The last day of Chanukah this year was extra special.

Old is good – especially when old people do good. That was the central message of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s inaugural “IMPACT!” event Jan. 7 at Beachwood’s Mandel Jewish Community Center.

For little Valeriya, winter is the hardest time of all.

CLEVELAND – Jewish Clevelanders over 50 were invited to make an IMPACT! with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s new volunteer initiative for Baby Boomers. 400+ community members celebrated at the “Making an IMPACT! Launch Event” on January 7, 2016.

A sold out house! Thank you to the 400+ community members who filled the room with energy and excitement at the launch of IMPACT!, our new volunteer initiative designed for Baby Boomers looking to use their skills, passion, and leadership to make a difference in people's lives.

CLEVELAND – Applications are now open for Onward Israel, an eight week summer internship program in Tel Aviv for Jewish Cleveland young adults, ages 20-25. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland, in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel, are now selecting a small group of college juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates from Cleveland to live and intern in Tel Aviv from June 8 – August 3, 2016.

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:

While we have been fortunate so far this season, let’s get real, it’s going to snow at some point in the near future. It is December in Northeast Ohio, after all.

Have you ever taken the time to reflect on your primary educational journey? How about the fact that you can read this sentence? Being able to read, write, and comprehend are invaluable skills, and often taken for granted once they are mastered. The aim of the Public Education Initiative is to do just that; bolster the literacy of children in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), through individualized sessions with our team of dedicated volunteer tutors, and I am elated to be a part of the magic!