As a philanthropic planning professional, I see how wonderful people feel when they create personal legacy plans. It is so satisfying to help people discover how they can make a lasting impact and continue supporting their community into the future.

Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood, was among women honored in Masa’s Inspiring 12: Jewish Women Working to Make a Difference list.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland President Erika B. Rudin-Luria and board chair J. David Heller briefed about 200 people March 15 over Zoom from the Warsaw Marriott hotel on their trip to Poland to aid at the border of Ukraine as refugees flee their homes.

As the needs in Ukraine are growing, your Federation and our partners are there – helping the Jewish community. Watch the video to see the impact your donations make.

Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland recently announced an expansion of its longstanding college financial aid program with the newly established Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholarship Program aimed at helping middle income families face the challenge of paying for college.

Next Wednesday evening, we will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim which tells the miraculous story of the Jews of Persia being saved from massacre. As the Book of Esther is read, we are reminded that Queen Esther comes to the realization that she was there in that moment in time for a reason. She had to act – in order for the community to be saved.

The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs offered Community Awareness and Resilience Education security training to the Cleveland Jewish community from March 6 to March 10.

Author Dara Horn discussed her book “People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present” with John Carroll University assistant professor Rabbi Noah Bickart during the Jewish Federation of Cleveland community relations committee’s 75th annual meeting.

Jewish Cleveland young leaders are having the adventure of a lifetime on the Young Leadership Division (YLD) Weinberg Mission to Israel! Participants are experiencing Israel’s vibrant arts and culture scene, learning about innovative technology, networking with leadership in the nation’s up and coming industries, tasting the flavors of the country, and more. Check out their Mission blog below!

Watch an emotional video from our partners, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, about the current crisis in Ukraine.