Cleveland Kesher, Fall 2025

Jewish Federation of Cleveland new board chair Jeffrey Wild sets forth goals

Cleveland Kesher

At

the forefront of Jeffrey J. Wild’s term as board chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood is the growing needs of Cleveland’s Jewish community, as well as continuing to combat antisemitism and support Jewish education.

“We want to make sure that we are continuing to assess and address the needs that are created by the enormous growth in our Jewish community,” Wild, a Beachwood resident and congregant of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood, told Cleveland Kesher.

“Thank God, our community continues to grow, and with that growth also comes challenges and needs. And, we’re constantly assessing those needs as the community continues to grow and our job is to make sure we’re staying ahead of that to ensure that we have all those needs addressed.”

Wild succeeds Daniel N. Zelman, who held the position from June 2022 to June 2025.

While building on Zelman’s accomplishments during his term, Wild will continue working with local agencies to further grow support of Israel, he said.

“Building on the incredible momentum that Dan established during his momentous three years, and as part of that, (I) really want to continue to address the evolving and growing needs of our local Jewish community, while at the same time continuing to support the state of Israel through the Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign and through the support of our strong programs and partnerships overseas.”

Wild, an administrative partner, chief strategy partner, executive committee member and chair of the real estate practice group at

Benesch in Cleveland, said he will focus on the Federation’s commitment to security and combating antisemitism during his three year term, as well.

As antisemitism continues to be a “growing problem” in areas around the world, Wild recognizes that there is “always risk,” he said.

“We want to make sure that we’re continuing to fund the security needs of our local community and doing everything we can to combat antisemitism here and around the globe,” he said.

He has also placed importance on the Federation’s initiatives to support older adults in Cleveland’s Jewish community, providing tools that allow them to “live their remaining years as dignified Jews,” he said. In addition, mental health services for children and young adults are also high on Wild’s list, as the needs of those facing mental health problems continues to grow, he said.

Wild said he is proud of the work the Federation has done in raising millions of dollars to support local day schools.

Wild is not a stranger to being involved with the Federation as he served as officer of its board of trustees, allocations committee chair, general campaign chair for its annual fundraising campaign from 2018 to 2019, and chair of its $180 million Jewish Day School Transformation initiative.

Wild moved to the Cleveland area from New York City about 28 years ago, and he feels fortunate to live “in such a strong and vibrant community,” he said.

He said he is looking forward to working with staff at the Federation to provide support to the growing Jewish community in Cleveland in a number of ways.

“One of the things that I’m really looking forward to is the honor and privilege of having an opportunity to work with Erika RudinLuria as the president and the amazingly talented staff of the Federation,” Wild said.

Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshops bring learning to educational settings

Cleveland Kesher

In the late 1980s, Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky attended mitzvah workshops at his parents’ request. Today, he runs them through Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshops, Inc., a nonprofit associated with Chabad of Cleveland.

Alevsky, who is the director, told Cleveland Kesher that the goal of the mitzvah workshops is to bring positive and engaging Jewish experiences to educational spaces.

“When people are actively engaged, the impact is deeper and more enduring,” Alevsky, who runs Waxman Chabad Center with his wife, Sarah, said. “There’s something profoundly powerful about doing something yourself – it transforms the experience. We don’t just remember what we were told; we carry with us what we lived. That’s the kind of learning that stays with you for life.”

Alevsky revived the mitzvah workshops about two years ago in 2023 after they were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. While the workshops are typically for children, other age groups, including adults and seniors, can also participate.

Ten workshops are offered through Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshops, Inc., with the most popular being Shofar Crafting, Olive Oil

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Press and Matzah Baking, Alevsky said. Other workshops are Tzitzit for Tzahal, Tallit Twist, Mezuzah Me!, Challah Board Making, Torah Scribe Art, Havdalah To Go and Jewish Sing-Alongs. While each workshop is different, they all teach participants how to create, he said. For example, the Olive Oil Press workshop leads participants through the process of making olive oil from raw olives with their bare hands.

