Dear Friends,

There is a reason Cleveland is one of the most caring and vibrant Jewish communities anywhere in the world. The reason is you.

Because of you, there are innovative services and programs to assist those in need. Our community can provide superb Jewish education to students of all ages, thanks to you. With your support, Jewish Cleveland is safe and welcoming, while our global community is cared for.

It’s been this way in Jewish Cleveland for generations. Since the Federation’s founding 120 years ago, there has been an undeniable sense of pride and connection in Jewish Cleveland that propels us forward – and comforts us in times of crisis.

When Terrorists Attacked

On October 7, 2023, Hamas brutally attacked Israel. More than 1,200 innocent people were murdered, including young children. Thousands more were injured and hundreds taken hostage.

Our community quickly came together to mourn those lost in the attack and pray for the safe return of those kidnapped. And then we did what Jewish Cleveland always does. We got to work.

Jewish Cleveland Responds

We raised our voices to confront the escalating hatred of Jews fueled by antisemitic rhetoric unleashed by Hamas’ attack. We reached out to our extended family in Israel, as well as Israelis now living in Cleveland, to reassure them they would not fight this war alone.

We went to Israel to bear witness to the trauma caused by the horrific attacks. We also met with families of the victims and the hostages so that we could keep their stories at the forefront of everything we did and said in the weeks and months that followed.

We worked with university leadership and other partners to ensure our college students felt safe, secure, and supported in the face of emboldened antisemitism on campus.

And we provided immediate assistance to the victims of Hamas and their families by raising more than $33 million through the community’s Israel Emergency Campaign. Keep in mind, this is in addition to the record-setting $36.4 million raised by the community for this year’s Campaign for Jewish Needs.

On the following pages, you’ll find example after example of how you helped our community work together over the past year to care for one another, prepare for the future, share our perspectives, and repair our world.

Thanks to You

Although we have accomplished much over the past 12 months, there is still more to do to address urgent needs and build a bright future for the next generations. Because of you, we are confident that Jewish Cleveland will rise to the occasion as it has time and again over the past 120 years.

On behalf of your Federation Board of Trustees and professional staff, we cannot begin to thank local law enforcement enough for all they do to keep Northeast Ohio safe. Likewise, a special thank you to JFC Security, LLC, which has been helping to protect Jewish Cleveland for the last 10 years. Finally, we are forever indebted to our beneficiary agencies, local day schools, and synagogues for their unwavering dedication and commitment to serving our community.

Let us continue to go from strength to strength.