Arie Azene, an Israeli painter whose career began as a youth in the 1940s, will embark on his first trip to the Cleveland-area on Feb. 26 to show and discuss two recent collections of work in a show at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland that serves to memorialize his late partner, Israeli journalist Tatiana Hoffman.

In some ways, Purim is one of the most kid-friendly holidays in the Jewish calendar. Traditions include making gift baskets of tasty goodies to share with friends, shaking groggers or noise makers, and participating in a costume parade. If your children want to dress up for Purim this year, here are a few simple, easy, costumes to create, inspired by PJ Library books! Each of these costs $20 or less to create and can be accomplished with no sewing whatsoever.

David and Shaina Leb of Beachwood love being a young family in Jewish Cleveland. Besides spending time with 6-month-old Ari, the newest edition to the Leb crew, David and Shaina like to explore the amazing Cleveland Metroparks and enjoy the different flavors of Mitchell’s Ice Cream.

Of all the holidays in the Jewish year, none is more fun for children than Purim. Kid-friendly Purim activities include baking hamantaschen, delivering mishloach manot, gift baskets, to friends and neighbors, dressing up in costume, and shaking a grogger.

My dad is Jewish and my mom is Catholic. I went to Catholic school from Pre-K through 12th grade. We hardly ever went to synagogue growing up. However, I started attending Shabbat services with my dad during high school and began to feel an extra sense of fulfillment.

As Jews, we are given an awesome gift; Shabbos. Shabbat is the best day of the week. On Shabbos, we get to take a step back from the chaotic, busy lives that we all live and appreciate everything that we have been given.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) held its third annual Tu B’Shevat Seder celebrating a shared Earth and the new year of the trees. It brought together more than 100 community members from many faiths and religions.

Right after Margy Weinberg retired, she sat down and thought about how she could help people who needed it the most. While helping children learn was her initial focus, she has added a range of other volunteer endeavors to her retired life.

Here are just a few reasons why we love Birthright – and you should, too!