, but alongside them.

And because of the support of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and its donors, stories like Esther’s are possible. Together, we are helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, belong, and reach their fullest potential.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality 

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Casey Swinarski

Jewish Cleveland is deeply connected.

It’s a statement community leaders have guessed at, and one proven true in the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2022 population study, with 98% of participants reporting feeling connected to the Jewish people and over half saying “a great deal.”

Rudin-Luria

“It’s an exciting number, and it’s a number to take a lot of pride in as a Jewish leader,” Senior Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation told the Cleveland Jewish News. “Jewish Cleveland is both a connected community within ourselves and also in feeling a deep connection to Judaism.”

Moreover, 84% reported feeling connected to Jewish Cleveland, and 72% said being part of it is important. Everyone is trying to put their finger on the “secret sauce,” Rudin-Luria said, but he guessed that Cleveland’s Midwestern hospitality and geographic closeness may contribute to the sense of belonging.

“I think some of the qualities that contribute to that is the respect that exists between organizations, synagogues, denominations, and a real feeling of partnership and commonality,” Rudin-Luria said. “We see each other so often in the community that there is a real sense of family and familiarity.”

Greenberg

Rabbi Melinda Mersack, director of jHUB and engagement strategies at the Jewish Education Center and population study committee member, told the CJN that interfaith households are among the groups seeking a sense of community in Cleveland.

“That is what jHUB tries to offer, because it’s what we’ve learned from our participants,” she said. “We’re intentional to not be prescriptive, but to try to listen and understand the wants and needs of our families and couples, and respond without judgment.”

According to the population study, interfaith households reported a high sense of belonging at 74%. This, Mersack said, was intentional, as jHUB was created as a result of the 2011 study, which showed the need for such an organization.

Additional JEC programs, like Chayim Tovim for adults aged 55+, continue to fill engagement gaps for varying age groups looking to connect. Since the 2011 study, growth has only increased, she said.

“Engagement has definitely increased,” Mersack said. “We’ve had steady growth, which I think reflects the makeup of our community. There are more interfaith families today, so we do see more people participating in jHUB programs and activities.”

Mersack

But despite strong feelings of connection overall, the study showed that barriers to participation are real. Overall, 44% of Jewish adults reported experiencing at least one limitation to participation in 2021-2022, a statistic that reflects the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most common barrier reported was not knowing many people – 18% – followed by not feeling welcome and cost, both at 14%. Location was also an obstacle, as residents of the West Side and Central and Northeast/Northern Heights regions were especially likely to cite location and cost as barriers.

“Even in the current population study, we see that there are still barriers for participation,” Mersack said. “The more types of Jewish programs and opportunities we have, the better chance that there will be something that resonates for each individual or family, where hopefully they can connect as well.”

The combination of strong emotional connection paired with participation barriers, specifically amongst groups such as the LGBTQ community and those in financial distress, reflects a baseline for what may have changed since the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when the study took place prior.

In response, the Jewish Federations of North America conducted multiple national surveys following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and found that 43% of American Jews became more engaged immediately after – what they described as a “surge of engagement.” One year later, 31% remained more engaged.

According to Rabbi Zushe Greenberg of Solon Chabad, the events of Oct. 7 reminded the Jewish community that they are one people – a “family.”

“After Oct. 7, many people connected to the community on a stronger level,” Greenberg told the CJN. “It was a huge awakening all over the world. Forget about Cleveland – it was international. At the end of the day, we were all connected.”

Tuchfeld

It can be easy for a Jew to lose their sense of connection to the community, Greenberg said, especially if one is not involved in religious or cultural Jewish activities. This is where a sense of connection, he said, can feel lost, though one never truly is.

“Judaism and Hasidic philosophy believe that within every Jew, there is a spark of God that can never be lost,” Greenberg said. “When you speak to a Jewish person, you will wake up this spark, this connection. An event like Oct. 7 did it in one shot, because suddenly everybody remembered and was reminded they were Jewish, and that’s why there was such an awakening.”

Greenberg added that he believes leaders in the community should continue to harvest that surge in engagement, but that the job of connection is not just the job of a rabbi. “Any one of us,” he said, can build connections – something that is especially important to foster in the next generation.

“This is something that we have to develop and cultivate, because it’s a constant struggle and battle against the temptations of the world,” Greenberg said. “The world is pulling you in one direction, and the Jewish world is pulling you in another direction. To be Jewish means to be different, that’s a fact, and many times, young people don’t want to be different.”

Emily Tuchfeld, a member of the Federation’s Young Leadership Division board, told the CJN that she feels the young adult population is growing in terms of engagement in Cleveland because of how “vibrant and diverse” the community allows one another to be.

According to the study, young adults, or 18 to 34 years old, reported the strongest connection compared to other age groups, at 87%.

“When I was growing up, I felt like the community was pretty separated by type of observance and where you lived,” Tuchfeld, 32, said. “Nowadays, especially at young adult events, we seem to span all types of Jewish observances and all locations around the Cleveland area. I think that our specific age range has cultivated a culture of inclusivity that is kind of newer and so beautiful.”

Jewish Cleveland and its organizations, she added, have invested in programming that is important to young adults. By doing this, she said, it further drives an increased sense of belonging and participation.

“Young Jewish people have decided where they’re going to live and where they’re going to set up their lives, and I think Jewish Cleveland has made great choices in what they’ve invested in to help build that,” Tuchfeld, who resides in University Heights with her husband, Zach, said.

Still looking for that “secret sauce,” Rudin-Luria concluded that the “deep respect” between Jewish professionals, from rabbis to organization presidents, helps to keep all members of the community connected and engaged.

“We understand that we all have a shared purpose – that each of our organizations can work together and support each other,” he said. “Cleveland almost becomes sort of a lab where, when one elevates, we elevate each other, and that’s really special. You don’t find that in every city.”

At the Federation, we always start the annual Campaign before the official kickoff with an internal “Staff Campaign” push. Each year, the Federation professional team renews its commitment to the community it serves. While listening to my colleagues – who come from different backgrounds and experiences – discuss Campaign and their connection to our mission, I found myself reflecting on why I give. My reasons are many, but the common denominator is people.

I give to make sure there is always someone to call at a time of personal need. Thanks to Access Jewish Cleveland, our community has someone who can provide a lifeline to individuals and families navigating life’s challenges.

I give because people like Elena, a 77-year-old retired physicist and Hebrew teacher in Tbilisi, Georgia, are depending on us. Blind due to retinal detachment and surviving on a pension of just $137 a month, Elena receives food, homecare, and the support she needs to live with dignity.

I give so that children like Tali*, who came to Camp Wise this summer carrying unimaginable trauma after witnessing her father’s murder on October 7, can begin to heal. At camp, she found a safe space to find comfort, reconnect with others, and experience the joy of being a child again.

I give to help keep our Jewish community safe. It is vital that everyone – our kids and families, our friends and neighbors, and all those we don’t know personally throughout our local community – can participate in Jewish life with confidence, supported by one of the strongest community security programs in the country.

I give to make sure our children have safer, more welcoming environments at school. Through our work with various school districts and community partners, we are providing strong advocates to help our kids stand up to hate and antisemitism.

I give so that we continue to be there for one another when tragedy strikes. Whether it’s helping our extended family overseas in times of trauma or providing counseling, support, and guidance to families locally through long-time beneficiary agencies like Jewish Family Service Association and Bellefaire JCB, we are there to help them move forward.

I give so that our community can continue to work together to find solutions that strengthen our community. For example, through innovative programs like Aging Well, older adults in Jewish Cleveland and their family members get the expertise and compassionate care they need to navigate the path ahead.

Most of all, I give because of you. Because of the generosity, compassion, and commitment I see every day across Jewish Cleveland. In Jewish Cleveland, we don’t let politics get in the way of helping people. You inspire me to do more.

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary community. I hope you will join us on Super Sunday Kickoff as we come together to strengthen Jewish Cleveland and continue to build a thriving future for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president

*name changed to protect confidentiality

One does not need to look hard to see signs of the continued rise in hatred targeting the Jewish community. Seemingly every day, there is another headline that tells a painful story we know too well:

“ATTACKER SHOUTING ‘ALLAHU AKBAR’ STABS JEWISH MAN WITH A SCREWDRIVER IN NYC”

“SAN JOSE POLICE INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE HATE CRIME AFTER 2 JEWISH MEN ATTACKED AT SANTANA ROW”

“MONTREAL POLICE OPEN HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED ARSON AT KOSHER RESTAURANT”

“TWO BROTHERS INVESTIGATED IN FRANCE ON SUSPICION OF PLANNING ANTISEMITIC ATTACK”

Just last week, Friday evening Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in New York City were disrupted by yet another attack targeting the Jewish community. Shortly after 6 p.m., an individual stormed the bimah, shouted antisemitic slurs, and physically attacked a congregant and the security guard who intervened.  

As Jewish Clevelanders, we are blessed to live in a city that has such strong and dedicated local law enforcement agencies working around the clock to keep us safe. These brave men and women work tirelessly to prevent hate from finding a home in Northeast Ohio. Likewise, we are beyond fortunate to have an added layer of safety throughout our community thanks to Federation’s innovative security provider – JFC Security, LLC – which is has become the industry “gold standard.”  

Launched in 2013, JFC Security now employs a team of more than 50 highly trained, licensed security officers dedicated to safeguarding our community. In addition to patrolling our community through a fleet of mobile security vehicles day and night – seven days a week – JFC Security also provides security at:

• Over 60 synagogues;
• Nine early childhood centers;
• 10 Jewish day school sites; and
• Numerous social service organizations across Greater Cleveland.  

1. If you see something – anything or anyone – that seems out of place, call 9-1-1 immediately. (JFC Security will be made aware of the call by law enforcement.)
2. Be active in the institutions you participate in. If you are concerned about security at your child’s school (whether it be public, private, or university), make your voice heard. Call the institution and express your concerns.
3. If you have questions about security or general concerns about safety in Jewish Cleveland, call JFC Security’s Security Desk at 216-593-2929. Messages are received at all hours.
4. Security and law enforcement have requested that when walking around to and from services, please stay on sidewalks and out of the streets.  

Shabbat Shalom,

Jeffrey J. Wild, board chair
Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Casey Swinarski

For Pepper Pike resident Lynne Cohen, the mission of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland was not something that she had to read to learn. Rather, the mission was demonstrated to her by both sets of grandparents growing up, and was echoed by her mother in everyday life.

“I really grew up watching my mother, Lois Marcus, lead by example,” Cohen told the Cleveland Jewish News. “She really believed in the (Federation’s Campaign for Jewish Needs). She believed in the power of bringing people together around a shared responsibility for our community.”

Cohen, a congregant of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, will serve as the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2027-28 chair of the annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. That example, Cohen said, continues to inspire and shape how she approaches leadership today.

“I feel really fortunate to build on that legacy, but also bring my own experience and perspective to the work,” she said. “Jewish Cleveland is just so deeply important to me and my family today, and has been throughout generations. I believe really strongly in the Federation’s mission and I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to help them inspire others to get involved and make a difference.”

When asked about how she wants to approach the campaign, Cohen said that her top priority is making sure that it continues to meet the “evolving needs” of Jewish Cleveland’s community, as well as putting a strong focus on building relationships with both longtime and new donors.

“Our community is incredibly generous, and I want people to feel connected to the impact of their giving and understand that they are truly our partners in this work,” Cohen said. “Throughout the year, whether I’m meeting with donors, attending events or just talking with people in the community, I see an incredible sense of pride in what we built together.”

Cohen, who described Jewish Cleveland as both resilient and generous, told the CJN that she has already visited and met with many of the Federation’s beneficiary agencies – such as JFSA, Camp Wise, the Mandel JCC and more – to both understand their needs and see the community’s “dollars in action.”

“It makes me even more excited to raise these dollars for our community, because I understand the needs and how important it is to continue to grow our Cleveland community and make it even better than it already is,” she said.

Of note, Cohen said that she would like to continue “fostering that enthusiasm” and encourage people to take advantage of opportunities, like the Mandel Match, to maximize their impact.

She said the Mandel Match, supported by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, will provide a dollar for dollar match on any donation increase of 10% or more from previous years, as well as a dollar for dollar match on all new gifts. The Mandel Match, now in its third consecutive year, will support applicable gifts that are made by Nov. 1.

“It’s a very lucrative match that we hope our donors will take advantage of and give by Nov. 1,” she said.

With nearly 20 years of involvement with the Federation, previously serving as chair of the PACT Committee and chair of the Overseas Connections Committee, Cohen said that she is excited for the opportunity to further her impact in a community that she feels is already so supportive of one another, a sentiment that she hopes will continue to expand through the course of her two-year term as campaign chair.

“Time and again, our community steps up for one another, whether they’re helping a neighbor across town or supporting Jews halfway across the world,” she said. “Our community understands that a strong campaign puts us in the best possible position to respond to whatever challenges come next, so I am incredibly grateful to the donors and volunteers whose commitment makes that possible.”

Cohen’s father, Marty Marcus, is a past board chair of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company and her brother, Greg Marcus, is a longtime director and current officer of the CJPC.

Last year, Super Sunday raised $1,700,298 from 1,275 donors.

Click here to learn how to volunteer at Super Sunday and donate to the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Casey Swinarski

Nisenboum

Looking to top its record-breaking $39 million Campaign for Jewish Needs in 2026, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland will kickoff the 2027 campaign with Super Sunday on Aug. 30, bringing together community members with a lineup of activities that will both engage donors and raise critical dollars for the next year.

