Cleveland Kesher, Winter 2024

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Community News

As one era closes, another opens for Unger’s

Cleveland Kesher

In 1978, the Rosenberg family bought Unger’s Kosher Market and moved to the Cleveland area from New York to operate the business.

Moishe and Malka Rosenberg ran the Cleveland Heights shop together, with Moishe working mornings and nights and Malka taking over during the afternoons and evenings, Malka Rosenberg told Cleveland Kesher. However, following Moishe’s death in 2016, it became di cult to run the kosher bakery and food market alone, she said.

“My life totally changed in the blink of an eye,” Rosenberg said. “I found myself having to shoulder the full weight of running a bakery and grocery store on my own. Thankfully, I had many family and friends to lean on and get me through the more challenging times.”

Rosenberg said she realized she wanted to sell the shop, but wasn’t advertising that it was for sale. However, eventually the idea of selling the shop began to spread around the community through word-of-mouth.

“People knew and understood that it was time for me to slow down and spend more time enjoying my family, especially my grandchildren,” Rosenberg said. “When I was approached by Eli, Shmulie and Nochum, the new owners, we instantly had a shared connection in the idea that we all wanted Unger’s to continue in its mission of providing the community with quality kosher products and services. The more I got to know them, the more I felt comfortable that I had found the right team to carry on the Unger’s legacy.”

Eliyohu Dowek of Edventure Holdings, LLC, Shmuel Shear of Chessed 26, LLC, and Nachum Drazin of Drazin Holdings, LLC signed an Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company for Unger’s Property Group, LLC. Unger’s Property Group, LLC owns the market, according to the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s O ce website.

The sale of Unger’s Kosher Market began around Passover in late April, Rosenberg said. It was finalized on Sept. 6, and the new owners

Rosenberg, along with her late husband Moishe, owned and operated Unger’s Kosher Market in Cleveland Heights for more than 45 years. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

took over on Sept. 8 after Shabbat. Three parcels were sold in the transaction for the store at 1831 S. Taylor Road.

Since the new owners took over, items at the shop went on sale, preparing the market for changes they’re looking to make in the future, she said. Doorbuster sale items at the market were positioned at the front entrance across from the checkout lines and limited to six items per purchase.

Throughout her time as owner, Rosenberg enjoyed being able to help community members, she said.

“My favorite aspect of the job was building authentic, deep connections with community members from all walks of life,” Rosenberg said. “Getting to share in their happy occasions and being there to help them personally if they were experiencing di cult situations was a huge motivation for us to do what we did on a

UNGER’S | PAGE 6

Community News

Moishe Rosenberg takes challah out of the bakery oven in 2007. | Submitted photos

daughter, Rivka. They realized the community was much more close-knit than in New York, and it was supportive of the market and people were friendly to one another, she said.

UNGER’S | PAGE 4

daily basis. Moishe and I agreed early on that, if possible, we would always make sure the less fortunate members of the community were able to put food on the table, even if that meant subsidizing some or all of their food costs.”

Rosenberg said people have approached and thanked her for helping them during their hard times. One customer spoke with Rosenberg as she was sitting shiva, telling her the story of her struggles during Passover and how helpful it was that Moishe told her she could pay for whatever she needed for the holiday at a later time.

The Rosenbergs came to Cleveland from New York – along with their, at the time, 2-year-old son, Pinky, and 4-month-old

“It’s a very nice community here in Cleveland,” Rosenberg said. “And it is not like when you go to New York. If you live in New York, nobody knows anybody. You do not even know your own neighbors. Here, it is like everybody knows everybody. If you go to a synagogue or store, people are very friendly, and that is what I enjoy.”

While Rosenberg is stepping down as owner of the market, she still wants to be involved with the business and come in every day to help customers because she can’t “sit at home” and do nothing, she said.

“I would still like to work,” Rosenberg said. “I am not the type of person that could sit at home and not be busy. Overall, the daily responsibilities will be on someone else’s shoulders. While the ownership and day-to-day management of the store have transitioned to the new owners, I will continue to be a part of the Unger’s family going forward.”

Cleveland Chabad community founder Waxman dies at 90

Cleveland Kesher

Mel Waxman was remembered by those who knew him as a pillar in the Cleveland Jewish community, a worldly businessman and a noted philanthropist.

“He was always community-minded, which he attributes and has said many times that he got from his father and mother who were both involved in the Jewish community early on,” Larry Waxman, Waxman’s son and president and CEO of Waxman Industries, told Cleveland Kesher on Oct. 28.

