Through Cleveland's 25+ year partnership with its sister city of Beit Shean, Israel, we have helped to create sustainable change to improve the quality of life for all residents. We will continue in making Beit Shean a thriving and vibrant community for generations to come.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community relations committee’s 76th annual meeting Feb. 27, featured speaker Yotam Polizer, Global CEO of IsraAID, discussed how his organization builds bridges with communities and provides aid in times of crisis.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community relations committee’s 76th annual meeting Feb. 27, featured speaker Yotam Polizer, Global CEO of IsraAID, discussed how his organization builds bridges with communities and provides aid in times of crisis.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland and community partners will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut this year with two major community events.

Growing up in Beit Shean, Israel, Cleveland’s sister city, Tomer Blise has always felt a strong connection to the Jewish Cleveland community. Tomer’s journey to Cleveland began in fourth grade when her love of books helped her develop confidence and leadership skills. She helped start a volunteer program with a few classmates at the Beit Shean Library helping the library director organize books and create programs for other teens. Each year the group would grow with more and more students and by the time she was in high school, she was one of the leaders of the group. As a high school sophomore, she was invited by the Jewish Federation to Cleveland as part of a delegation from the library which helped teach the method of involving and activating teens through libraries.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community relations committee is hoping for record-breaking attendance at this year’s 76th Annual Meeting and Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture with featured speaker, Yotam Polizer, Global CEO of IsraAID.

Elle Henig, manager of international experiences, explains all the programs you can experience in Israel with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Israel programs can vary from 10 days to 10 months, and can include anything from sight-seeing, volunteering, or work experience.

Without the tireless efforts of Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, spiritual leader of The Temple-Tifereth Israel for 46 years, there might not be the State of Israel. His brilliant oratory at the United Nations as chairman of the American Section of the Jewish Agency and his persistent lobbying of key political figures were crucial to the UN passing a measure in November 1947 to partition Palestine and establish a Jewish state. Read a transcript of his speech now:

Bringing Israel to Cleveland: Our community is lucky to host community ShinShinim and Shlichim (Israeli emissaries). These young adults spend the year living in Cleveland, bringing Israeli life and culture to our community. Get to know our 2022-23 group below: