We awoke on Saturday, October 7, 2023 to a living nightmare – the people of Israel were under attack by the terrorist organization Hamas at an unprecedented size and scale. This was no ordinary act of terrorist aggression – this was war. Within days, our community launched an emergency campaign to help provide immediate relief for the victims and their families. Our international partners, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), were able to bring medical, trauma, and economic relief and recovery to all those in need thanks to the support of Jewish Cleveland.

At the same time, we held a special community gathering at which 2,000 people – including elected officials and clergy – came together to send our love and support to the people of Israel and to reassure them that they were not alone in this fight.

In the weeks that followed, our community also worked to help keep the stories alive of those kidnapped by Hamas. For example, on October 30 Jewish Cleveland held a vigil for the over 230 hostages then being held captive.

More than 800 people gathered at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, as photos and names of the hostages were projected onto a wall-sized screen. Speakers told stories of some of those being held in Gaza by Hamas, as we prayed for the immediate and safe return of our stolen extended family members. Attendees were provided with posters of the kidnapped and other signs they could use after the vigil to help keep the names and the faces of the hostages visible.

Likewise, thanks to the enduring commitment of community member Sharon Rosenbaum and local artist Nancy SchwartzKatz, a two-sided, 15-foot sign was designed and installed with special city permission to further raise awareness of those being held hostage. These massive “ribbons” were erected outside of the Federation building on Richmond Road for all commuters and residents to see.

On November 14, 25 bus loads of Jewish Clevelanders arrived in Washington D.C. for a national “March for Israel.” More than 2,000 community members joined the record-setting 290,000 attendees to let the world know it was time to bring the hostages home – now.

For generations, the Jewish community in Cleveland has held dear the concept that as Jews “Kol yisrael arevim zeh lazeh – all of Israel are responsible for each other.” Whenever there are Jews in need, our community responds.

Combating the hatred confronting the Jewish people has long been a top priority of the Federation. Whether it be helping to enhance local security to ensure Jewish Cleveland remains open and welcoming, providing educational programs that empower community members to stand up to anti-Jewish rhetoric, or forging strong, supportive relationships across Greater Cleveland, Federation has been a driving force in the ongoing fight against antisemitism.

To further mobilize support for the Jewish community during a period of increased antisemitic incidents, the Cleveland Federation joined a broad coalition of partner organizations to raise awareness for the growing hatred facing the Jewish community. Known as the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign, this national effort – which was spearheaded by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and utilized the blue square emoji as the symbol of support – made its debut on March 27 with an integrated roll-out across TV stations and social media.

The Federation brought this effort to Northeast Ohio with a social media campaign that encouraged Greater Clevelanders of all faiths to share the blue square emoji and sign up to join Federation’s efforts to combat hate. To further reinforce the messaging with Clevelanders across the city’s east side, west side and throughout Cuyahoga County, Federation ran three “blue square” billboards in high traffic, high visibility locations for 12 weeks, starting in August.

With Jew hatred continuing to increase at an alarming rate on college campuses, students are faced with combating antisemitism on higher scale than ever before. Together with the Cleveland Hillel Foundation and Hillel at Kent State University, Federation’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) created the Campus Partner Fellow internship program in early 2023. The program is designed to help students forge more meaningful coalitions between Hillels and other minority groups on their campuses that also face hate and discrimination.

“Our kids are now facing hatred on campus that we’ve not seen in decades,” said Susan R. Borison, CRC chair. “They need a much different kind of support from the community today in order to live Jewishly as they choose on campus.”

Continuing to help keep us safe through these uncertain times is JFC Security, LLC – Federation’s security provider.

JFC Security continuously explores new ways to enhance our community’s ability to combat hatred targeting the Jewish community. Since its humble beginning in 2013, JFC Security has become the gold standard of community security initiatives across the country.

Over the years, the JFC Security team has fostered a culture of community security through four pillars – creating increased awareness in the community to understand the threats we face, target hardening our facilities, training community members, and maintaining a strong partnership with local and national law enforcement departments to increase cooperation and intelligence sharing.

“JFC Security is constantly learning and innovating in order to do their best to help protect all of us – and enable us to live Jewishly however we choose,” said Federation President Erika B. Rudin-Luria. “The Jewish Federation of Cleveland cares about the well-being of the entire Jewish community. Providing a secure environment is a key component to that end.”

