Gross Receives Eisenman Award
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland continued 90+ year tradition by recognizing the recipient of the distinguished Charles Eisenman Award for exceptional civic contributions: Harley I. Gross. The Federation honored Harley at the 111th Annual Meeting on April 14 at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation.
One of the most admired community leaders of his generation, Harley has spearheaded numerous organizations and projects. Whether the challenge has been as singular as securing bus transportation for Hebrew school students, which he tackled as a young man, or as complex as helping the Jewish Federation of Cleveland surmount numerous hurdles posed by the Great Recession during his three years as board chair - he has approached every role with passion and patience.
Harley previously served as president of Montefiore Home, president of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JECC), and general chair of the Federation’s Campaign for Jewish Needs, leading the community to a two-year fundraising total exceeding $61 million. On a national level, he currently serves on the board of governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and previously served as vice chair for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and board member of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). In the general community, he is a trustee of the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center Leadership Council.
Testaments to Harley’s leadership include his pivotal role in the move of Montefiore from Cleveland Heights to Beachwood, Montefiore’s development of The Weils assisted living campus in Bainbridge, and the Federation’s move to Beachwood from its downtown location – a situation that benefitted from Harley’s leadership and wisdom.
Harley and his wife Rochelle live in Shaker Heights. They have three children and ten grandchildren. Harley and his brother Gary are principals at Gross Builders, one of the region’s top home builders since its establishment in 1916.