“Super Sunday Kickoff is an exciting way to launch our 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs and bring our community together,” Jeffrey Wild, Jewish Federation of Cleveland board chair, said in a statement to the Cleveland Jewish News. “The Campaign supports programs and services that keep Jewish Cleveland strong and vibrant, as well as supports the people of Israel and Jews around the world. We all have a role to play, and every gift makes a difference in helping ensure our community remains here for good.”

Wild

The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 25701 Science Park Drive in Beachwood, is expected to bring hundreds together through programming and accessible options so that all ages can participate in both soliciting donations and enjoying family-friendly activities.

Last year, $1,700,298 was raised from 1,275 donors.

“The Super Sunday Kickoff will bring hundreds of Jewish Clevelanders together to launch the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs and raise critical dollars to the community,” Jono Nisenboum, co-chair of the event alongside his wife, Alix, told the CJN. “What’s really exciting this year is that there’s going to be something for everyone throughout the day.”

Following kickoff and training at 10 a.m., volunteers will initiate telephone calls to prospective donors through 4 p.m., with a kosher lunch served at noon.

“The Federation building will have the inside open all day for those that would prefer to be inside,” Nisenboum said. “Throughout the day, there will be training to teach members of the community how to raise funds, make calls and access the portal where all of their solicitation members are, so that will be going on inside throughout the day as well.”

A father of two, Nisenboum said that he is personally looking forward to welcoming families, especially those with young children like himself, who are looking to participate. New this year, children in attendance who are entering grades K-6 can attend a J-Day Camps “Camp for Good” at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., presented by the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland.

At 1:15 p.m., students entering eighth through 12th grade can participate in a three-on-three basketball tournament presented by ONR BBYO’s Cleveland Jewish Basketball League. Additional children’s activities, including a bounce house, magician, face painting and ice cream, will be available from 1 to 4 p.m.

“We want families to be able to attend and to be able to have that family feeling of tzedakah and giving back, and teaching children what that means,” Nisenboum said. “We wanted to make sure that families felt that they could not only attend, but really enjoy themselves and give back.”

Super Sunday will also offer two match opportunities for donors. Through the KeyBank match, all new or increased pledges made during the Super Sunday Kickoff will be matched dollar for dollar. Donors can also participate in the Mandel Match supported by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, which will provide a dollar for dollar match on any donation increase that is increased by 10% or more from previous years, as well as a dollar for dollar match on all new gifts. The Mandel Match, now in its third consecutive year, will support applicable gifts that are made by Nov. 1.

“Super Sunday is a great opportunity to make your gift to the campaign,” Nisenboum said. “If you’re a new gift giver, it’s a great day to give because your dollars will go to even more use with the two matches.”

The event will culminate with a grand total announcement and celebration at 4 p.m., and while it will mark the end of the day, Nisenboum wants to remind community members that Super Sunday is only a jumping off point – one that he hopes will build excitement and momentum that will carry through the rest of the campaign.

“Cleveland punches well above its weight in terms of raising money for the community, and what we do as a community is truly incredible,” he said. “The amount of support that we give, both locally and abroad, is unmatched, and so getting people excited and getting people together to feel that excitement and to be educated on where the dollars are going, while doing it as a community and as a family, helps drive a successful campaign.”

To register for the event, J-Day Camps or basketball tournament, visit shorturl.at/Lowp9.

The CJN will send a Breaking News Alert when the Super Sunday final amount is announced. To sign up for the alert, email cjn.org/breakingnews.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will launch the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs on Sunday, August 30 with a Super Sunday Kickoff event for the entire community! The Campaign for Jewish Needs is the Cleveland Jewish community’s annual fundraising campaign that provides the critical dollars necessary to help keep our diverse local community safe, strong, and welcoming, as well as serve the needs of the global Jewish community.

Throughout the day, attendees can help fundraise on behalf of the Campaign, make their own Campaign pledge, and participate in activities for all ages.

Highlights include:

• Community-wide fundraising from 10 am to 4 pm
• Kosher lunch at noon
• J-Day Camps' "Camp for Good" sessions for children (rising K-6th grade) at 10:15 am and 1:15 pm
• Family-friendly activities from 1 to 4 pm., including a bounce house, magician, face painting, and ice cream
• Teen basketball tournament at 1:15 pm
• Closing celebration and announcement of the day's fundraising total at 4 pm

"Super Sunday is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate what makes Jewish Cleveland so special, and demonstrate the collective impact we can make when we give back," said Lynne Cohen, general Campaign chair. "Whether you're making a meaningful gift, volunteering your time, or reconnecting with friends, everyone has an important place at this community-wide event."

Community members are encouraged to pre-register to expedite check-in on the day of the event. In the days leading up to Super Sunday, registered participants will receive an email with instructions to create their outreach portal password, allowing them to fundraise on behalf of the Campaign before and after the event.

Super Sunday Kickoff will take place from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, August 30 at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building (25701 Science Park Drive in Beachwood). Family activities will begin at 1 pm. Attendees can come to the event for a few hours or all day as their schedule allows. Event co-chairs are Allison Brandon of University Heights, and Jono and Alix Nisenboum of Highland Heights.

The Federation is the only organization in Cleveland that considers the needs of the Jewish community as a whole and plans for its future. 90 cents of each dollar donated goes directly to the community. The 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs will conclude on December 8, 2026.

For more information, visit www.jewishcleveland.org.

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Martha Sorohan

Rabbi Avrohom Adler led a tour of the Cleveland Chesed Center on July 30 for a 16-member Israeli delegation of young professionals, with Ariel Garfinkel providing Hebrew translation throughout the visit.

As Adler guided the group through the Cleveland Heights food bank, the delegation learned about the center’s wide range of services, including its kosher and non-kosher food pantry, hygiene products, gently used clothing, and on-site medical and dental spaces. The clean, well-organized nonprofit social service center – unique in Cleveland – partners with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and operates as a division of the Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland.

The delegation arrived from Beit Shean in Israel’s Valley of the Springs region, a sister city of the Federation.

Delegates said they were well-acquainted with social service agencies, but none like the Chesed Center, which offers health and human services such as free monthly dental clinics staffed by Case Western Reserve University dental students, free medical screenings every three months and food deliveries.

“Our structures in Israel are different, the services structured under the government,” Sivan Steinberg, a director in Israel, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “We do have smaller organizations that help with food, but not medical or dental.”

A one-stop shop was the goal when the building was purchased on South Taylor Road in 2015.

Serving about 1,000 families a month, the facility is still undergoing transition. A 2023 expansion wing is being considered as a site for 15 women’s remote work stations with a kitchen and break room for nursing mothers.

“We have a great architect and are hoping it will work,” Adler, executive director of JFSA’s Strengthening Families program, told the CJN.

