April 30, 2020 will live in infamy for the Camp Wise community. On that day, the Mandel Jewish Community Center (MJCC) made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Camp Wise summer due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will host its annual Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration – a festival celebrating Israel’s Independence Day – on Thursday, May 5 at 6 pm outside at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and The Temple-Tifereth Israel (2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood). It is free and open to the community.

Our community was joined by Dr. Arthur Lavin, pediatrician, and Dr. Suzanne Schneps, clinical psychologist, to hear the latest information on COVID-19 and mental health strategies for families with young children.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Weekly Wellness series provides programming for every member of our community. We are excited to offer free access to Health Journeys' guided meditation audio offerings, meant to support your mind, body, and spirit during this time of physical distancing.

Two things Cleveland is known for is our long winters and our strong Jewish community. This year, the winter months seem to hang over our heads a little more than usual as we continue to live physically distanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coping mechanisms we used in the warmer months like walks, hikes, and other outdoor activities, are not as feasible for many of us.

With the Mandel JCC’s popular children’s overnight and day camps canceled during summer 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, support from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland was critical in allowing the Mandel JCC to provide alternative programming. JCC staff developed an exciting lineup of Camp Wise Outdoor Fun Day programs. These unique offerings provide families and groups an opportunity to experience the magic of Camp Wise – the Home of Happiness for generations of Greater Cleveland children – while social distancing in the great outdoors.

COVID-19 on student learning is one of the biggest challenges of this pandemic. Students have had to adjust to a completely new way of learning at a rapid speed. For children with special needs and their families, this has meant even more hurdles to overcome.

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.

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.