The workshops mix religious learning with STEM education, helping participants discover more about the ways science, technology, engineering and math and religion overlap, he said. He added the imperfect world was created for humans to perfect, and technology can be used to do so.

“Science and technology are all about discovering the ‘how’ and making things work,” Alevsky said. “I find tremendous joy in using today’s technological tools in our Mitzvah Workshops, blending cutting-edge science with

ancient Jewish traditions. It’s a core part of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s vision: that everything in the world, especially technology, can and should be harnessed for good and holy purposes. It’s like turning swords into plowshares.”

Alevsky said technology was created to bring “holiness” and “goodness,” according to Lubavitch Rebbe Menachem M. Schneerson, who served as inspiration behind the overall mission of the workshops.

Alevsky has worked with over 30 schools, senior centers and other Jewish organizations.

He hopes more schools choose to book workshops and the programming continues to grow, he said.

“Right now, we’re in all the local Jewish day schools,” he said. “But I’d love to bring these hands-on experiences into private and public schools, too. While this is a Jewish experience, I’m open and excited to explore how they can be adapted and shared more widely. I seek to expand access, so more people, in more places, can benefit from these powerful, immersive programs – whether it’s in a synagogue, a school, a home or even a workplace.”

To book a workshop, visit mitzvahworkshops.com.

Rebbetzin Faith Blau receives ‘Transforming Tehillim Together’ grant

Cleveland Kesher

Rebbetzin Faith Blau of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood was one of five nationwide recipients of a $1,000 “Transforming Tehillim Together” grant from the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiatives for her program, “Bringing Tehillim (Psalms) Home,” which encourages locallydriven engagement with Tehillim.

The five-part monthly program meeting on Sundays, took place over the span of five months from February to June at Blau’s Beachwood home. Each session focused on one of the five books of Tehillim and featured a guest speaker, study and discussion over food.

The grant, which had over 40 applicants, aims to support programs that prioritize women’s connections and engagement with Tehillim through in-person spiritual gatherings that strengthen communal bonds, according to a news release from the Orthodox Union.

Blau, wife of Rabbi Binyamin Blau at Green Road Synagogue, told the Cleveland Kesher that this series was part of the OU’s Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program, which is a two-year cyclic program dedicated to Torah study, and is open to all women in the community, not just congregants of Green Road Synagogue.

While the grant was awarded to her for their five-month Tehillim cycle, the monthly meetings began long before that, and will continue in monthly sessions for the 45 attendees, moving onto the study of additional books through the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program, Blau said.

“Everyone comes back each time, so women are able to get to know each other and form friendships,” she said. “Women come together from all di erent types of backgrounds, di erent ages and di erent places, and we just really

enjoy learning together. Not only did we learn the five books of psalms, but we are also going to continue and learn other sections because it was just a successful program.”

The program prioritized accessible learning so that learners of all ages and capabilities could participate equally and get something positive out of the experience, Blau said. To promote accessibility, she o ered materials in both Hebrew and English for the participants so that more women in the community could connect with the program.

“It brought us together with the greater community because OU is a national organization,” Blau said. “It’s put more meaning in it and you feel like you’re a part of something a lot greater, which has been wonderful. I always leave feeling like a better person.”

Being able to bring women together in a meaningful way was inspiring to her because not only did she get to see women from all di erent backgrounds come together, but also the opportunity to in the learning of Torah in a special way, which quickly made this program one of her favorites, she said.

“I love the program,” Blau said. “I think it’s wonderful because it brings women together. I run a tremendous amount of programs for the synagogue as the Rabbi’s wife, and I have to say, out of all the programs that I’ve run in 25 years, this is my favorite program by far.”

Guest speakers included Rav Yonatan Gilbert, Rav Elhanan Cohen-Sasson, Leonie Jacobs, Elana Katz and Rabbi Yitzchak Blau, Blau’s brother-inlaw. A portion of the grant allowed Blau to pay for travel expenses for guest speakers.

