When Rachel “Ruchie” Freier was approaching 30 years old, she was done being a legal secretary. During a get-together before Passover that year, she announced to her friends she was going to college and would become a lawyer.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today that Judith Wolkoff, an active volunteer with the Transplant House of Cleveland, is the 2019 recipient of the Irene Zehman Award. Each year, the Federation recognizes an unsung Jewish woman or group of women who demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of volunteer service on behalf of the Jewish and/or general community. Wolkoff, a Pepper Pike resident, will be honored at the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Spring Brunch on June 2 at 11:45 am at Landerhaven (6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights).

The 4-day inaugural BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival, featuring top-flight performers from abroad and world premiere collaborations between Cleveland-based and international theater artists, launches on July 24.

The city of Cleveland and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland celebrated the announcement that Cleveland and Beit Shean and Valley of Springs in Israel will become official Cleveland sister cities during a short ceremony at the Cleveland Public Library Louis Stokes Wing in Cleveland on May 2.

In a muted and somber commemoration of the Holocaust brought palpably close by the shootings in Poway, California, April 27 close to 600 people attended a community wide Yom Hashoah service at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike on May 1.

Jason Wuliger has been awarded the 2018 Bennett and Donna Yanowitz Leadership Award by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. The award recognizes and honors an outstanding young individual who has demonstrated commitment, involvement, and leadership within Cleveland’s Jewish community. Wuliger will be presented with the award at the Federation’s Board meeting on April 30.

The rekindling of anti-Semitism and the characterization of Israel were thoughts Gary Gross shared as he gave his third and final address at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 115th annual meeting April 8. He proposed the two go hand-in-hand. To combat anti-Semitism, a unified Jewish community is needed. Yet varying thoughts Jews hold on Israel can create disagreement and prohibit unification.

An estimated 770 Holocaust survivors live in the Cleveland area. Our community will honor these survivors and remember those who perished during the Holocaust at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Kol Israel Foundation’s Yom Hashoah V’Hagvurah. Join us on Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00 pm at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation (27501 Fairmount Blvd in Pepper Pike). This annual event is free and open to the community.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will honor Richard W. Pogue, longtime civic leader and lawyer, with its highest honor during the Federation’s 115th annual meeting at 7 p.m. April 8 at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland today announced that Richard W. Pogue has been named the 95th recipient of the Charles Eisenman Award, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s highest civic honor for outstanding contributions to our community. The Federation will recognize Pogue and celebrate our community at the 115th Annual Meeting on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 pm at Gross Schechter Day School (27601 Fairmount Blvd, Pepper Pike). All are welcome to attend this free event.