L’Chaim! Thank you to the 350+ Jewish Cleveland young adults who helped us kick off the summer in style at the 9th Annual Summer Soirée.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2017 Summer Interns are here! Get to know this impressive group of college students who will be spending their summer working with Team Federation.

Growing up in the Jewish community in Cleveland, I always learned about our awesome partnership region: Beit She’an and the Valley and Springs. In fact, this year marks the 20th anniversary of our partnership together so I was especially eager to spend some quality time there. I have always considered Beit She’an and the surrounding area to be special and beautiful, but I realized that my non-Cleveland friends had no idea that this place even existed. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to bring two friends, one from New Jersey and one from Paris, to this special region in the north to show them what makes Beit She’an and the Valley of Springs so special.

Each year, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland welcomes a shlicha (Israeli emissary) to teach our community about life and culture in Israel. Last year, Federation’s shlicha, Danielle Asif introduced Zikaron BaSalon (remembrance in the living room), a powerful program for Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) to commemorate Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day).

Jewish Cleveland knows how to party! Nearly 2000 community members joined together to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 69th Independence Day, with a knockout performance by Israeli superstar Idan Raichel.

Celebrate Israel's 69th Independence Day on May 2 with Idan Raichel in concert!

This Holocaust Remembrance Day, Cleveland is following an Israeli tradition of Zikaron Basalon, which is Hebrew for “memories in the living room.”

Life is busy. When you aren’t on deadline at work, you’re trying to schedule a happy hour with friends, or find time to volunteer with an organization you love. As young professionals, it can be difficult to find time to reflect on the accomplishments you’ve had and challenges you face in your professional, personal and volunteer life – “coaching circles” can help with that.

Some dread the thought of Pesach, but Pesach is one of my favorite holidays.

What a great experience at the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank through the Federation’s YLDay of Caring!