For 120 years, the Cleveland Federation has served as the hub of the local Jewish community, supporting vital programs and services to individuals at every stage of life. Through our beneficiary agencies, we’ve helped nurture the youth, comfort the sick, care for the elderly, and so much more.

For instance, the Horvitz YouthAbility Program of Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA) helps people with disabilities flourish through a variety of activities, including internships* at various businesses and organizations in our community. Through the internship experience at such locations as Gross Schechter Day School and Cleveland Chesed Center, YouthAbility ambassadors grow and develop their work skills and relationship skills.  

“We are creating a win-win situation where our YouthAbility ambassadors are getting valuable work experience and meaningful integrated opportunities, and the whole site is getting work done,” said Heidi Solomon, manager of the Horvitz YouthAbility Program. “By lending a hand in school libraries, cafeterias, and various tasks, these vibrant young adults exemplify tolerance and acceptance within our Cleveland Jewish community.”

In another testament to our commitment to comprehensive care, Alyson’s Place Medical Clinic provides general healthcare to JFSA clients, bringing together professionals and staff well-versed in people with diverse needs. Clients can access primary care, podiatry, geriatric care, a dental van, and ophthalmology care. Alyson’s Place has also created a geriatric assessment program for dementia.

Working with MetroHealth physicians, the Dental School at Case Western Reserve University, and other physicians, Alyson’s Place is a medical clinic embedded into a social service agency.

“JFSA is an organization that understands people in their heart,” said Dr. David Rosenberg of University Hospitals, who helped build Alyson’s Place. “The clients realize that and understand that if they need help with housing, food, or anything, there are certain services at JFSA to help these individuals. It’s a perfect match.”

Our commitment to care also extends into the homes of our community members – whether it be delivering hot, kosher meals to providing in-home medical assistance, or other support for our older community members.

Carol Spero is one such community member. Born in 1935 and raised in Cleveland, Carol enjoys a wide-range of JFSA older adult programs, from skilled home care to home delivered meals, a medical alert system, transportation, home cleaning, online activities, and, most importantly for Carol, social events. “JFSA has given me the opportunity to meet other people,” Carol said. “They pick me up and take me to social activities. It is a great thing for me because I am basically confined to my apartment.”

As we look ahead to the next 120 years, we know our mission of care remains as vital as ever.

*This internship program is made possible by an endowment gift by the Bobby Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

2023 marked 75 years of Israel’s independence. Co-chaired by Lynne Cohen and James Ratner, the Cleveland Federation, along with dozens of community partners and organizations, hosted thousands of people from across Northeast Ohio throughout the year to celebrate this remarkable milestone.

“Our community’s year-long celebration of Israel is a testament to the commitment and care Cleveland and Israel has for each other,” said Federation Board Chair Daniel N. Zelman.

After the official launch of the “Israel at 75” celebration series with a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in November 2022, the festivities continued with “A Concert for Yom Ha’atzmaut with The Shalva Band” at Playhouse Square. The Shalva Band, comprised of eight talented musicians with disabilities, gained much of its fame when it was in contention for representing Israel in the Eurovision contest in 2019. They changed how millions of people view and embrace disability with their performances.

Thanks to the Israel at 75 Microgrant program, individuals and organizations were also able to create and host their own unique Israel program for the community during the year, including an Israeli book club, a Washington, D.C. trip for Black/Jewish alliance teens, and a shuk to engage college students with Israel.

To round off the Israel celebrations, the Federation brought together more than 1,750 community members for “IsraelFest! for Yom Ha’atzmaut” on May 14 – the date David Ben-Gurion signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. Mandel Jewish Community Center’s Safran Park was transformed for the day into an outdoor carnival, and guests of all ages came together to dance, craft, eat, play, and support Israel.

We also celebrated Cleveland’s legacy of being one of the most caring and vibrant Jewish communities anywhere with a record-setting Campaign for Jewish Needs that raised $36.3 million. This year, we kicked off our Campaign with a Super Sunday Kickoff event for the entire community. This all-day community-wide fundraising event celebrated everything that makes Jewish Cleveland so special and showcased the impact our community makes together. More than 1,000 community members braved the rain to raise funds for the Campaign for Jewish Needs, volunteer with Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network, tailgate for the Cleveland Browns game, and more.

These commemorations reflect the vibrancy of the Cleveland Jewish community, our strength when we work together, and our exciting future ahead.