Adler discussed the challenges of securing regular, committed volunteers before putting the visitors to work stocking shelves and hanging up clothing donations.

When Liraz Vaitsman asked whether people are too proud or embarrassed to use the center, Adler said most are not, though some prefer to make appointments to talk about their needs.

“A lot of people in Israel need help, but they are ashamed,” Vaitsman said.

Adler said, “If they are having hard times, we want them to feel comfortable. And they do feel comfortable.”

Citing a 2011 federal study that said only about 20% of people who are struggling are willing to get help, Adler said that in Cleveland, people are more “laid back” and reach out.

“In Boston or New York, people say they’ll figure it out themselves,” he said. “But it has to be nice. We have our limits.”

“It’s amazing,” Garfinkel said.

It was not all work and no play for the delegation during its week in Cleveland. They visited Van Aken District in Shaker Heights, the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio and attended services at Congregation Mishkan Or and Green Road Synagogue, both in Beachwood.

The delegation stayed with host families the weekend before its Aug. 2 departure.

Make a Donation

Bellefaire JCB provides licensed, culturally sensitive therapists to Jewish day schools across Cleveland, ensuring students, families, and educators have access to compassionate mental health support.

One child impacted by this program is Miriam*, a bright kindergartner who struggled to connect with classmates. While others played together, she often sat alone, unsure how to join in. A Bellefaire JCB school-based therapist began meeting with her weekly, helping her build confidence, develop social skills, and communicate more comfortably.

The therapist also partnered with Miriam’s parents, offering strategies to support her at home and creating a consistent plan across school and family life. Gradually, Miriam began greeting classmates, joining group activities, and experiencing school as a joyful, safe place.

To support her continued growth, the therapist recommended outpatient counseling, and her parents thoughtfully chose to give her an additional year in kindergarten. One year later, Miriam’s transformation is remarkable: she has close friends, participates eagerly, and approaches each day with confidence.

Her story reflects the power of community investment. Through our community’s support and her dedicated family, Miriam gained tools for a brighter future.

*Names changed to protect confidentiality

This August, there are plenty of ways to connect, learn, volunteer, and celebrate with Jewish Cleveland! From community service opportunities and cultural programs to family events, retreats, and Super Sunday Kickoff, there's something for everyone.

August 9
PJ Library Goes to Memphis Kiddie Park

Enjoy a special outing with unlimited rides, popcorn, a balloon, and lots of fun! A great way to celebrate summer together with PJ Library friends.

10 am - 12 pm

Memphis Kiddie Park
10340 Memphis Avenue, Cleveland

REGISTER >>

August 9
YLDay of Caring: School Supplies Sorting

YLD volunteers and their families are invited to pack backpacks for Bellefaire JCB’s annual school supply drive, supporting K–12 students in community-based programs across Cuyahoga County.

10:30 - 11:45 am

Deer Creek Lodge
27070 Cedar Road, Beachwood

REGISTER >>

August 11
Women IN Philanthropy Retreat

A restorative retreat for all women in the Jewish Cleveland community.

Join Women IN Philanthropy for a summer afternoon in nature at Camp Wise. Take time and space for self-reflection, make meaningful connections, feel proud and inspired by our community’s collective work, and find relaxation, restoration, and strength in a supportive space. 

4:30 - 8 pm 

Camp Wise
13164 Taylor Wells Road, Chardon

Cost: $54 per person

Special Promo Code: Young professionals and agency professionals are invited to email Zoe Winger at ZWinger@jewishcleveland.org for a special promo code to purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $36.

REGISTER >>

August 12
What's Wrong with the World?!

Dobama Theatre will present the “Texas Adaptation” of this Israeli comedy. This translation is uniquely fascinating in that it demonstrates the Israeli playwright’s/adapter’s perspective on American culture and highlights the universality of family dynamics.

A sentimental comedy by Gur Koren “What’s Wrong with the World” sets a collision course between a woman who just wants to see her family happy, and her kids, the younger generation, who might be ruling the world, but don’t necessarily know what to do with it.

Bobbie Tucker, a seventy-year-old woman who lives on a ranch, and whose dream is basically to have another grandson or two, embarks on a mission to save her son’s marriage, after he leaves home following a bitter argument with his wife.

She drags her husband Hank along on a crazy adventure of two innocent ranchers in the big city. Bobbie isn’t particularly healthy, nor is she young, but her maternal worries give her strengths of which she was herself unaware.

Playwright Gur Koren is the dramaturg of the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv, and a recipient of the Israeli Theatre Awards Playwright of the Year, 2014. Alon Pdut is a multi-talented Israeli arts professional. His original scripts, adaptations, and translations showcase his storytelling abilities and knack for witty dialogue and engaging narrative

7:30 pm 

Dobama Theatre
2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

Use cod "JFED" for ticket discounts 

LEARN MORE >> 

Now through August 14
Summer Collection Drive Benefiting United Way & the Cleveland Kids' Book Bank 

Stop by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland during regular business hours and drop off essential personal care products and cleaning supplies to help keep United Way’s Blessing Boxes full. Not sure what to donate? View the United Way’s wish list.

We’re also taking donations for the Cleveland Kids' Book Bank. Drop of your gently used and new kids books.

Please call ahead (216-593-2929) to let the security officer on duty know that you will be dropping off items.

August 16
Exhibition Opening: Mutual Reality 

Join us for an exclusive virtual conversation with Israeli artist Ronen Sharabani, whose thought-provoking exhibition, Mutual Reality, will be on view in the Federation's Roe Green Gallery.

Ronen will share his artistic journey and offer insight into the inspiration and creative process behind his work. Following the conversation, guests will have the opportunity to experience the exhibition firsthand through a guided visit to the Roe Green Gallery.

1 - 3 pm

Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Roe Green Gallery
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building
25701 Science Park Drive, Beachwood

REGISTER >> 

August 18
PJ Library Storytime and Coffee Club 

Join our PJ Library Parent Connectors for stories, crafts, coffee, and conversation. This program is geared toward children under 5. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

10 - 11 am 

Beachwood Library
25501 Shaker Blvd, Beachwood

Pre-registration is not required.

August 20
Monthly Food Packing with Lifeline Ministries

JVN is pleased to partner with East Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Lifeline Ministries to pack food parcels at the end of each month as SNAP benefits begin to dwindle for many people. The packages are delivered to those in need who live in the neighborhood of the church.

9:15 - 11 am 

East Mt. Zion Baptist Church
9990 Euclid Ave, Cleveland 

LEARN MORE >> 

August 23
Volunteer at the Hebrew Cultural Garden

Join gardening enthusiasts and volunteers to help keep the Hebrew Cultural Garden looking its best all summer long, and especially for One World Day on August 30. Volunteers will meet at the Hebrew Cultural Garden to weed, plant, and power wash.

