Believe it or not, children from across the country and around the globe are experiencing similar types of stress. Factors like living below the poverty line, having dysfunctional families, or experiencing trauma know no geographic boundaries. Left unattended, this stress can negatively affect a child’s school performance, social well-being, and ultimately, their future success as an adult.

At the center of Passover is the Seder, a 15-step meal involving ritual items, stories, and food. The Passover Seder is meant to be an inclusive experience for people of all ages. Young children are encouraged to participate through such traditions as the singing of The Four Questions and the searching for the Afikomen.

As families search to give their children a memorable summer experience, Jewish overnight camp offers an opportunity to build relationships and embrace Jewish values. Nonetheless, the cost of attendance can be overwhelming, barring families from exploring the sleepaway scene.

A long time ago in medieval Spain, there were three great religious leaders. Saladin was the leader of Muslims. Don Pedro led the Christians. And, the Jews were led by Ephraim Santzi. These leaders wanted to know which of their faiths was the true religion of the one God. Ephraim, in an attempt to answer the question and not offend his colleagues, responded with a story.

Babies, babies, babies! It seems like I’m learning of a new birth or pregnancy daily. I love hearing these couples’ good news, celebrating with them, witnessing the love and excitement, hope and anticipation of discovering who these new souls will become and what their future accomplishments will be. Each new baby brings new opportunities, new possibilities, new joys.

What's Jacki Bell's one piece of advice for young families? Be patient! "Kids are really smart, so often times I can talk through an issue with my 3 year old. Plus, it's all a phase and they don't last long." Meet Jackie and her family now:

He lied to me. Yep, that’s right. A person I looked up to and admired lied straight to my face. At first, I was pretty ticked off. Then, I felt disappointed. Later, I was just plain sad. I’m not really sure how to process this. I want to resolve my feelings, but am finding it difficult to get past this moment.

Last year around Chanukah, Rebecca Kopp Levine noticed that despite interest in Jewish traditions amongst teachers at her son’s day care in Westlake, there were no other Jewish families and very little knowledge of such traditions within the school.

Leah Kasmenn is the new Manager of Young Family Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. She grew up in Jewish Cleveland and is excited to be part of the community. Leah has two quirky cats, Bert & Auggie and is getting married in 2018. She’s a big fan of all that Cleveland has to offer!

Joel and Ashley Gabelman of Cleveland Heights love being a part of Jewish Cleveland. They enjoy spending time around the city, taking walks with their two sons and dog as well as quiet reading time at home. Both Joel and Ashley are also recent alumni of YLD’s LEADS program, where they’ve been able to enhance their leadership skills.