Alongside Blau, recipients of the “Transforming Tehillim Together” grant for innovative women’s programming included Jennie Berkovitch from Chicago, Leora Blank from Woodmere, N.Y., Miriam Carr from Portland, Ore., and Alissa Ze ren from Chicago.

Fuchs board member Adam Levine receives inaugural campaigner of year award

Cleveland Kesher

Fuchs Mizrachi School recently announced the establishment of a new annual award –the Phylis Pomerantz Campaigner of the Year Award – which was presented to Adam Levine, a member of the board of trustees for the Beachwood school, for his years of leadership, volunteerism and dedication to the school.

Shira Teller, the director of communications at Fuchs Mizrachi School, told Cleveland Kesher that the award will be presented annually to a volunteer who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the school’s fundraising efforts.

In partnership with the Pomerantz family, the award is named in honor of Phylis Pomerantz, former inaugural director of development and one of the founding visionaries of Fuchs Mizrachi School. Alongside her husband, Larry Pomerantz, she was part of the group that worked to bring the school into being, beginning her 27-year career in leading development and volunteer engagement at Fuchs Mizrachi.

This year’s inaugural award winner, Levine, has spent the past three years serving on the school’s board of trustees and the development committee, and was the first person to take over the parent liaison committee to serve as a mediating voice between parents and faculty. A father of eight, Levine will have a 12th, 11th, ninth, fifth and fourth grader this year, as well as a kindergartener – enrolled at the school.

According to Teller, Levine has consistently embodied the spirit that this award represents due to his “unwavering willingness” to say “yes” when the school calls, as well as donating countless hours of time to help out.

“We were very excited to choose this year’s

recipient, and it was very clear to the school who the recipient would be,” Teller said. “Adam Levine is not someone who recently got involved in fundraising and helping the school. For years, Adam has championed the school, and fundraised even before officially being on the development committee or board of trustees. He has always gone above and beyond to help our fundraising efforts without fanfare.”

Levine and his wife chose to enroll their children at the school 10 years ago after moving to University Heights from Worcester, Mass. From there, it wasn’t a question of whether or not he should get involved in volunteering, he said, it was a question of how.

“When you go to a school, you help out –it’s just that simple,” Levine told Cleveland Kesher. “Service isn’t really an optional thing to me. So whenever the school asked me for help, I would help.”

Levine described the school as a “community” and said he enjoys attending his children’s school events, attending daily prayer services when he can and assisting wherever he is needed alongside his wife.

As a member of the development committee, Levine said he spends a lot of time making telephone calls, a job that not many others wanted to do, he said, but needed to be done.

“Part of doing development is making phone calls and doing the ‘unloved’ work of calling people,” Levine said. Although it may not be his favorite part of the job, he simply said, “It’s just what you do.”

Outside of the school, Levine is the manager at Tibor’s Kosher Meats in University Heights. While working a shift one day, Teller stopped by to deliver the news that he had been selected as the first recipient of the new award, to which Levine said was surprising and although grateful, he did not want to make a big deal.

“I said, ‘Thank you’ and I pretty much led with, ‘If there’s going to be an in-person award ceremony or if I have to speak in front of anybody, I’m not taking it,’” Levine said.

Pickleball holds bright future for Beachwood resident

Cleveland Kesher

Sonny Dickman hadn’t been in the pickleball world for all that long when he was already presented with a big decision: how high of a level of competition was he going to go up against in his first tournament?

Entering one of the lower tiers seemed to make the most sense. After all, the 22-year-old Beachwood resident had only been playing the sport for about a year-and-a-half, and there would surely be top-notch athletes in this tourney.

But that’s simply not the kind of mindset Dickman possesses.

“I’d rather be the tail of a lion than the head of a sheep,” Dickman told Cleveland Kesher. “I’m always trying to chase and be better, and I have always been competitive.”

His father, Ethan, suggested he start at 4.0, the third level of advancement. Dickman went with 4.5, just one step below the highest stage.

He ended up winning the tournament.

