It is the mark of a special relationship where both parties take the time to show support for each other and learn from one another. Last week, the special relationships between Israel and the United States grew even stronger with the visit of three members of Knesset to Cleveland.

This past week I had the honor of traveling with 70 members of The Jewish Federations of North America's (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet on a mission to Berlin and Israel. Together we learned about the past, present and plans for the future of their local Jewish communities and also saw first-hand where our Federation dollars go.href="http://www.jewishcleveland.org/news/blog/inspiring_stories_kick_off_JFNA_GA/">General Assembly.

I grew up in Tomsk, Siberia (formerly part of the Soviet Union). Unlike Cleveland, Tomsk has a very small Jewish community with just one synagogue. Many of the Jews who live here don’t call themselves Jews. Some are scared to reveal this because it brings back memories of anti-Semitism. For others like my parents, it doesn’t mean much because they were raised under the Soviet Union where religion was outlawed. To them, their Jewish identity is not important.

One of my first memorable Federation experiences was when I went on a young adult mission to Israel 11 years ago. I’d never been to Israel. I was hesitant to leave my children but something in me said “just go, it will be worth it.” And, it was! Israel was simply beautiful. It moved me.

Thank you, #JewishCleveland for an awesome Saturday night at The Big Event, YLD's signature fundraising event of the year! 400+ young adults celebrated our community and our Campaign with drinks, eats, and live music, plus a personal and powerful story from Event Co-Chair, Sam Krichevsky.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Cleveland! “We have many finish lines to cross, many victories to celebrate, and many marathons to run,” said Steven Litt, who joined fellow panelists Joseph D. Roman and Karen Gahl-Mills, along with moderator Ira C. Kaplan to discuss our city's accomplishments and challenges ahead at the third annual "Cleveland: A 20/20 Vision" event, hosted by KeyBank.

Barry Feldman, Chair of the St. Petersburg Partnership Subcommittee, shared the following message to his fellow volunteer leaders serving on the Federation's Overseas Connections Committee. We invite you to read his message, and be inspired by the work that we do in our sister city of St. Petersburg, Russia to renew Jewish life where it was once forbidden.

Jewish Clevelander Alexandra is in St. Petersburg, Russia. She is a JDC Entwine volunteer with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Commmitee (JDC), a Federation partner, teaching English and Hebrew to local students participating in a joint YESOD/Jewish Agency camp called TIUL International.

One of my first memorable Federation experiences was when I went on a young adult mission to Israel 11 years ago. I’d never been to Israel. I was hesitant to leave my children but something in me said “just go, it will be worth it.” And, it was! Israel was simply beautiful. It moved me.