Rabbi Melinda Mersack, director of jHUB, which connects interfaith families to Jewish life in Greater Cleveland, has been chosen to participate in the Rabbis Without Borders program.

My name is Tyler Moses and I am 13 years old. I live in Orange Village and go to the University School (US).

Archie and Terri Berk have been dedicated volunteers in our community for nearly 10 years. Their first volunteering experience: a medical mission in Honduras. And they’ve never looked back. Passionate about volunteering with the Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network, they now participate in the Winter Break Lunch Program each year. Working in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Jewish Cleveland volunteers serve nearly 1,000 nutritious lunches to children at-risk for hunger during the winter break.

Tu B’Shevat is around the corner. As 10-year-old Gabe says, it’s hard to celebrate the “festival of trees” in Cleveland this time of year when the ground is covered in snow. Youngsters like Gabe understand the importance of this holiday through Federation-supported programs like PJ Our Way and our Community Relations Committee’s (CRC) Interfaith Tu B’Shevat Seder. Read how Gabe learned about the values of Tu B’Shevat right here in snowy Cleveland:

Ruth Begun was no ordinary woman.

The best part of being born and raised in Cleveland is my deep sense of generational attachment to the Jewish community. My parents and grandparents set an example for me to give generously of time, talent, and resources. My commitment of giving back to the community is what motivates me to be a Jewish philanthropist.

Being a part of the Jewish Cleveland community is extremely important to me. My house has always been in suburban Cleveland, but the Jewish community has helped make this area my home. It has given me a sense of belonging to something much greater than my family alone.

Donor Advised Funds at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland have historically provided individuals with a near-perfect tool for effective, efficient philanthropic grant making as well as maximizing tax advantages. Donors may not realize, however, that creating a donor advised fund may also be a first step in engaging family members in the philanthropic process

Today's Jewish camper is tomorrow's Jewish leader, which is why philanthropists Michael and Anita Siegal are investing in the next generation and endowing a Jewish summer camp program: it's important to the future of the Jewish community.

For generations, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have served as an effective and efficient tool for philanthropic grant making with tax advantages. And for generations the Jewish Federation of Cleveland has been helping donors put the tool to work for them — in fact, we help manage nearly 800 DAFs each and every day.