Dickman rocketed through his foes, beating out a former college tennis player for the second time that day to win his division’s crown for Cleveland’s 2024 Pickle in the Land Tournament.

He first beat Springfield, Ill., native Grant Sarnowski, who had played tennis at John Carroll University in University Heights in the quarterfinals. With the tourney a doubleelimination format, the two met in the final round for a best-of-three format.

Dickman won the first game while Sarnowski won the second. With both players going on five hours of total play time on the day, and the third game itself taking nearly 45 minutes, an atmosphere of nerves and fatigue hung heavy in the air.

“I came away with the win in the end and it was a feeling like no other,” Dickman said. “My entire life led up to that moment. I had been wanting to compete in racket sports my whole life, I love it. All those

Beachwood resident Sonny Dickman travels around the country competing in pickleball tournaments despite picking up the sport less than two years ago. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

struggles led up to that moment and it was a step towards chasing my dream.”

It was a sign of what was to come for the young pickleball phenom. The win spurred him to enter in tournaments around the country, and Dickman has now spent the last year traveling everywhere from Utah to Florida, often excelling against stout competition.

“I told my dad on a flight to Utah that I’m living my dream,” he said. “No matter how I do in the tournaments, this is my dream. I feel a big gratitude towards God and my life. The journey has had a bunch of ups and downs,

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Sonny Dickman rushes up on the net to deliver a strike while practicing pickleball earlier this summer in Beachwood. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

PICKLEBALL

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wins and losses, but I have learned to love the process.”

Dickman was born in Chicago and spent most of his childhood with his mother in New York, although he often returned to Beachwood to spend time with his father. He spent his high school years in Philadelphia. No organized sports were offered there, but he had already picked up the sport of tennis when he was 12 years old after finding a racket lying around the house.

He was introduced to pickleball by his cousin while they were on vacation. Dickman admitted there was an adjustment from going to a larger racket to a smaller one and using a ball that bounced differently, but his skills as a strong tennis player transitioned well with what Dickman called the “fun parts of tennis” like drop shots, volleys and overheads being put into a more “centralized and strategic game.”

It also allowed him to balance two of his loves: willing himself to victory and his faith. He attends Heichal Hakodesh Synagogue in University Heights on Friday nights and Zichron Chaim in University Heights on

Saturdays.

“It’s harder for me to get out on Shabbos to play tournaments, but I found out in singles pickleball, the tournaments are either on Friday or Sunday. I feel like I have the perfect balance between keeping with my morals and religion while playing the sport that I adore.”

Dickman went to Israel for two years, and when he returned, he soon became a certified tennis and pickleball coach. While he still visits his mother in New York, he now primarily resides in Beachwood, where he teaches lessons.

He continues to compete and hopes to one day play in the Association of Pickleball Players tour or in the Professional Pickleball Association league. He has played in amateur events on those tours and hopes to soon graduate to the qualifying level, which could earn him a spot in the main tourneys.

But for now, Dickman is enjoying his time meeting new people and getting to give back to the area.

“This community took me in and brought me into the loving pickleball community,” he said. “I always see friendly faces on the courts. We have the friendliest people in Cleveland, and it only gets better on the pickleball courts.”

Mendel’s KC BBQ partners with brewery

Cleveland Kesher

Roughly seven months after opening Fiamma by Mendel in Woodmere, Mendel Segal is at it again –this time developing a business partnership with his longtime neighbor.

Segal has partnered with husband-andwife duo Joel Warger and Rosemary Mudy, owners of Midnight Owl Brewing Company at 20312 Chagrin Blvd. in Shaker Heights, a neighbor of Mendel’s KC BBQ, along with Joshua Lurie and Yosef Chaim Weiss, to bring new life to the space and draw in new customers, he told Cleveland Kesher

“They were at a little bit of a crossroads, and I came to them and said, ‘Hey, if I bring my brand in there, we have a niche, and if we’re able to cater to that niche that gives a

whole other base of customers that you guys don’t have,” Segal, a Beachwood resident and congregant of Bais Dovid, also in Beachwood, said. “The idea is to retain and attract new regular customers because it is delicious beer, it’s good food, it’s a great vibe and then also bring in the kosher consumers. So, it’s really like a meeting point, a melting pot, so to say.”

