Thank you: two simple words with tremendous meaning. Thank you for being part of our community. Thank you for raising your children with us. Thank you for being with us.

My husband and I took a weekend getaway to Toronto. Crossing the Peace Bridge into Canada, it struck me how only one lane was allowing entry into the United States, while several lanes were entering Canada. I wondered, “How welcoming does it feel to those who wish to enter the United States?”

I feel a little anxiety. A little sadness. I’m excited, but also a little helpless. For the first time, my kids don’t want me to drive them to school. I expect this from my middle schooler, but my 9 year old? When did he stop needing me?

It was mid-morning on a Wednesday. I was serving as visiting faculty at our regional Reform Jewish overnight camp and was sitting with 50 high school age campers when Hitler started speaking. I had to resist the urge to leave the room when I heard that voice and its inflammatory speech. I listened uncomfortably to those hate-filled words, but what came next was inspiring. This program was part of a regularly scheduled daily shiur (educational lesson).

Ariella Payne of Lakewood found jHUB’s Seder in a Box so helpful last year, she requested More Seder in a Box for Passover this year.

When Emma and Brandon met and fell in love, their different faiths didn’t stop them from getting married and starting a family.

According to our population study, 38% of Jewish Cleveland married households are interfaith and the majority of those who consider themselves interfaith want to feel connected to their Jewish roots. That’s why we partnered with the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JECC) to launch jHub, an innovative new program made possible with a grant from the Federation’s Endowment Fund.

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.

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: