Dear Friends,
There is a reason Cleveland is one of the most caring and vibrant Jewish communities anywhere in the world. The reason is you.
Because of you, there are innovative
services and programs to assist those in
need. Our community can provide superb
Jewish education to students of all ages,
thanks to you. With your support, Jewish
Cleveland is safe and welcoming, while our
global community is cared for.
It’s been this way in Jewish Cleveland
for generations. Since the Federation’s
founding 120 years ago, there has been an
undeniable sense of pride and connection
in Jewish Cleveland that propels us
forward – and comforts us in times
of crisis.
When Terrorists Attacked
On October 7, 2023, Hamas brutally
attacked Israel. More than 1,200 innocent
people were murdered, including young
children. Thousands more were injured
and hundreds taken hostage.
Our community quickly came together to
mourn those lost in the attack and pray
for the safe return of those kidnapped.
And then we did what Jewish Cleveland
always does. We got to work.
Jewish Cleveland Responds
We raised our voices to confront the
escalating hatred of Jews fueled by
antisemitic rhetoric unleashed by Hamas’
attack. We reached out to our extended
family in Israel, as well as Israelis now
living in Cleveland, to reassure them they
would not fight this war alone.
We went to Israel to bear witness to the
trauma caused by the horrific attacks. We
also met with families of the victims and
the hostages so that we could keep their
stories at the forefront of everything we
did and said in the weeks and months that
followed.
We worked with university leadership
and other partners to ensure our college
students felt safe, secure, and supported
in the face of emboldened antisemitism
on campus.
And we provided immediate assistance to
the victims of Hamas and their families by
raising more than $33 million through the
community’s Israel Emergency Campaign.
Keep in mind, this is in addition to the
record-setting $36.4 million raised by the
community for this year’s Campaign for
Jewish Needs.
On the following pages, you’ll find
example after example of how you helped
our community work together over the
past year to care for one another, prepare
for the future, share our perspectives, and
repair our world.
Thanks to You
Although we have accomplished much
over the past 12 months, there is still more
to do to address urgent needs and build
a bright future for the next generations.
Because of you, we are confident that
Jewish Cleveland will rise to the occasion
as it has time and again over the past
120 years.
On behalf of your Federation Board of
Trustees and professional staff, we cannot
begin to thank local law enforcement
enough for all they do to keep Northeast
Ohio safe. Likewise, a special thank you to
JFC Security, LLC, which has been helping
to protect Jewish Cleveland for the last 10
years. Finally, we are forever indebted to
our beneficiary agencies, local day schools,
and synagogues for their unwavering
dedication and commitment to serving
our community.
Let us continue to go from strength to
strength.
![](https://www.jewishcleveland.org/Annual_Report_2022/images/danzelman.png)
![](https://www.jewishcleveland.org/Annual_Report_2022/images/dan-sig.png)
Board Chair
![](https://www.jewishcleveland.org/Annual_Report_2022/images/erika.png)
![](https://www.jewishcleveland.org/Annual_Report_2022/images/erika-sig.png)
President