Hebrew Cultural Garden
1160 East Blvd, Cleveland

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August 30
Super Sunday Kickoff

Join us for an all-day community-wide fundraising event that will celebrate everything that makes Jewish Cleveland special and showcase the impact we make together. Make your own pledge, help fundraise on behalf of the Campaign, enjoy kosher food, family-friendly activities, and more.

Highlights of the day:

• 10 am - 4 pm: Join friends and family in raising critical dollars for the community
• 12 pm: Enjoy a delicious kosher lunch
• 10:15 am and 1:15 pm: Kids can attend J-Day Camps’ “Camp for Good” *
• 1 - 4 pm: Kids' activities (bounce house, magician, face painting) and ice cream
• 1:15 pm: Teen Basketball Tournament**
• 4 pm: Closing celebration and grand total announcement

August 30
One World Day

Celebrate 100 Years of the Hebrew Cultural Garden!

As proud stewards of the oldest of Cleveland Cultural Garden, the Jewish community has a special opportunity to showcase our culture as part of this annual celebration. Join us throughout the day for activities at the Hebrew Cultural Garden:

• 12 pm – Parade of Flags
  Lineup begins at 11:30 am at the Serbian Cultural Garden. Please register below if you plan to march with the Jewish community delegation. We're honored to lead the parade as the first delegation this year!
• All Day – Celebrate with:
  • DJ Teddy Eisenberg spinning Israeli music
  • Family-friendly crafts and games
  • StoryWalk®
  • Israeli snacks
  • And more!

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Jimmy Oswald

Coming to Cleveland is a double dousing of special for James Snyder. Not only are there personal roots established in the community – his wife, Tina, is a born-and-bred Clevelander with family still very present – but the area’s vibrancy in the Jewish arts and cultural world is of special interest to the director of The Jewish Museum in New York City.

“I’m from the Monongahela River Valley, south of Pittsburgh, and growing up, Cleveland was like a wannabe home for me because it had mass transit, a great museum and was a bustling city,” Snyder told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I started at the Museum of Modern Art (in New York City) in 1974, and we did a lot with the Cleveland museum (Cleveland Museum of Art) Even though it wasn’t just modern, it’s a grand, encyclopedic museum. And the then-director Sherman Lee was one of the great museum directors. Their modern contemporary program was strong. From day one, Cleveland’s always been a city for me.”

Snyder

Snyder will discuss what he has learned through his years of interacting with Israeli art and artists in “What Makes Israeli Art Israeli?” presented by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Contemporary Visions of Israel. The program will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Federation’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building at 25701 Science Park Drive in Beachwood.

“The fact that the Jewish community in Cleveland is so robust and a lot of it is involved with culture, really makes it a very dynamic place,” he said. “So, it’s always exciting to be there.”

Snyder was the deputy director of the Museum of Modern Art before serving as the Anne and Jerome Fisher Director of The Israel Museum in Jerusalem from 1997 through 2016. After becoming director emeritus, Snyder was the museum’s international president through 2018 and was executive Chairman of The Jerusalem Foundation, Inc., from 2019 through 2023, when he joined The Jewish Museum in New York City.

During his time at The Israel Museum, Snyder said he and his team developed a narrative around definitional universalism – how all cultures connect across time and around the globe.

“The museum was archaeology and prehistory through the diaspora of Islamic culture and Jewish world culture over the last thousand years where the material dimensions of Jewish culture really expressed themselves worldwide,” he said. “And then there was art history, Western cultures and all non-Western cultures – but because we were in Israel, Western fine art for us started in Israel and went backwards.”

The museum brought a culture Snyder was unfamiliar with, because he had just moved to Israel, and brought it into the picture “in a big way” and demonstrated how culture over the last 100 years as art, separate and apart from religion.

“The religious roots of Jewish ceremonial art evolved in Israel, separate and apart, but also integrated with other cultures,” he said. “And so being now back in the United States and now being at The Jewish Museum, where we’re telling the story of 3,500 years of Jewish culture, wandering the global diaspora and coming to the present, where modern and contemporary play a key role, I find it very exciting to have the opportunity to talk about Israeli art and Israeli culture today and how it fits into a bigger picture.”

Showcasing how Israeli art today fits into the bigger narrative has only become more important since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion of Israel, Snyder, who became The Jewish Museum’s director three weeks after the attack, said.

“In the last couple hundred years of the flowering of art not connected to narrative representation of religion included Israel and does include Israel,” he said. “In our new collection galleries, which we’re going to talk about, we do tell a story of 3,500 years of Jewish culture in the global diaspora, integrating, not segregating, archaeology, ceremonial, historical, modern, contemporary, putting them all together. Among 250 objects on view, about 90 artists and artisans are alive, and a third of them are Israeli. “And we made a very strong point of having Israel in that picture because since Oct. 7th, it’s been very contentious to think through this whole thing about where is or isn’t Israel and where is or isn’t Jewish culture. It’s been a point of pride to be able to integrate Israeli art into our story.”

As Snyder looks to the future of Jewish art and life, he reflects on a moment when he first arrived at The Israel Museum.

“When I got to The Israel Museum, there was a wing devoted to Judaica and Jewish ethnography,” he said. “I said, ‘Forget that. We’re calling it Jewish art and life.’ And that’s how the world needs to evolve. So the more that museums, not in a self-conscious way, but in an organic way, bring Jewish culture and braid it into the narrative and do the same with other cultures – Latino culture, Hispanic culture, African and African American cultures – bring these cultures into a continuum of narratives, the better.”

To register, visit https://www.jewishcleveland.org/news/upcoming-events/ciac_presents_what_makes_israeli_art_israeli.

The Cleveland Jewish community has been instrumental in bringing Ethiopian Jews to Israel, and our support does not end there. Cleveland's sister communities of Beit Shean and the Valley of Springs are home to Beit Alfa absorption center.

The absorption center was established in 2007 to integrate new Olim (immigrants) from Ethiopia to Israel. During their first year, adults learn Hebrew and kids are integrated into educational facilities. In year two, the Olim go to work and start saving money to buy an apartment.

To learn more about Federation's work to support Ethiopian Olim, contact Ilanit Gerblich Kalir at ikalir@jewishcleveland.org.

Make a Donation

Caring for older adults has always been a priority for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

Rita*, in her late 60s, called Access Jewish Cleveland, the Federation’s confidential information and referral line, seeking financial assistance. She had worked for over two decades, then took a second job to make ends meet but illness left her unable to work for months. Living alone with no savings and a landlord unwilling to negotiate, eviction proceedings had already begun.

Even in crisis, Rita spoke of more than rent. She longed for the connections she once had, her synagogue community, and wanted to live closer to her father, who is in his 90s and has dementia.

Access Jewish Cleveland helped Rita explore housing options, including Sherri Park, Community Options, and the Cedar Center HUD building. Rita was also connected with Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA) for emergency financial assistance, Forward Focus, and dementia care navigation to support her and her father.

