"Today I have courage,” Sima Goldrich told me. She is an ultra-Orthodox (haaredi) woman who is learning about women’s health – her own health – through a program funded by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Little ones and their families learned all about Rosh Hashanah during an interfaith event co-sponsored by jHUB and Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike. At “Heading into the High Holidays – Let’s Get Ready to Celebrate,” held last month at Horseshoe Lake Pavilion in Shaker Heights, families gathered for Rosh Hashanah activities including singing, story time and a trip to the lake.

Little ones and their families learned all about Rosh Hashanah during an interfaith event co-sponsored by jHUB and Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike. At “Heading into the High Holidays – Let’s Get Ready to Celebrate,” held last month at Horseshoe Lake Pavilion in Shaker Heights, families gathered for Rosh Hashanah activities including singing, story time and a trip to the lake.

I am Daniel Pearlman and I grew up here, in Solon. From an early age, my identity was shaped by the Jewish Cleveland community. I went to preschool at Jewish Day Nursery, affiliated with Bellefaire, a Federation partner. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew was that I loved the environment around me. Even today, I am still close with some of my preschool friends.

In the early 20th century my great-great grandfather Ya’akov Kopleman left Lithuania for the Promised Land and became one of Israel’s first settlers.

Meet Becky and Daniel. They are emerging leaders in our Jewish community. We thank them for speaking out for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. They are building Jewish identity, and it’s more important than ever.

I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me (Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li). Some Jews are familiar with this phrase from Song of Songs. It is recited at weddings and inscribed on jewelry.

The Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland is gravely concerned about the refugee crisis unfolding in Europe and the Middle East. As a member of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, the Federation system is addressing this growing humanitarian crisis with a coordinated response. To date, over half a million dollars has been raised by the North American Jewish community to aid these refugees.

Something new is happening at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. It’s called the Israel Advocacy Fellows Program and it’s one of the most important efforts our Community Relations Committee (CRC) is working on today.