Jewish campus – opened its doors in December 2005, the Cleveland Jewish News previously reported. The center’s goal is to encourage study, commitment and Jewish pride. Chabad of Cleveland’s website states it is a meeting place for religious, social, recreational and educational events, and a place for families to discover the joy and meaning of Jewish living.

“The Waxmans really helped start Chabad

WAXMAN | PAGE 10

Waxman died Oct. 24 at age 90 on Shemini Atzeret. Services were held on Oct. 27 at Waxman Chabad Center, followed by a burial at Bet Olam Cemetery, both in Beachwood.

Waxman was the founder of the Cleveland Chabad community and Waxman Chabad Center, the CEO of Waxman Industries and a resident of University Heights. He was the former president of the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and maintained a 60-year relationship with the school. He was also a donor to the Machane Yisroel fund, headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., which donated to the Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in the 1980s.

“He was a person that was interested in seeing the Jewish community grow,” Larry Waxman, a Beachwood resident and congregant of Chabad of Cleveland, said. “He was interested in seeing the institutions that were being built around the city develop, and he very much felt that his personal involvement in helping certain institutions grow was important.”

The Waxman Chabad Center – a $3.4 million structure that was the final piece of the Green Road

Mel Waxman | Submitted photo

FRIENDS OF THE MALTZ MUSEUM

CHANUKAH CANDLE LIGHTING

Wednesday, December 25 at 3 pm Free and open to the public

Join the Friends of the Maltz Museum in celebrating the first night of Chanukah with traditional songs, storytelling, and the lighting of the menorah. Kids of all ages are welcome. There will be children’s crafts and goodie bags for the kids to take home.

Plus museum admission will be free with a canned food donation all day. Come visit to enjoy the Museum’s newest exhibition, see the treasures in The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery, share in the Jewish immigrant experience.

Register at maltzmuseum.org/chanukah

Richmond Road | Beachwood, Oh 44122 |

Community News

WAXMAN | PAGE 8

in Cleveland,” Sarah Yaffe Alevsky, executive director of the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, told Cleveland Kesher on Oct. 28. “Mel Waxman really saw the bigger picture of how Chabad was a global organization that was making an impact in many different ways, in many different places, and he really respected that long view that the Rebbe had and he wanted to replicate that in Cleveland.”

Waxman and his family donated most of the funds to complete the Chabad center. Larry Waxman said his father would choose organizations where he thought he could have the biggest impact, specifically those without a benefactor and that could use his resources for good, which led him to Chabad.

“He was looking for someone whose mission he believed in, who shared his vision for growth, and who was also in need of someone who was very aggressive and ambitious in terms of trying to build something,” Larry Waxman said.

Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky of Chabad of Cleveland told Kesher on Oct. 28 that at Waxman’s funeral service, he listened to Larry Waxman tell a story of how Waxman had been struggling with his business and reached out to the Rebbe at the time, asking for blessing, and was told everything would be fine. Later, a “strange turn of events” would turn Waxman’s business worries into a thing of the past. Chayim Alevsky said this was the reason Waxman decided to bring Chabad to Cleveland.

“He told his family that he wants to, in gratitude, build the synagogue to honor the Rebbe,” Chayim Alevsky said. “That’s why he built the synagogue. That’s why he built the Chabad House of Cleveland – which is a big, beautiful structure and it’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Cleveland.”

Sarah Alevsky said he was very handson during the entire project. And, there are now 18 centers that evolved from Chabad of Cleveland in the Greater Cleveland area, including Chabad at Case Western Reserve University, Lyndhurst Chabad Family Center, Chabad of Akron and Canton and Chabad Jewish Center of Solon. Related outposts have

also sprouted from Chabad of Cleveland, including Friendship Circle in Pepper Pike and Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry in South Euclid.

“All of these organizations and synagogues are really because Mel Waxman had that vision, (and) he saw that Chabad doesn’t just touch one generation, but (it) touches multiple generations at once,” Sarah Alevsky said. “I think he understood the impact that Chabad would have and he wanted to be a part of it and bring it into the community.”

For his business ventures, Waxman and his brother, Armond Waxman, owned a small plumbing supply store at East 35th Street and Woodland Avenue in Cleveland that was started by their late father, Stanley. The brothers and their children then built Waxman Industries into a global company that manufactures and distributes specialty plumbing, floor and surface protection and other hardware products, according to previous CJN reporting.

Larry Waxman said Waxman’s business trips also helped lead him to become a philanthropist and a strong supporter of Chabad institutions around the world and their efforts to spread Yiddishkeit. He said Waxman was extremely involved with Chabad institutions in China and throughout Asia as it would be a frequent business destination.

