One day after the Jan. 15 hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, Jim Hartnett, director of community-wide security for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, took a telephone call from Jeff Fortunato, assistant special agent in charge of Cleveland FBI.

It is well-known that charitable contributions enhance the lives of infinite groups of people. What we may not think about is how these donations positively impact the cities around us. Better lives yield better societies.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland Board Chair J. David Heller, Federation President Erika B. Rudin-Luria, and Federation Board of Trustees Member Rebecca C. Heller traveled to the border of Poland and Ukraine. They partnered with the Jewish Federations of North America and our overseas agencies who are assisting refugees fleeing the devastation in their home country.

As a philanthropic planning professional, I see how wonderful people feel when they create personal legacy plans. It is so satisfying to help people discover how they can make a lasting impact and continue supporting their community into the future.

Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood, was among women honored in Masa’s Inspiring 12: Jewish Women Working to Make a Difference list.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland President Erika B. Rudin-Luria and board chair J. David Heller briefed about 200 people March 15 over Zoom from the Warsaw Marriott hotel on their trip to Poland to aid at the border of Ukraine as refugees flee their homes.

As the needs in Ukraine are growing, your Federation and our partners are there – helping the Jewish community. Watch the video to see the impact your donations make.

Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland recently announced an expansion of its longstanding college financial aid program with the newly established Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholarship Program aimed at helping middle income families face the challenge of paying for college.

Next Wednesday evening, we will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim which tells the miraculous story of the Jews of Persia being saved from massacre. As the Book of Esther is read, we are reminded that Queen Esther comes to the realization that she was there in that moment in time for a reason. She had to act – in order for the community to be saved.

The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs offered Community Awareness and Resilience Education security training to the Cleveland Jewish community from March 6 to March 10.