About a month later, Rita experienced a transformative moment at JFSA’s Memory Café when her father, who had been largely silent, began smiling and mouthing words along with the music at the event. Holding his hand, Rita cried. She felt grateful – not just for the practical help, but for the support and moments of connection that helped her feel less alone.

*Names changed to protect confidentiality

Delegates met the Bnei Menashe community of northeastern India - families who have preserved their Jewish identity, traditions, and dream of reaching Israel for generations - and accompanied them on their journey to Israel, where 600 new olim were reunited with loved ones after many years apart.

As these families begin their new lives in Israel, this mission is a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between the Jewish people and Israel.

Make a Donation

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Chaplaincy program offers comfort to members of the Jewish community in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons through visits and correspondence from rabbis and volunteers. Based at four Cleveland hospitals, its mission is to unite, strengthen, and show every community member that they are cared for.

When 87-year-old Samuel* was hospitalized after a fall, a Federation chaplain visited him. His son, Mark*, who is middle-aged and has special needs, had recently lost a close family member and was struggling with anxiety as his father’s health declined. Mark worried about his care and his own future.

The chaplain connected Mark to Access Jewish Cleveland, where a plan was created: counseling through JFSA to process grief, support with housing and finances, and additional guidance. To help him feel less isolated, Mark was also introduced to the Mandel JCC News of the Week program, a supportive space where he can discuss current events and feel less overwhelmed.

What began as a hospital visit became a bridge—turning a frightened, isolated son into someone with guidance, support, and hope.

*Names changed to protect confidentiality

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Casey Couch

When Jonathon Nisenboum grew up attending the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, his identity and connection to the Cleveland Jewish community existed within the walls of a classroom.

It wasn’t until the Highland Heights resident became a father to two young children – a four-year-old daughter and almost two-year-old son – that he started to understand the full scope of programming that Jewish Cleveland offered for young families. Once he did, he described it as “incredible.”

“We’re very blessed to live in Cleveland for a number of different reasons,” Nisenboum told the Cleveland Jewish News. “The ability for us to do things at least once a month with the Federation, where (my kids) are with other Jewish kids and doing events around the holidays is just hard to beat, and when you throw the schools on top of that, it’s just incredible.”

Bloch Jaffe

This sense of belonging wasn’t an accident. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2022 Population Study found that Jewish identity among the area’s children has remained strong since the last study took place in 2011 – the result of meticulous planning and investment in the future of Jewish Cleveland.

According to the most recent study, 88% of children in Jewish households are being raised Jewish – a rate nearly unchanged since 2011, even as intermarriage has risen. Of this group, 77% are being raised Jewish only and 11% are being raised Jewish in addition to another religion.

About two-thirds of Jewish children in Cleveland – 69% – are raised by two Jewish parents, while about one-quarter – 28% – are raised by interfaith parents.

Jacobs

Regina Krieger, director of Limmud Learning at Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, has seen these changes head-on through her time at the former The Temple-Tifereth Israel since 1999, and working with families in the same capacity since the temple’s merger in 2024.

“We do serve a lot of interfaith families,” Krieger told the CJN. “It’s hard to tell which kids in our programs are interfaith, and it’s not something that we identify unless it’s been identified to us. Congregation Mishkan Or is open to all family types, and we are creating programs to welcome families that have non-Jewish parents.”

According to Krieger, the programs offered to young children are all about inclusivity, social justice and helping people in need, setting up future generations to see those needs in others.

“We try to take into account, for those parents who might not have the same background, those differences and we try to be inclusive,” Krieger said. “We find that families of interfaith children are very excited to learn and we want to make it as positive as we can for them.”

Kreiger

The majority of families, Krieger said, are public school students, so learning at the temple is the main source of Jewish religious or cultural learning for many of the enrolled children.

“Knowing that we don’t have the same amount of faith time hours, we try to make every moment that we have with our students a moment of learning, connection, growth and giving them what they will need to be thriving Jewish children,” Krieger said.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic – school year 2021-2022 and summer 2022 when the population study was taking place – the majority of school-age children were engaged in Jewish education: 47% attend public school; 29% Jewish day school; 13% non-Jewish private school; and 11% other education arrangements such as homeschool.

Additionally, 15% attended congregational or Sunday school, though part-time Jewish education enrollment has been rising since study data was collected; 27% participate in informal programs like youth groups, teen programs or Hebrew tutoring; 42% attended Jewish day or overnight camps in 2022; and 95% of households with children discuss Jewish topics at home, and 80% read Jewish books.

For Marlyn Bloch Jaffe, the Irving and Frieda J. Hand Chief Executive Officer at the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, she noted that she is “endlessly inspired” by the myriad ways in which children connect to their Judaism.

“Strategically, it is important to offer multiple paths to engagement, because people connect differently,” Bloch Jaffe told the CJN. “At the JEC, we talk about fostering a ‘multi-pronged’ approach, because it’s important to reach different learners in ways that speak to their individual needs and interests.”

Through this “multi-pronged approach,” the JEC has invested in @akiva for teens, Chayim Tovim for adults 55+, including grandparents, jHUB for interfaith couples and families, as well as working on the Jewish Day School Transformation Initiative.

“We continue to innovate new onramps to Jewish engagement, wherever people are in life,” Bloch Jaffe said. “That’s the idea behind The Prototype Initiative, which will launch six new part-time Jewish educational programs in our community this year.”

According to Bloch Jaffe, the JEC is deeply involved across the denominational spectrum with students who are already connected to Judaism, as well as those not yet engaged, in a variety of formal and informal settings. This allows them to elevate the learning and sense of community present in each of these portals, setting up the future generation for continued success.

“At so many key junctures in Jewish history, Jews developed innovative strategies to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people,” Bloch Jaffe said. “Here in Cleveland, it’s vital that we remain open to the changing needs of families and respond with creative solutions. The children of today become the leaders of tomorrow, and the more ways we can engage, educate and inspire them, the more vibrant our Jewish future will be.”

Hoping to engage Jewish children who reside outside of Cleveland’s most populated Jewish suburbs, Devorah Jacobs, co-director of Chabad of the West Side, told the CJN when she moved to the area in 2017, Jewish neighbors in the West Side didn’t even know that one another existed.

“I started to meet families one-on-one in the park or at the library and just see what was available, what they were interested in, and hear them out,” Jacobs said. “That’s pretty much how everything that we do now started – because of the young families and what they were looking for.”

According to the population study, Beachwood and the Heights area are home to over 40% of Jewish Cleveland households, and 28% of the Jewish children in Cleveland are residents of the Heights region.

In contrast, the West Side and Central region is home to about 16% of Jewish Cleveland and 12% of Jewish children. On this, Jacobs said that the geographic separation was certainly felt amongst families.

“A lot of families were struggling with being away from the Jewish community and feeling like everything was far,” Jacobs said. “They felt like they didn’t necessarily want to be in a traditional synagogue; they just wanted more cultural Judaism and they wanted their child to have a Jewish identity.”

For some families, Jacobs said that their child was the only Jewish kid in their school. But in the past 10 years, since Jacobs had arrived in Cleveland, she has seen Chabad of the West Side grow into a community that was simply not there before.

“It grew into this beautiful community of people that come together,” she said. “It wasn’t that they were looking for a synagogue; it was that they met people that they liked and the synagogue just happened around it, which I think was really nice and special, and I feel so honored to be a facilitator of that.”

Now, Jacobs said that not only do the families in the West Side feel more connected to one another than they did at the time of the 2011 population study – they also feel more connected to the larger Jewish community in Beachwood and the Heights area through many community partnerships.

Going forward, Jacobs said that some families on the West Side would appreciate a more formal Jewish education, such as a Jewish day school, but don’t have a way to get their students there.

“That’s definitely a need,” she said. “I’ve been trying to put together a Jewish day school curriculum that I can incorporate into the programming that I have, but I would definitely love to figure out a way to do that better.”

Additionally, Jacobs said she would love to see a more mobile, pop-up version of events and programming for families who are further out and may not have the capacity to come to Lakewood each week, but still want their children to be involved.

“My real goal is for every kid to feel proud of their Jewish identity, to not feel like they have to hide it, to know who they are and to feel proud of who they are,” Jacobs said.

For Nisenboum, that means researching which day school is a good fit for his children and co-chairing the Federation’s Super Sunday kickoff with his wife, Alix. This year, the couple is weaving a family aspect into the event so that their children – as well as the children of other young families – can get involved.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, but I do have friends who live in both Cincinnati and Chicago who are Jewish, and I think we have more events and programming than those cities combined,” Nisenboum said. “Truthfully, with the strength of the community, we will never leave. There’s no desire to leave because we have things in Cleveland that, when I speak to other people, they are so jealous of.”

To view the 2022 Cleveland Jewish Population Study, and to read other articles in this series, visit cjn.org.

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News

by Jimmy Oswald

As Lydia Yomtovian Frankel watched thousands of athletes march into Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem sporting their country’s colors, listened to several Israeli artists perform on stage and was dazzled by the fireworks and pyrotechnics that accompanied the opening of the Maccabiah Games on July 1, she felt a variety of emotions coursing through her.

Excitement. Pride. Hope, she said.

“At the end of the day, we were there united,” Frankel told the Cleveland Jewish News. “No matter what your affiliation politically is, we were there to celebrate the Maccabiah Games. We were there to say that we are here and we will continue to be. We are determined to get back to normality as much as possible. That’s what left me with the hope that we will be okay,”

The opening ceremony saw tens of thousands of athletes, coaches, chaperones and spectators pack Teddy Stadium for the kick off of the 22nd Maccabiah Games, aka the Jewish Olympics, where Jewish athletes from around the world and Israeli citizens compete in an array of sporting competitions. The competition ran July 1 to July 13.

It was the first edition of the games since July 2022, and it was the first Maccabiah since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. The event was originally scheduled for 2025 but was postponed due to the war against Iran, which made it even more special for Frankel, a national board member of Israeli-American Council, to be there in-person.

“It was especially emotional because it started with a video commemorating all those people who were murdered on Oct. 7 and during the terrible war that is still going on,” she said. “It was very touching. It’s very Jewish and very Israeli that right after that, we move on to celebrate as one. I felt so united getting to see young Jewish people from so many different parts of the world, proud to be Jewish and to be in Israel. It was a sign of hope and a sign of the future of our people.”

Frankel wasn’t the only Cleveland Jewish community leader in Jerusalem for the start of the games. J. David Heller, CEO and co-founder of Cleveland-based NRP Group who previously served as chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and national campaign chair of Jewish Federations of North America; Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland; and Michael Siegal, president of the Maccabi World Union, and his wife, Anita Siegal, both philanthropists for the area, were all present for the ceremony.

“That’s the thing about Cleveland: we show up,” Siegal, a Beachwood resident, told the CJN. “We show up everywhere. We are the strongest Jewish community in the world, and we will continue to be in the forefront of Jewish activity around the world.”

Frankel said meeting up with her Cleveland partners was exciting and made the experience even more emotional. While they didn’t sit together for the ceremony, they were able to meet up in the VIP reception.

“Leaders of Cleveland in Israel have a special meaning, especially because Cleveland has a special touch,” she said. “We are very proud to have Michael Siegal as the chair of Maccabi World Union. And my two worlds collided where I was able to introduce high-level leaders from the Israeli American Council to my Clevelanders, and my Clevelanders to them. These are leaders doing everything possible for our Jewish country, backing it up and being proud Jewish people in the world.”

Rudin-Luria called the games a “powerful reminder of Jewish peoplehood at its very best.”

“It was an incredible honor to be present as athletes, families and supporters from around the world came together in celebration,” she told the CJN. “We are especially proud that past Jewish Federation of Cleveland Board Chair Michael Siegal is serving as President of the Maccabi World Union, providing inspiring leadership for these Games and the global Maccabi movement. We witnessed extraordinary resilience from those who persevered through uncertainty and travel challenges because representing their communities and being together in Israel mattered so deeply. These beautiful moments of unity, pride and connection are a testament to the enduring strength of the Jewish people and the unbreakable bond that unites us.”

Siegal said that several of the Clevelanders had been attending the Jewish Agency Board of Governors meeting, held June 28 to June 30 with discussions centered on combating global antisemitism, strengthening Jewish identity and rebuilding communities in Israel, and took advantage of the good timing to see the start of the games.

Frankel was in Israel for an IAC event celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, an event that Siegal and his wife, Anita, also attended.

Siegal said normalcy in Israel is abnormal these days, so the Maccabiah Games being able to go on and bring a sense of joy and fun on a global basis is important to Israelis and Jews.

“The opening ceremony was glorious and really uplifting,” he said. “Before we left, there was a 3-on-3 basketball exhibition where they had five returned hostages play basketball interspersed with celebrities with the Jewish Agency and others. To see returned hostages, whose faces you’ve seen on posters playing basketball – we say only in Israel, but that’s only in Israel.”

Over 5,000 athletes competed in this year’s games, 2,000 Israelis and 3,000 from communities around the globe. Taiwan and the Philippines sent players for the first time, and the United States had over 900 athletes participate.

“There’s a story everywhere, but the big one is that 5,000 people showed up to show Israel that we are one community,” Siegal said. “We weren’t there on a solidarity mission. We were there to say we stand together and we’re here to be normal. We made this enormous statement that we are strong and resilient.”

Make a Donation

In response to rising concerns about community safety, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, in partnership with JFC Security, LLC, launched a pilot program to train volunteer security teams at local synagogues. The initiative equips community members to support professional security staff by providing additional eyes and ears to monitor potential threats and respond effectively during emergencies.

With guidance from the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official nonprofit dedicated to the safety and security of Jewish communities across the U.S. and Canada, the program is currently active at Congregation Mishkan Or, Green Road Synagogue, and B’nai Jeshurun Congregation. Volunteers receive comprehensive, hands-on training covering physical security techniques, emergency preparedness, situational awareness, Stop the Bleed methods, and reporting protocols.

Training also familiarizes participants with both routine and crisis procedures specific to each congregation, ensuring they can act confidently and collaboratively with professional staff and law enforcement.

This approach strengthens layered security while fostering active community involvement in synagogue safety. It also provides volunteers with practical skills applicable beyond the synagogue, promoting awareness and preparedness in daily life.

The pilot program is recognized nationally as a model for integrating trained volunteers into professional security operations. By combining professional expertise with engaged community members, the program ensures that synagogues remain safe, welcoming spaces while building resilience and shared responsibility across the Jewish community.

Make a Donation

Sirens, uncertainty, and constant updates became the backdrop of what was supposed to be a 10-day educational journey across Israel. Last June, 26 Cleveland Jewish teens traveled to Israel with israel.cleveland.next (icnext), but on June 13, as fighting escalated across multiple fronts, their experience shifted dramatically. Bringing them home immediately became the top priority. While awaiting evacuation, icnext staff and chaperones created engaging programming and provided support to keep teens calm amid the backdrop of war.

“I will never forget this trip and the intensity of being in Israel during war time,” said icnext teen Maya. “I am grateful to our chaperones, the hostel that allowed us to stay in safety, and especially to the Cleveland Jewish Federation that took care of us and arranged for our return back home.”

Behind the scenes, the Federation worked around the clock, developing multiple evacuation plans as conditions rapidly changed. An initial plan included special permission to fly out of Ben Gurion Airport to Paris. That plan was abandoned when the perimeter of the airport was struck by a cluster missile fragment, forcing a last-minute pivot. Within hours, a new plan was secured: a chartered flight from Aqaba, Jordan to Europe.

Throughout the crisis, Federation leadership remained in constant contact with families, providing steady communication, reassurance, and ultimately, a safe journey home.

“I have no words to thank you and everyone who worked with the Federation to shepherd the kids out of Israel and work to bring them home,” said one icnext parent. “We truly appreciated the calm and collected Zoom calls and the transparency. Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Sherman

Following a successful Campaign For Jewish Needs which raised $39,035,018 for the community, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Board of Trustees approved allocations for fiscal year 2026-2027 at its June 23 meeting, marking increased investments in local beneficiary agencies serving children, older adults and vulnerable community members, community security and overseas humanitarian needs.

Elisabeth Sherman, chair of the allocations committee, which has over 30 members, told the Cleveland Jewish News that “every dollar is really accounted for and talked about,” and this year was no different.

In fiscal year 2025-2026, the committee had $34,653,829 to allocate. In fiscal year 2026-2027, that amount was raised to $35,105,145, giving the allocations committee an additional $451,316 to work with. Allocable dollars come from both the Federation’s annual Campaign For Jewish Needs, as well as any special funds raised, including United Way contributions.

“We had over $35 million to allocate which was unbelievable,” Sherman told the CJN. “It was a $451,000 increase over last year, which really speaks to the compassion, the understanding and the commitment of Jewish Cleveland.”

Wild

Sherman reported each agency received the same distribution amount that they had received last fiscal year, with increases from there. The four major areas where funds were focused included security, overseas, national and local.

“We’re so lucky that the community puts their trust in the allocations process and the Federation at large to figure out where the most vulnerable communities are and where the money should go in such a model,” she said.

For security – a top priority, Sherman said – the committee allocated $1,800,000, a $50,000 increase from the $1,750,000 that was allocated last year.

Overseas allocations totaled $13,497,332, marking an $80,658 increase from the past year. Of that, $7,957,520 was allocated to Jewish Federations of North America and $5,070,232 was designated for Cleveland overseas projects, with remaining funds going to JDC hunger relief and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

National agencies and programs were allocated $905,356 to be distributed amongst 14 organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Ohio Jewish Communities and more. Locally, $18,902,457 was split between two areas – $10,226,449 to human services and $8,626,008 to education.

Of these, Sherman said this year, the committee was specifically focused on allocating funds to support the needs of children, older adults and vulnerable community members.

New this year, the committee also recommended a one-time allocation of $250,000, made possible by a gift from the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation, to support local beneficiary agencies in navigating changes to Medicaid benefits.

“This is a new opportunity that we had,” Sherman said. “Mount Sinai Health Foundation was generous enough to give the Federation a one time $250,000 contribution specifically to help navigate and create services through JFSA and Gesher to ensure that, as medicaid changes, we have pathways and a structure to work with those changes. Medicaid is kind of up in the air and has become an increasingly complex and challenging situation, so we want to make sure the scaffolding and the infrastructure is there to help the community in the most beneficial way.”

The importance of caring for older adults has always been a priority for the Federation, Sherman added. According to the 2022 population study, 32% of Jewish individuals in Cleveland are 65 years and older, spurring the committee to think about how they can best allocate money to serve that growing population.

The committee also proposed that the $843,262 previously allocated to Menorah Park be distributed as one-time funding following the findings of the Community Planning Committee’s Older Adult Task Force, which identified many funding gaps in existing services for aging adults.

“The Federation is directing the former Menorah Park allocation towards older adults, recognizing the growing needs of the aging population,” Sherman said. “Certain programs include filling the gap in Holocaust survivor care, which will match critical matching dollars from the Claims Conference through JFSA.”

According to Sherman, the committee’s process actually began in Sept. 2025 and went through May 2026 before the committee presented their final recommendations to the board in late June.

“At the beginning, we talk about how the past year went, what this year looks like and opportunities and challenges that we think are going to happen,” she said. “We’re really looking for systemic issues and how we feel we can support the agencies.”

Through subcommittees, members meet with assigned agencies and community partners where they evaluate needs, strengths and gaps.

“The actual allocating of money is only a small part of what we do,” Sherman said.

According to Sherman, the real work comes in during the debates, as each committee member becomes an expert on their assigned agency, but must be challenged to compare their agency’s needs to the needs of another.

“We really debate and we’ve been able to come to a decision where everyone feels comfortable,” Sherman, who just completed the second year of her three year term as committee chair, said.

Jeffrey J. Wild, board chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, added in a statement to the CJN, “The strength of our community is reflected in these allocations. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors, we are able to invest more than $35 million in the programs, services, and organizations that care for people in need, strengthen Jewish life, and help keep our community safe. Together, we are ensuring that today’s needs are met while building a stronger future for generations to come.”