The rekindling of anti-Semitism and the characterization of Israel were thoughts Gary Gross shared as he gave his third and final address at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 115th annual meeting April 8. He proposed the two go hand-in-hand. To combat anti-Semitism, a unified Jewish community is needed. Yet varying thoughts Jews hold on Israel can create disagreement and prohibit unification.
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland today announced that Richard W. Pogue has been named the 95th recipient of the Charles Eisenman Award, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s highest civic honor for outstanding contributions to our community. The Federation will recognize Pogue and celebrate our community at the 115th Annual Meeting on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 pm at Gross Schechter Day School (27601 Fairmount Blvd, Pepper Pike). All are welcome to attend this free event.
Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, spoke of the fine line between providing effective security and making synagogues into fortresses.
Tasks that are not fun or interesting often lead to procrastination.
Local civic leaders, representatives from synagogues and law enforcement gathered at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood for a two-day course to learn about new methods in countering the threat of violent extremism by changing the narrative of a would-be threat.
On March 7, the Cleveland Israel Arts Connection, a program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, will host “Dancing Conversation: Cultural Diplomacy.” This event will explore how dancers' experiences performing in the United States, Israel, and around the world have informed their expression and in some cases, changed their lives.
To register for this event, please visit www.jewishcleveland.org.
When the Jewish Federation of Cleveland published the 2011 Greater Cleveland Jewish Population Study, one of the key findings was that there was significant economic vulnerability in the Cleveland Jewish community.
Hebrew Shelter Home (HSH) not only provides a safe haven for Jewish women and children, but also a warm Jewish home with Shabbat dinner every week. For women who have fled domestic violence or find themselves homeless for other reasons, HSH provides a big, warm community hug saying loudly, “you are not alone.” This important facility offers a supportive home for women and children in need at no cost. However, HSH requires substantial donor support on an annual basis to keep it going.
The Cleveland Israel Arts Connection, a program of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, will host “Dancing Conversation: Cultural Diplomacy,” on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 pm at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building (25701 Science Park Drive in Beachwood). Registration cost is $10/person. To register for this event, please visit www.jewishcleveland.org.
For Bonnie Marks and Carol Paull, generosity and community involvement are part of their DNA. Their parents, Elmer and Eudese Paull z”l, set the example – they always involved their children in acts of tzedakah such as “adopting” a family resettled from Egypt and cooking dinners for them or collecting items for the food bank.
Growing up, Carol Rivchun spent many hours at her family’s jewelry store – Chas. S. Rivchun & Sons Jewelers. Her mother worked alongside her father. Her grandfather, her uncle, and their wives worked there as well. The family business gave Carol front row seats to some very special customers such as George Szell, the conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, Don Effler, the pioneering Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon, and even the Crown Prince of Arabia! It was through the store that Carol got to know the Cleveland general and the Jewish community alike.
Although Danielle and Jeff Wild grew up hundreds of miles apart, they had similar upbringings and were raised with similar values. They both attended Jewish Day School – Danielle the Hebrew Academy in Cleveland and Jeff the Frisch School and SAR Academy in New York. The importance of tzedakah was something they learned about in school and was reinforced at home. Jeff was taught that it doesn’t matter what you have – there are always people who need more than you and you must always be generous. Danielle remembers the knocks on the door at her family’s University Heights home looking for donations and that her father always gave.
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Shadi Abu Awwad see a future where there is peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people. As leaders of the non-profit organization, Roots, they are building a unique network of local Palestinians and Israelis who have come to see each other as the partners needed to make changes and end the ongoing conflict between the two cultures. Through their work, they are fostering a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation founded on dignity, trust, mutual recognition, and respect.
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today its fourth cohort of Young Leadership Division (YLD) Microgrant Program recipients. With the YLD Microgrant Program, YLD hopes to create a thriving, vibrant Jewish Cleveland young adult community by empowering individuals or groups to create, plan, and host experiences for Jewish Clevelanders (ages 22-45).
Donors are the backbone of any nonprofit organization.
Hannah Firestone has dreams of becoming a United States Supreme Court Judge. The Beachwood resident and Allegheny College senior started her path to fulfilling her career dreams last summer through Cleveland’s Onward Israel internship program.
General Mansour abu Rashid of Jordan spent his entire military career and post-military career promoting peace in the Middle East including his role in the 1994 signing of the Peace Treaty Accord between Israel and Jordan. His efforts have successfully led to a Jordan/Cross-Border Initiative between Jordanians and Israelis in Beit Shean, Cleveland’s sister city.
On Jan. 24, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community relations committee held its 72nd annual meeting in conjunction with the Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood for 225 attendees, including many community leaders.
Members of synagogues, churches and mosques listened to law enforcement officials and security professionals, watched video footage of crimes and emergencies Jan. 29 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.
When Felton Thomas Jr., Cleveland Public Library executive director and CEO, visited the library in Beit Shean, Israel, he was initially thrown off by how its run but quickly became inspired to install a similar approach at Cleveland Public Library with help in part from a Jewish fellow.
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