“Since we might be in Asia for two to three weeks at a time, we would invariably find ourselves oftentimes at a Chabad house,” he said. “And many times, these Chabad houses were just starting out, and (they) also needed a financial supporter or financial benefactor.”

According to Col Live reporting on Oct. 27, when the Shanghai Chabad Center lease ended, Waxman led the effort in his shul that Shabbos to raise funds for it to buy its own property. He pledged $100,000, along with another noted philanthropist, and raised $250,000, allowing for Chabad Shanghai to put a down payment on the property.

“Mel’s a big supporter of Chabad all over the world, not just here in Cleveland,” Chayim Alevsky said. “He has supported in China, Hong Kong and other places, wherever he goes. He’s a big supporter of Chabad. He believed in

| PAGE 12

Dear Yehudis,

My daughter is such a kind and thoughtful young woman but unfortunately, she is quite overweight. I am so frustrated with our family and friends that keep telling us that she won’t find her beshert if she doesn’t lose weight. Would you be able to help me help her? Sad for My Daughter

Dear Sad for My Daughter,

I completely agree with your frustration. I once heard that if you want to know what a girl is like, look at her Bubby. I think it means personality wise. But if people really want to know what someone is going to look like physically, they should look at the person’s parents In most cases, a person will either end up physically looking like their father or their mother Over the years, thin girls may end up being heavy and heavy girls may end up being thin

This obsession with weight is very sad Our bodies house our neshamos What is truly important is having good middos, especially being married to someone who is kind and is willing to compromise Hashem runs the world Having faith and trust that your daughter ’s zivug is out there when the time is right and giving your daughter unconditional love and unconditional pride, are truly the greatest gifts that you can give to her right now Looking forward to working with you

Yehudis Wilks is a certified CBT andTransformation Life Coach. She is a graduate of the Refuah Institute in Jerusalem; Rivka Malka Perlman’s School of Coaching and Transformation and a member of the American Association of Professional Coaches

Community News

WAXMAN | PAGE 10

the Rebbe’s message and vision.”

The Shanghai Jewish Center, a Chabadsponsored Jewish community center, houses the Waxman Social Hall, named after Waxman. The hall features a synagogue, a kosher restaurant, a store selling kosher food and Judaica, and a mikvah.

Larry Waxman also said that due to his father’s business knowledge, rabbis and organization leaders would often seek his business, strategy and legal advice.

In 2006, Waxman and his brother were presented with the Guardian of Torah Award at the Jewish Learning Connection’s dessert reception, recognizing their commitment to Jewish education. The Waxman brothers learned the JLC was operating out of rented o ce space at Yavne High School in Beachwood and decided to purchase a brick one-story building in University Heights near Cedar and Green roads to be the new home for the organization. It was named The Waxman Torah Center and houses private o ces, rooms for classes and Shabbat and holiday programs.

Larry Waxman said his uncle, Armond, helped get Waxman involved in the JLC and foster a connection to the center and its mission.

Though Chayim and Sarah Alevsky only recently moved to Northeast Ohio to run and manage Waxman Chabad Center and the food pantry, they said their interactions with Waxman were characterized by gratitude and support.

“He was a very dynamic, very hard working, straightforward person,” Sarah Alevsky said. “In our limited interactions, he gave us a lot of support and encouragement to work, in our work that we were doing in the community, specifically around the Waxman Chabad Center.”

She said Waxman’s e orts didn’t stop after helping build the center. Waxman also helped out around the center, making sure it was clean and neat for congregants.

“One of the most endearing things about Mel is that he would, even though he could have sat down and just been a part of the congregation and not helped, he actually

Mel Waxman grabs the tip of the feather while Rabbi Elly Jacobs, a sofer, holds onto the quill, in 2020. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

would put away every book that he would see out of place, he would fix carpets that were under seats and just adjust everything and make sure that everything was neat before he would come down to the Kiddush,” Sarah Alevsky said.

Larry Waxman said his father believed it was better to be the one to help others than to be the one others help, instilling in his family the importance of community and togetherness.

“He was driven by his mission to help people,” Larry Waxman said. “And I think he felt that in order to get things done, you have to be willing to work hard, willing to sacrifice, willing to be disciplined (and) you have to have good habits. And that’s the way that a person can lead a successful, happy life, which is based on doing your best, helping other people, and having a close relationship with others and with God.”

Mel Waxman was the husband of 65 years to the late Marcia Waxman (nee Paris); father of Larry Waxman, Karen Polonsky, Sharon Waxman and Mitchell Waxman; grandfather of 16; brother of Armond Waxman, Louise Waxman and Judy Robins.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Waxman Chabad Center at chabadofcleveland. com/donate.

