Last summer, 13-year-old Sam Heller took a trip to Europe with his family that affected him in a way that he couldn’t have imagined.

Every summer, 1,500 young Jews from 20 countries travel to rural Hungary to attend Camp Szarvas. Funded in part by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a Federation partner agency, Szarvas merges the fun of sleepaway camp with the celebration of Jewish peoplehood.

For the past 11 ½ months, four Israeli teenagers have been serving as emissaries in Greater Cleveland to educate the Jewish community about Israeli life and culture, with a focus on connecting with other teens.

PJ Library has a new partner: Yehuda Matzos, an Israeli company touting the Jewish literacy program this Passover season.

For many of the children attending a recent PJ Library gathering, the Chagrin Falls Fire Station was the most exciting destination they could imagine. Some came dressed in their red firefighter' s costumes, complete with helmets, coats and boots, while others were happy to put on firefighter helmets given to them by the fire station. They watched carefully as firefighter Tim Alder demonstrated how to put on gear to fight fires. They also loved the fire trucks tour.

Did you know? Three #JewishCleveland moms are making it easy for new moms and all kinds of Jewish families in Twinsburg, Aurora, and Chagrin Falls to connect to each other and kid-friendly Cleveland. They are the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s PJ Library Engagement Ambassadors, and they can’t wait to get to know you. Meet them here.

Multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, do not stop 19-year-old Ariel from being happy but returning home from Jewish summer camp does.

The last day of Chanukah this year was extra special.

My name is Tyler Moses and I am 13 years old. I live in Orange Village and go to the University School (US).

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: