The Jewish Federation of Cleveland raised a record $33,102,355 in the 2020 Campaign for Jewish Needs, it was announced Dec. 11 at the Campaign Closing Celebration at Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood. The campaign serves Jewish Cleveland and the global community.

Brett and his younger brother, Aaron, attend a local Jewish Day School. For the past two years the boys have been living with their grandmother who became their guardian following domestic violence in their home. At just 10 years of age, Brett struggles with his conflicted feelings for both of his parents. He very much loves his father, yet he worries about his mother’s safety and her own substance abuse issues.

Since its inception, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland has taken a holistic approach to increasing the quality education in the low socio-economic areas in Israel’s periphery. From Parents and Children Together (PACT), designed to close the education gaps between Israelis and Ethiopians who came to Israel in the 1980s, to Youth Futures, which helps at-risk children and their families, Federation has been addressing the myriad of factors that can influence a child’s ability to learn.

In the late 1940's, cousins Rachelle Malcmacher Korland and Anne Malcmacher Adelman; Fran Dorfsman Spike; Edie Miller Block; Ruth Bergrin Gordon; and Shirley Frum Cohen were born in Feldafing, the largest “Displaced Persons” (DP) camp in Germany created for Holocaust survivors. For nearly 70 years, these six women have remained friends. In fact, at least once a month, these Jewish Clevelanders get together for lunch, dinner, or just to talk.

I was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (part of the Former Soviet Union). Amongst a Muslim majority, my family lived in a small but strong Jewish community – considered one of the oldest ethno-religious groups of Central Asia.

Jordan is an active 14-year-old boy, who attends a local Jewish Day School. Recently, Jordan had been more withdrawn, less inclined to raise his hand in class, and reacting in a more aggressive manner toward his peers. One day, Jordan arrived at school with bruises on his arms. His teacher knew she needed to be concerned. While the behaviors were atypical for Jordan, it was the bruises that raised the alarm bell for his teacher. The school immediately placed a call to the Cuyahoga County Department of Child and Family Services hotline.

In 2015, Moish Tohn led the transformation of Mosdos Ohr Hatorah into Yeshiva Derech Hatorah (YDT). Today YDT is a Federation beneficiary agency candidate and one of the shining examples of the legacy of respected community leader, Mendy Klein z”l, whom Moish called a ‘giant’ of a man.

In the face of the growing threat from anti-Semitism and xenophobia, increased security throughout Jewish Cleveland is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. From increasing the number of highly trained officers hired to patrol our community to encouraging and training on sophisticated security protocols at more community locations, Federation is dedicating significant resources towards keeping our community open and welcoming to anyone who wishes to live Jewishly.

Welcome Avigail, Alon, Ori, Guy, and Yuval! These five Israeli teens are spending the next year in Cleveland as part of the ShinShin program, a partnership between the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Overseas Connection Committee and @akiva, a Federation beneficiary agency.

Onward Israel is a two-month summer internship program in Tel Aviv for young adults to explore their professional passions while deepening their connection to Israel and their Jewish heritage. Here’s what a few alumni had to say about the experience of a lifetime.