Fiamma by Mendel adds to local dairy options

Cleveland Kesher

Fiamma by Mendel is adding to the dining options on the dairy side of the table. The restaurant is opening in December at Eton Chagrin Boulevard at 28699 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere, between the Barnes & Noble bookstore and Tiffany & Co. jewelry store.

The space, which used to house Michael Symon’s Mabel’s BBQ, underwent construction to change the general look and feel of the restaurant, adding more color and texture with tiles and murals along the walls and different fabrics throughout the space, owner Mendel Segal, a Beachwood resident and congregant of Bais Dovid, also in Beachwood, told Cleveland Kesher.

“The big thing was the oven and a couple other things like that,” Segal said.

The restaurant furniture is custom built which taook longer to make, he said. The bench seating along the wall is couch style.

The Italian-inspired menu will emphasize small plates and “snacks or bites” customers can order to try different things, Segal said, encouraging sharing at the table.

Fiamma by Mendel, which is under Cleveland Kosher certification, will also serve a chili-infused fettuccine Alfredo dish, creative salads and variations of pizza, including a smoked Gouda and pesto pizza, he said. The menu will offer desserts such as cheesecake – a favorite of Segal’s.

“This area also doesn’t have a lot of (rustic

Italian) style food to begin with, and right now, the Neapolitan-style pizzas and pastas (are popular),” he said. “There’s more and more places like that popping up. It’s on the up and up. I like it, and I’ve learned that over the years it’s a lot easier to work really hard and do something that you enjoy.”

As Northeast Ohio has a smaller market of kosher options compared to New York, parts of Florida or Los Angeles, Segal said, the restaurant will stand out among those who keep kosher.

“There’s a lot of kosher consumers, a lot of kosher businesspeople coming into town every week, and it’s important for them to have a place to go where they feel comfortable and they get the food that they want,” he said. “Sometimes keeping kosher in some of the smaller markets is a struggle.”

Segal said the restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and an hour after Shabbat ends to midnight or 1 a.m. Saturday.

Segal also owns Mendel’s KC BBQ in Shaker Heights and completed his first full season with Mendel’s Dogs & Deli at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, where the Cleveland Guardians play home games.

Green Road Synagogue welcomes new Torah

Cleveland Kesher

More than 70 people danced and sang alongside a new Torah on the morning of Sept. 15, as they paraded along Timberlane Drive to Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood.

The warm and sunny Hachnasat Sefer Torah event celebrated the welcoming of the scroll to its new home at the synagogue.

“In many ways, it is a sense of our continuity,” Rabbi Binyamin Blau, senior rabbi of Green Road Synagogue, said of the Torah at the celebration. “… It’s the tradition that we pass on, it’s the link that has linked us, that has unified us throughout the centuries.”

The Torah parade began at the home of the Aeder family which dedicated the Torah. There, Rabbi Yosef Heineman, a local sofer, or scribe, completed the last few dozen letters as congregants watched, Blau told Cleveland Kesher. The rest of the Torah was written by a scribe in Israel.

Once the ink dried, the scroll was lifted for all to see, dressed in velvet gold and green mantle, and began its journey under a chupah to the shul. Yosef Greenberger led the crowd in song as marchers passed the Torah from hand to hand and others clapped, danced and sang.

After the Torah was placed in the ark in the Gross Tobias Gross Sanctuary, the Aeders and Blau addressed the congregation.

“Having this Torah written has been a dream of Mark (Aeder) and myself for many years as a way to pass on our heritage to the next generation,” Nancy Aeder said, dedicating the Torah their children and grandchildren.

The Torah is much more than a book of stories, history and law, as it is a guide, resource and “the divine recipe for a life welllived,” she said. As part of Jewish identity and heritage, every year it is reread it is looked at with “new eyes.”

“There is an infinite repository of knowledge and wisdom contained in the Torah,” Nancy Aeder said. “Whatever is going on in our life as a nation, community, a family and as a person, the parsha we read will speak to us.”

Mark Aeder recalled his childhood as a

Yonatan Gilbert, center, carries the Torah while Benny Schloss, executive director of Green Road Synagogue, left front, and Yonatan Goldfinger, right front, assist in carrying the chupah during the Hachnasat Sefer Torah event on Sept. 15, along Timberlane Drive to Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

Jew in Bergenfield, N.J., curious about the Torah and always asking questions that got him kicked out of his Jewish educational classes, he said. When he moved from Kansas to Cleveland as an adult, he found a teacher and friend in Blau, who patiently answered his questions.

The Torah’s 304,805 letters and 245 columns of text, each containing 42 lines, “overwhelmed” him, Mark Aeder said. Even in the oldest Torahs around the world, every letter and position are the same.

“Think about what our people have been through, through our entire history,” he said. “We’ve gone through tragedies, so many things. People have tried to convert us, destroy us, to do a lot worse, as you know, and we’ve survived. What has kept us alive? The Torah. That’s it. That’s what’s kept us alive.”

The celebration ended with a brunch in the Klineman Family Social Hall.

Evenchik named Lawyer of the Year in litigation - real estate

Cleveland Kesher

Alawyer at a Cleveland firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2025 Lawyer of the Year in litigation – real estate in the Cleveland market.

Aaron S. Evenchik, a partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, was also recognized in the 2025 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in five other practice areas: commercial litigation, construction law, land use and zoning law, litigation – construction, and real estate law.

Evenchik, 48, said he is “honored and humbled” to receive the recognition. It is the first time Best Lawyers has named Evenchik as a Lawyer of the Year.

First published in 1983, Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on peer-review evaluations in which nearly 113,000 lawyers from across the globe are eligible to make selections.

“I work to make my family and community proud,” said Evenchik, who cites his the guidance of his parents for leading him into a successful law career. “My parents encouraged me to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I didn’t like the sight of blood.”

Evenchik is a graduate of Orange High School in Pepper Pike and earned his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Evenchik launched his career as in-house counsel with Gross Builders, now known as Gross Residential, where he first practiced zoning litigation.

While at Hahn Loeser & Parks since 2008, Evenchik has successfully litigated many construction- and zoning-related cases,

including the voiding of a $16 million lien against a client in a Florida case and obtaining a $2.5 million jury verdict in a Cuyahoga County case.

In the former case, Evenchik said he proved a general contractor provided untrue information that led to a dismissal of the lein. The case remains active on other matters.

In the latter case, untruthful information from a general contractor resulted in the jury verdict for his client. The case has been appealed.

In addition to his work as an attorney, Evenchik serves on multiple local boards, including the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation Board of Directors, ACE Cleveland board, the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland board, and the Council Gardens board.

ACE Cleveland provides career pathways to children from disadvantaged schools into careers in architecture, engineering and construction, while Council Gardens is an apartment complex in Cleveland Heights that provides Section 8 housing.

In addition to the multi-million dollar construction projects he guides clients through, and sometimes litigates, Evenchik said he stays connected to residential projects like Council Gardens.

“It’s meaningful that I serve the broader community,” he said.

When not spending time with family or committed to work, Evenchik sometimes picks up a bass guitar or sits at a piano to perform folk-style music.

Evenchik and his wife, Courtney, reside in University Heights and have three sons and one daughter between the ages of 15 and 23.

They are congregants of Congregation Bais Dovid in Beachwood.

Community News

Children have a blast at Living Legacy’s ‘Shofar Factory’

Lisa Matkowsky

Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshop, an initiative that creates hands-on learning workshops where Jewish rituals can be experienced, rather than just learned about, held its Rosh Hashanah Shofar Workshop, “Shofar Factory,” on Sept. 22 at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood.

Twenty-five children and their parents attended. That same day, Chabad House of Cleveland hosted another workshop, with 100 people attending. The immersive, hands-on experience allowed participants to craft their own functioning shofars, which they took home to keep. Participants selected a raw ram’s horn, sawed, sanded and polished it, and then learned to recognize and create the sounds of the traditional blasts to emphasize the personal connection to the mitzvah.

Presented by Rabbi Chayim Alevsky, the

Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshops were started in the 1980s in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, N.Y.

“This initiative was inspired by the Rebbe (Menachem Mendel Schneerson) to bring Judaism alive,” Alevsky told the Cleveland Kesher. “Originally founded by Rabbi Yossi Marozov, it was a pioneering approach that brought workshops into schools and community centers and expanded nationwide, sparking excitement and engagement across the country.”

It was later directed by Rabbi Shmuli Friedman.

“Rabbi Friedman’s tenure saw the program expand, with the workshops becoming a fixture in many Cleveland institutions, including Fuchs Mizrachi School, Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and various community organizations,” Alevsky said. “His leadership was also marked by outreach to Cleveland’s Russian-speaking Jewish community, making the program accessible to a wider demographic.”

SHOFAR | 22

Children look for a shofar for the High Holy Days at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood. | Submitted photo

Community News

Now reaching over 1,000 participants annually, the program is o ered in schools, synagogues, senior centers and homes.

“We continue to evolve with new tools, techniques and interactive elements, but the goal remains the same: to create a tangible connection to Jewish heritage through the creation of objects like shofars, matzah, tzitzit and more,” Alevsky said.

In addition to the Shofar Factory, The Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshops o er experiences throughout the Jewish calendar year.

“One of the most popular workshops is the Chanukah Olive Oil Press Workshop, where we hand-squeeze and grind olives, press them for oil, and then use a centrifuge to separate the oil from the juice,” Alevsky said. “Everyone gets to use the oil they’ve made to light a menorah, directly connecting them to the story of the Chanukah miracle. For Passover, there is a Matzah Bakery Workshop, where participants engage in every step of the matzah-making process, from grinding the wheat to baking the matzah within the required 18-minute time frame to ensure it remains kosher for Passover. This workshop immerses participants in the history of the Exodus by allowing them to recreate one of the most essential elements of the Seder.”

Other workshops include the Tzitzit Workshop, where participants learn how to tie their own tzitzit, the Havdalah Candle Workshop, where participants braid their candles used for the Havdalah ceremony, and the Torah Writing Experience, which allows participants to write letters on parchment using a quill, just as a scribe would when writing a Torah scroll.

“Our workshops enhance any and every existing educational setting, ensuring timeless relevance and meaningful memories, bringing ancient traditions to life in engaging culturerich experiences,” Alevsky said. “I am a part of a team of about 50 guys like me, who collaborate to create this force that’s happening all over. Each location is individually run and sponsored, and we go to a di erent school every day, with customized programs tailored to the age group we are working with.”

Children make shofars as part of the Living Legacy Mitzvah Workshop. | Submitted photo

Alevsky said he receives a lot of feedback about the program.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “Children leave the Shofar Workshop with a deep sense of pride, knowing they’ve crafted something significant with their own hands. Many parents share stories of their children practicing the shofar blasts at home, eager to share their newfound skills. School administrators often tell me that these handson experiences help students form a deeper connection to their Jewish identity than they might through traditional classroom learning. There’s something truly transformative about physically engaging with Jewish rituals – it makes the traditions come alive in a way that sticks with participants long after the workshop ends.”

Mitzvah Workshops is currently conducting a fundraising campaign with donations matched dollar for dollar. To donate, visit campaign.mitzvahworkshops.com.

“By supporting, you are helping shape the Jewish future,” Alevsky said. “Your donation ensures that these transformative experiences continue to reach the next generation, igniting pride, understanding, and a lifelong connection to their Jewish identity.”

Lisa Matkowsky is a freelance journalist.

Local karate kid, 12, keeps on her winning ways

Cleveland Kesher

It is amazing how young athletes are made. Aviya Aaron became a champ because she was ill.

Aviya, 12 years old and a sixth grader at Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood, was born 13 weeks premature, weighing 2 pounds, 5 ounces and suffered from weakness in her upper and lower limbs in the left side of her body. At 3 years old, Aviya’s parents, Ksenia and Sagiv Aaron, steered their daughter to learn karate when the family was living in Palo Alto, Calif., as a way to develop her muscles. Three years later, Aviya was mastering kicks and blocks.

Aviya Aaron and her brother, Amichai | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

“She has what was like cerebral palsy,” Sagiv Aaron told Cleveland Kesher. “Then her weakness disappeared, and now she is a pretty strong child. She really works on her balance and strength. You would never believe that she had any type of issue.”

Why karate in particular?

“It uses each side of the body very equally, so when you focus on one side of the body, you equally focus on the other side,” Ksenia Aaron told Cleveland Kesher. “It trains your whole body to be equally strong.”

Aviya said she likes the sport because “You get to learn how to defend yourself and in life, it’s how you need to use what you learn against an opponent.”

As her training progressed, not only did Aviya’s body get stronger, she began to do exceptionally well in competitions.

At age 6, she competed at the World Budo Karate Championship in the Czech Republic,

Community News

| PAGE 24

a world championship for children competing in traditional karate. In May, she won the kata championship at the U.S. Budo National Tournament in Phoenix. Kata means being in a karate competition that can either be an individual or team of three events.

“It was really cool,” Aviya said of the significant win. “Amazing.”

Aviya’s coach, Larry Rothenberg of the Cleveland Shotokan Karate Club, has been amazed at Aviya’s progress since the Aaron family moved to the Cleveland area three years ago.

“She’s very determined and very coachable,” Rothenberg said. “She’s very, very dedicated.”

Aviya’s success has rubbed off on the rest of the family. Aviya’s brother Amichai, 8, has a purple belt. The third grader at Fuchs Mizrachi School placed third in kata and third in sparring at the Phoenix event. He and Aviya combined to place second in the team kata competition.

And, Ksenia Aaron, a doctor at the Head and Neck Institute at Cleveland Clinic, has a brown belt.

“I love karate because it has an explosive portion to it,” she said, “as well as slow and kind of more meditated portion to it. So it’s a very unique sport.”

Not to be left behind, Sagiv Aaron, who is a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic, started

training at the Cleveland Shotokin Karate Club.

“We are very indebted to the sport,” he said. “I think karate has really taught Aviya how to be human. You know, work hard, show dedicated perseverance and remain humble through competition. She never, ever acts as if she is the best. She just goes and competes and congratulates everyone else, showing amazing sportsmanship.”

The Aaron family has lived in Beachwood since settling in the area, and are congregants of Beachwood Kehilla. Ksenia Aaron is a native of Siberia and Sagiv Aaron is from Israel.

Their common sporting activity is karate.

“We go to class every week, and it feels good because it allows us to spend time together as a family, doing something together,” Ksenia Aaron said.

Before long, another member of the Aaron family may be trying to catch up with Aviya and Amichai. Young Ariella is 2 years old.

Eventually, Aviya wants to be a veterinarian, she said. Before then, there are a lot of karate moves to be made. She hopes to compete nationally and internationally in the coming year.

Aviya continues her work at the Cleveland Shotokan Karate Club.

“She’s a very inspiring child,” Sagiv Aaron said. “And my son is luckily following in her footsteps.”

Community News

Casting their votes at Beachwood Community Center

Community News

Devorah Alevsky’s 80th birthday celebration explores her life, impact

About 150 people traveled to Waxman Chabad in Beachwood on Sept. 4 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Devorah Alevsky, co-director of Chabad of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

Organized by Miriam Goldstein, a family friend and the group’s first secretary in 1972, and catered and decorated by Debbie Small, the event saw family, friends and community members come together to honor Alevsky’s decades of dedication, according to a news release. Her siblings traveled from New York, Kansas City and South Africa to share stories of her life, including her family’s emigration from Russia and their stories of survival. There was also a video collage of Alevsky’s visits to Rebbe for Dollars and a slideshow of other moments, the release said. Her daughters also performed a song, “My Dear Ima,” and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren performed for her.

During the event, guests were also invited to send in words or descriptions of Alevsky through WhatsApp or Post-it notes, and then, using ChatGPT, the words were crafted into a personalized poem that was read aloud.

Devorah Alevsky, co-director of Chabad of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, addresses a crowd of about 150 women at her 80th birthday party on Sept. 4 at Waxman Chabad in Beachwood. | Submitted photos

A memory book filled with stories and well-wishes was also presented to Alevsky, with contributions still being accepted at devorahalevskyis80@gmail.com. In lieu of gifts, the community is encouraged to make contributions to the new Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry at kosherfp.org.

Rochel Kazen, from left, of New York City, Rochel Goldman of South Africa, Devorah Alevsky of Cleveland, Bluma Wineberg of Kansas City, Rivkah Kotlarsky of New York and Henya Laine of New York share a moment at Alevsky’s 80th birthday party.

Marketing Mastery: Expert Insights & Strategies

Top 10 factors of a trustworthy website

Content provided by: Nachum “Nooch” Langsner

In today’s online world, establishing trust through your website is crucial. A trustworthy website reassures visitors, encouraging them to stay, explore, and ultimately engage with your business.

Here are the top ten factors that contribute to a trustworthy website.

1. SECURE AND UP-TO-DATE SSL CERTIFICATE

An SSL certificate ensures your website uses HTTPS, protecting user data and giving visitors peace of mind that their information is secure.

Browsers often flag websites without SSL as “not secure,” which can immediately damage trust. Therefore, it’s important to regularly renew your SSL certificate and ensure it’s always active.

2. PROFESSIONAL DESIGN AND USER EXPERIENCE (UX)

A clean, professional design and seamless user experience build credibility. Visitors expect intuitive navigation, quick load times, and a visually appealing layout.

The design should reflect your brand and convey professionalism, while the user experience ensures visitors can easily find what they need.

3. ACCURATE, HELPFUL, AND CREDIBLE CONTENT

The content on your website should be accurate, well-researched, and genuinely helpful to your audience.

Use authoritative sources to back up claims, and avoid click bait or misleading information. Clear, concise, and credible content helps establish you as an expert in your field and builds trust with your audience.

4. REGULARLY UPDATED CONTENT

A regularly updated website signals that your business is active and engaged.

Stale or outdated content can make users question your legitimacy.

Whether through blog posts, news updates, or service changes, keeping your content fresh assures visitors that you’re staying relevant and providing up-to-date information.

The copyright date on your website’s footer is also a concern, so make sure it is updated regularly.

5. TRANSPARENT ABOUT PAGE AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Transparency is vital for building trust. A well-crafted “About” page should clearly explain who you are, your mission, and what makes your business unique.

Additionally, easily accessible contact information, such as a phone number, email, and physical address, reassures visitors that you’re reachable and trustworthy.

6. PRIVACY POLICY AND DATA PROTECTION

A clear privacy policy is essential in an age of data breaches and privacy concerns.

Your policy should outline how you collect, use, and protect customer data. Displaying this policy prominently shows visitors that you take their privacy seriously, further establishing your website as trustworthy.

7. VERIFIED TRUST BADGES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Displaying trust badges – such as SSL certificates, third-party verifications, and industry certifications – reassures visitors that your website is secure and meets recognized standards.

These badges are particularly important on

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Marketing Mastery: Expert Insights & Strategies

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e-Commerce websites or anywhere visitors are required to submit sensitive information like payment details.

8. USER REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

User-generated reviews and testimonials provide social proof, demonstrating that others have had positive experiences with your business. Highlighting these on your site –whether in a dedicated section or sprinkled throughout – helps build credibility and trust, especially for new visitors.

9. SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND ENGAGEMENT

An active social media presence adds another layer of transparency.

Links to your social media accounts allow visitors to see how you engage with your audience. Regular posting and interaction

on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn can show that your business is real, active, and invested in its community.

10. BACK LINKS FROM HIGH-AUTHORITY SOURCES

Earning back links from reputable, highauthority websites boosts your SEO and increases your credibility in visitors’ eyes. When well-known websites link to your content, it signals to users that your website is a reliable and trusted resource within your industry.

Focusing on these 10 key factors can help you create a website that attracts visitors and earns their trust. Building credibility online is crucial in today’s digital landscape, and these best practices will help ensure your website stands out as both professional and trustworthy.

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

School SPOTLIGHTS

Fuchs Mizrachi School

In preparation for Election day, first- to third-grade students dove into the election process and brought the learning to life by voting in a fun showdown of oreo versus chocolate chip cookies. Second grader Yona Zukowsky smiles as he proudly displays his “I Voted” sticker, after placing his ballot in the ballot box.

Eight Chesed organizations from the Cleveland Jewish community came together to connect with Fuchs Mizrachi School students, share their missions and distribute some swag. It was an opportunity for students to sign up as volunteers and make a real difference in the community, and it was a way to continue building a culture of kedusha and ethic of contribution in high school.

Pictured here are the eight volunteers who came to the school alongside Stark High School principal Rabbi David Teller and student organizer senior Tehilla Kahn.

Content provided by Fuchs Mizrachi School

School SPOTLIGHTS

HEBREW ACADEMY OF CLEVELAND

Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s remarkable growth at all three of the school’s campuses paved the way for the Academy’s new Middle School which opened at the newly renovated Taylor Road Campus. The development has provided

needed space for the growth of the Academy’s Beatrice Stone Yavne High School. Both divisions began the school year with an array of innovative programs – to the delight of its enthusiastic students!

be seen + be heard + be well

Be close to home.

Be close to home.

Be close to home.

Be close to home.

We’re committed to providing convenient access to quality well-woman healthcare. That means no matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, there’s a MetroHealth provider close to home.

We’re committed to providing convenient access to quality well-woman healthcare. That means no matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, there’s a MetroHealth provider close to home.

We’re committed to providing convenient access to quality well-woman healthcare. That means no matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, there’s a MetroHealth provider close to home.

We’re committed to providing convenient access to quality well-woman healthcare. That means no matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, there’s a MetroHealth provider close to home. be seen + be heard + be well

Now offering:

Now offering:

Now offering:

Now offering:

OB-GYN + Midwifery services in Cleveland Heights.

OB-GYN + Midwifery services in Cleveland Heights.

OB-GYN + Midwifery services in Cleveland Heights.

OB-GYN + Midwifery services in Cleveland Heights.

Director of Midwifery MetroHealth

Amy Lowell, CNM, APRN Director of Midwifery MetroHealth

Amy Lowell, CNM, APRN Director of Midwifery MetroHealth

Amy Lowell, CNM, APRN Director of Midwifery MetroHealth