So there I was, uncomfortably staring down a plate of cheez-it dusted tostadas with a garlic spinach remoulade and spicy mustard emulsion. Grandma’s brisket and matzah ball soup this was not.

As you all are aware, in the past two days heavy rain has contributed to wide-spread flooding in Houston. Inundating hundreds of homes in high-density Jewish neighborhoods, the situation is a nightmare for thousands of people who have been shut off from municipal services, highways and schools.

In 2004, I moved to Cleveland, clad with a winter coat that more resembled a sleeping bag than any sort of shapely outerwear, nostalgic memories of a sun tan, and the phone number of some distant relatives. I knew no one else.

Who is Omer? Sounds familiar. Hmm. Is he that Israeli who played for the Cavs while LeBron was in Miami? Nah, that’s Omri. Omri Caspi. So, who is Omer?

I recently returned from a Mission to Cuba, traveling with a small cohort of Cleveland community members and the Federation.

A night to remember! Thousands of community members celebrated Israel's 67th birthday, big and loud. 

My name is Major Rushdi Bader, and I am an officer in the Israel Defense Forces. I want to tell you about my brother, Zedan, while I am here in Cleveland and far away from our holy country.

Shalom (Hello). My name is Kobi Dostakam, and I am proud to be a Colonel in the IDF and head of the 2015 IDF delegation to Cleveland. I am married to Marina, have four children and have been serving in the IDF for 26 years. Tonight, we mark Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel.

It really is no secret that observing the dietary laws of Passover in the United States is somewhat of a chore and not exactly easy. Passover in Israel is a completely different story. For the most part, the grocery stores and restaurants do all the work for you and it is much harder to break the laws of Passover in Israel than it is to keep them.