Opening last month, Midnight Owl Brewing Company now has a kosher kitchen certified by Cleveland Kosher, serving “bar food,” including pretzel bites, tacos, smash burgers, wings and empanadas, and o ering a more casual atmosphere to customers, Segal said.

While the kitchen is certified kosher, it won’t be available during Shabbat, he said. Starting Friday night and continuing through Saturday, food trucks will provide food options to customers during business hours.

“The bar is going to be open on Friday night

BREWERY | 20

Brewing exclusively Kosher certified beer. Kosher kitchen / Fully Kosher menu. 20312 Chagrin Boulevard-Van Aken • (216) 417-3334

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and Saturday, but it’s not going to have the kosher kitchen,” Segal said. “There’s going to be some food trucks that are going to be supplying food during the non-kosher times. That was an interesting arrangement we were able to do with the rabbis and it took a lot of work to make it happen.”

In addition to a new kosher kitchen, the space was updated with paint and new furniture, he said.

“We did some (renovations already, and) we’re doing a little bit more, freshening the space up a little bit, creating a little bit more of a brew pub vibe,” he said.

Segal said he wanted to be involved with the brewing company because he “loves the process of beer” and is “all about” providing new kosher options to the community.

“I was a little bit ahead of my time,” he said. “I started a mini beer vlog back in 2015 when

I was living in Kansas City. I used to review a beer every week right before Shabbat. I called it ‘Beer Before Shabbos,’ and I actually just started doing it again. So, I’ve always been interested in beer.”

As the partnership continues, Segal said he hopes to bring Midnight Owl beers to Mendel’s Dogs & Deli at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, where the Cleveland Guardians play home games, as well as to retail stores around the Cleveland area.

“We’re also going to be retail packing, canning the beer,” he said. “We haven’t been able to do that yet, but that’s one of our plans.”

Midnight Owl Brewing Company is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 pm. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed on Mondays. BREWERY | 18

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Modern Orthodox 10th graders eligible for new Israel study program

Cleveland Kesher

Ohr Torah Stone, a Modern Orthodox movement of 32 educational institutions and programs, recently announced the launch of Nelech, a program in Israel that offers 10th grade students from Modern Orthodox high schools in North America a semester of immersive study and living in Israel.

With applications now open, Nelech will provide students with the opportunity to deepen their connection to Israel and Judaism while building leadership skills to bring back to their home communities.

Participating students will study at Israeli host schools, Yeshivat Neve Shmuel (boys) and Ulpanat Neve Channah (girls), both of which are located in Gush Etzion and have been ranked as top 10 high schools in the country, according to the organization’s website. There, students will participate in local youth groups, trips throughout Israel and volunteer activities.

The program is designed to integrate U.S. participants with Israeli teens in a Modern Orthodox school environment, fostering peer relationships through shared classes and social activities.

“We’re creating a transformative experience that’s rooted in serious learning, meaningful relationships and real integration between Israeli and American teens,” Rabbi Rick Schindelheim, director of Nelech, said in a news release. “This is about building Jewish identity and leadership that students can take home and build on for years to come.”

Nelech is working with the high schools across the U.S. to ensure that the program meets the required credits of American partner schools, according to the release. The program will work in close collaboration with school leadership to ensure smooth transitions for returning students, including academic credit transfers.

The program is guided by an educational advisory board made up of educators in

Israel who will help shape the curriculum and be actively involved in student learning, and psychologists and social workers will be available to help students adjust to life in Israel.

“Nelech is built to meet the needs of passionate, independent students, with the hope that their experience in Israel will introduce them to the passion and purpose of living in this land,” Rabbi Kenneth Brander, president and rosh hayeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, said in the release. “Furthermore, when they return to their communities for 11th grade, these students will be strong, knowledgeable advocates for the land, the people and the Torah of Israel.”

The Nelech program is underwritten by the Tzemach David Foundation, which is dedicated to Jewish education and leadership in Israel. All accepted applicants will be awarded a full scholarship funded by the Tzemach David Foundation and Ohr Torah Stone. This includes tuition, housing, three meals a day and flights.

Nelech Cohort I will launch in January 2026 and run through June as the first cohort to participate in the spring semester pilot.

For more information or to determine student eligibility, a pre-application can be completed on the group’s website at ots.org.il/nelech.

Marketing Mastery: Expert Insights & Strategies

5 lead generation strategies for small businesses (That actually work)

Content provided by: Nachum “Nooch” Langsner

There’s a lot of marketing advice online for small business owners. I’m sure you’ve noticed how bewildering it can be, especially when conflicting pieces of advice are given.

One expert will tell you to focus on social media, while another is convinced that you should only use email marketing to grow your business. And then there’s the expert who insists you need to spend thousands on paid advertising.

It’s no surprise that business owners feel confused by all the different options. However, there are proven strategies that work, without requiring a marketing degree or a huge budget.

When you see other businesses thriving, it’s not always because they’re doing the most marketing or spending the most money.

They’re doing the correct type of marketing for their specific situation.

Different strategies are effective for different businesses, budgets and goals. The key to effective marketing is not just understanding your options, but also the empowerment that comes from selecting those that best fit your needs.

Here are five strategies and how to pick the right strategy for your business:

SEO: BEING VISIBLE IN SEARCH ENGINES

SEO, search engine optimization, is the process of ensuring your business appears in search engine results when people search for what you offer.

When you appear on the first page of Google, you become visible to customers who are actively searching for your products or services.

SEO is a long-term strategy that takes several months to yield results. However, once it’s working well, it’s an excellent option for bringing consistent, high-quality leads on an

ongoing basis.

CONTENT MARKETING: SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE

Creating helpful content, such as blog posts, videos, podcasts and guides, positions your business as a trusted expert.

Potential customers can view your content, see your expertise and be assured that they can turn to you when they’re ready to make a purchase.

EMAIL MARKETING: NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS

Email marketing provides an opportunity to maintain consistent communication with leads and customers.

Your regular communication nurtures and develops relationships, while reminding your audience that you’re there to help them when they’re ready.

Create free guides and offers on your website to grow your email list, bringing warm leads (potential customers who have shown interest in your business), which you can nurture over time.

Email marketing is still one of the most costeffective strategies available, with an average return often cited as around “$40 for every $1 spent.”

PAID ADS: FAST TARGETED RESULTS

If you’re looking for a ‘fast track’ option (a quick and efficient way) to generate leads or test new markets, paid ads are a viable choice for your business.

Platforms like Facebook Ads and Google Ads let you target specific groups of people who are most likely to become customers.

If you’re a local service business, a highly effective option is Google’s LSAs – or local

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service ads, which is a pay-per-lead rather than pay-per-click platform.

With all paid options, be mindful of your ad costs, as they can quickly escalate if you’re not familiar with the process. It’s best to start with a smaller daily budget, allowing you to test what works and avoid unexpected bills.

SOCIAL MEDIA: WHERE YOUR CUSTOMERS HANG OUT

When it comes to social media, it’s best to use only the platforms that are most relevant to your audience.

Focus on the platforms where your ideal customers spend their time (e.g., LinkedIn for B2B, Facebook for B2C, etc.).

Sharing consistent, valuable posts will help to build trust and relationships over time, turning your followers into customers.

Remember that social media works best when you focus on helping and connecting, rather than always trying to sell.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRATEGIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by marketing, especially when you try to do everything at once.

Successful businesses typically focus on two to three marketing strategies, consistently refining them to generate the best results, providing a clear path in the marketing jungle. The strategies you should pick will depend on your industry, budget and the type of customers you serve.

Nachum ‘Nooch’ Langsner is co-founder and chief marketing guru at LocalBizGuru.

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