As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine war, your Jewish Federation of Cleveland joins our partners at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to mark a “Shabbat for Ukrainian Jews” on Friday, February 24.

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.

We hope to see you at one of our many February events! This month, we're inviting local college students to ice skate at Wade Oval, hosting a special magic show for PJ Library® kids and their grandparents, bringing together Jewish Cleveland young adults on the east side and west side at New-ish and Jew-ish, and more.

LAVAA, a digital health company in Israel, has hired three Clevelanders who interned with the startup over the summer through the Cleveland Onward Israel program with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

We hope to see you at one of our many November events! This month, we're welcoming the world-renowned Israel Philharmonic to Cleveland, celebrating the generosity of our community at 2023 Campaign for Jewish Needs events, volunteering together to make our community stronger, and more!

Almost five weeks ago, I walked into the Addis Ababa airport to greet 209 Ethiopian Jews who were about to make aliyah, ending the wait their families had endured for generations – to fulfill the promise of making their way to Jerusalem “delivered on the wings of eagles.” The strength, courage and focus of these men, women, and children were every bit as steadfast as the wings on the airplane that was about to fly four hours to Israel, where their dreams would finally come true.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee CEO Ariel Zwang visited Cleveland for the first time from Oct. 12 though Oct. 14 as she met with leadership of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

This month, we're celebrating Sukkot with a nature walk for young families, enjoying our latest Roe Green Gallery exhibition with artwork by Israeli glass artist Dafna Kaffeman, a chance to see the world-renowned Israel Philharmonic, and more.

Prior to his U.N. General Assembly address, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid met with about 35 leaders from the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Sept. 21, including current and former Clevelanders.

In February 2022, just minutes before men aged 16-60 were banned from evacuating Ukraine, the Jasnogor family crossed into Poland from Lviv. With the help of Jewish Federations and our partners on the ground, the Jasnogors were the last family to make aliyah all together.